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USAID/Turkmenistan 

Operational Plan 

FY 2006 

June 13, 2006 
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Please Note: 

The attached RESULTS INFORMATION is from the FY 2006 Operational Plan and was assembled 

and analyzed by the country or USAID operating unit identified on the cover page. 

The Operational Plan is a "pre-decisional" USAID document and does not reflect results stemming 

from formal USAID review(s) of this document. 

Related document information can be obtained from: 

USAID Development Experience Clearinghouse 

8403 Colesville Road, Suite 210 

Silver Spring, MD 20910 

Telephone: (301) 562-0641 

Fax: (301) 588-7787 

Email: docorder@dec.cdie.org 

Internet: http://www.dec.org 

Portions released on or after July 1, 2006 
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Program Performance Summary FY 2005: DEMOCRATIC REFORM 

Country Situation: Turkmenistan introduced few tangible improvements in democratic reform this past 

year. The Government of Turkmenistan continues to consolidate power centrally and to control the lives 

of Turkmen citizens through both formal and informal policies. Civil society groups still face difficult 

registration rules, but two non-governmental public associations succeeded in becoming registered in the 

past year, bringing the total to five. Even though NGOs have successfully advocated for small-scale 

changes at the local level, civic action remains risky. Registered NGOs are aggressively monitored by 

local security operatives. This actually has the unintended positive result of the security bodies 

witnessing the important work NGOs are undertaking in their communities. Regrettably, however, this 

firm control keeps civil society advocates in check. A puppet judiciary follows the will of the President and 

is unprepared to protect civil and commercial rights. The Government controls all domestic media, and 

citizens' only access to outside information comes via satellite dishes that adorn the outside of almost 

every apartment and house. Reporters Without Borders just released its 2004 rankings for Access to 

Information; Turkmenistan ranked 177 of 179 countries rated, ahead of only Eritrea and North Korea. 

The Government continues to control and monitor the population’s limited access to the Internet. 

Freedom House’s 2005 Nations in Transit ratings again placed Turkmenistan at the bottom on every 

dimension (the worst in Central Asia): electoral process (7); civil society (7); independent media (7); 

governance (7); and constitutional, legislative, and judicial framework (7). 

 

Any previous indications of political instability following the 2002 coup attempt have all but disappeared. 

The external opposition remains fragmented and without domestic support due to its own perceived 

corruption. Although individual displeasure with the regime exists, due to the declining quality of 

education and the healthcare system, the Turkmen people appear reluctant to challenge the status quo, 

which would potentially jeopardize the enormous state subsidies they currently receive. Certain social 

indicators like unemployment and narcotics usage bode ill for the future. Political and religious 

oppression are growing. The signs of the emergence of an extreme form of nationalism, with an 

accompanying lack of respect for minorities, are also worrisome. 

U.S. Assistance Priorities: USG assistance invests in building the capacity and skills for the next 

generation of leaders. While the repressive regime continues, our beneficiaries are playing an important 

role in keeping civil society functioning with a positive vision for the future. This interaction often comes 

with a price, since the Government is hard on our interlocutors. In the end, the people with whom we 

work want a better, more prosperous and, most importantly, democratic Turkmenistan, and so accept the 

risks that come with our assistance. Although meaningful democratic reform in Turkmenistan does not 

appear imminent, the USG’s human capital development focus positions USAID to respond to 

unexpected changes in the political landscape provides linkage between the Turkman people and the 

modern world. 

Program Performance: FY 2005 has been no exception from the past in the development of democracy 

in Turkmenistan. The Government of Turkmenistan renewed a purge of potential rivals to President 

Niyazov, significantly closing the political space in Turkmenistan. In spite of this, USAID provided critical 

assistance to many NGOs and communities that might not otherwise have been able to survive. 

Additionally, USAID mobilized legal teams across the nation to provide technical support to NGOs trying 

to register to operate in Turkmenistan. Even though only two NGOs were registered last year, others 

responded to technical questions posed by the Ministry of Justice with the help of USAID's resource 

centers. Because the registration process is slow and many NGOs are discouraged from trying to obtain 

registration, USAID refocused its efforts to mobilize communities to solve local problems in partnership 

with local governments. This support to indigenous civil society movements is the foundation of our 

strategy and will build trust at the local government level. USAID funded a legal resource center at 

Turkmen State University, which provided valuable legal resources to over 8,000 students, lawyers, and 

legal professors over the past year. In addition, USAID focused on opening legal clinics to provide 

practical experience to young lawyers and to provide pro-bono legal services to Turkmen citizens in the 

areas of family law, property law, and other civil law matters. 

ECONOMIC REFORM 
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Country Situation: Private sector growth continues to lag, in spite of Government figures touting 20% 

GDP growth during the first eight months of 2005. Over the year, little progress was made to stimulate 

change in the economy. Unemployment remains high, and has contributed to a significant increase in 

drug use among youth. Due to the lack of transparency and the Government's unwillingness to share 

information, accurate numbers on Turkmenistan's per capita GDP and poverty are not available. The 

World Bank and International Monetary Fund estimate that 58% of the population lives below the poverty 

line and GDP per capita income is $649 (versus recent Government figures of $7,500 GDP per capita). 

Although small enterprises report that they are able to work with little impediment (other than lack of 

currency conversion), they are unable to expand and offer greater employment opportunities. In contrast 

to official government statistics, international organizations estimate unemployment at about 50%, 

especially among the growing young adult population. 

U.S. Assistance Priorities: USAID’s economic reform programs focus on increasing transparency, 

educating entrepreneurs on enterprise development, and engaging the government on economic 

liberalization and financial sector reform. USAID seeks out entrepreneurs who will increase productivity 

and sales by streamlining their functions and promoting better quality management. As USAID's level of 

funding and opportunities for economic growth are very limited, USAID concentrates on building a culture 

of entrepreneurship and training future business leaders to deal with marketplace obstacles. USAID 

inculcates financial transparency through its accountancy training program and work with the Central 

Bank. USAID also trains young people in basic business skills and market economics at the high school 

level, providing a platform to launch future business professionals 

Program Performance: USAID continued to find ways to contribute to the economic development of 

Turkmenistan, despite the poor operating environment for private sector activity. USAID assistance was 

delivered principally through educational programs rather than official cooperation with government 

agencies. Our efforts to provide much needed business and accounting training achieved their persons 

trained targets, and produced signs that our assistance is having an impact. Graduates of USAID-funded 

international accounting standards courses organized a professional association in FY 2004, which 

received an association development grant from USAID in FY 2005. The association was registered by 

the Government of Turkmenistan, but for a variety of reasons has had little impact in advocating for the 

introduction of international accounting standards. The Enterprise Development Program (EDP) targeted 

entrepreneurs and small businesses in the main cities of Ashgabat and Mary and provided training to 834 

participants (64% women) for a total of 16,680 participant training hours. In addition to business short 

courses, EDP successfully began to extend direct firm-level assistance (in the areas of strategic planning, 

marketing, and financial management) despite challenges in building trust with entrepreneurs. 

At the high school level, Junior Achievement was approved by the Ministry of Education as an official 

elective course, which makes it the only available course on market economics available to Turkmen 

students and creates an opportunity for further USAID assistance with the Ministry of Education. Sixty 

schools throughout Turkmenistan now have Junior Achievement as part of the core curriculum or as an 

extra-curricular activity. Cooperation with the Central Bank of Turkmenistan has been postponed after 

the Chairwoman’s dismissal in May; however, there are indications that a renewed interest may provide 

further accounting trainings with a cost-share element from the Central Bank. The Regional Trade 

Promotion (RTP) component of EDP has been an overwhelming success over the past year, even though 

cross-border legal and financial hurdles exist for businesses. Over the past three years, RTP has seen 

the volume of transactions increasing from $62,000 in FY 2003 to $473,850 in FY 2004 to $1,050,647 in 

FY 2005. The RTP program was able to train one private trader during the past year. After working with 

this local partner, over $700,000 in contracts were facilitated by USAID. Although trade capacity building 

is not a direct part of the USAID program in Turkmenistan, USAID will continue to press the Government 

to open up this area of private sector development. 

USAID, through its Water User Association Support Program, has launched a number of activities that 

have helped farmers to improve their water management capacity, increased their agricultural 

productivity, and informed them about their legal rights. For example, the Agricultural Support Center, 

established in the Mary Region of South Eastern Turkmenistan, has become the main training facility, 
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resource library, computer center, agribusiness consultant, outreach agent, and donor liaison to farmers 

throughout the region. With the technical support and legal consultations provided by the support center, 

farmers successfully negotiated fair terms of cotton sales to the Governmental Agricultural Joint Stock 

Company and yielded about $70,000 in revenue for 30 farmers. 

SOCIAL REFORM AND HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE 

Country Situation: The Government demonstrated interest in 2005 to implement badly needed reforms 

in the health sector and asked USAID to assist in the design of a new health insurance system. The 

Government also approved the World Health Organization (WHO)-recommended Directly Observed 

Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy for TB and an HIV/AIDS prevention strategy. According to the 

2000 Turkmenistan Demographic and Health Survey, Turkmenistan has the second highest infant 

mortality rate in Central Asia after Tajikistan, with 74 deaths per every 1,000 live births and an under-five 

mortality of 94.3 out of 1,000. The same survey found that 47% of women and 36% of children are 

anemic. According to a joint report prepared by the U.N. Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the U.S. Centers 

for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) related to the “Main Reasons for Child Morbidity and Mortality 

in Mary Velayat of Turkmenistan,” 75.1% of children die during the first year of life, mostly from 

preventable illnesses. This indicates that many deaths occur because of medical incompetence and poor 

healthcare provided to children. Changes in mandatory schooling from ten to nine years in 2001 has left 

parents concerned about what the future holds for their children. 

Despite modest progress, in the 2005 publication “Human Rights and Health in Turkmenistan,” Bernd 

Rechel and Martin McKee sharply criticize the current health care system, stressing the falsification of 

epidemiological data and poor conditions. The Government of Turkmenistan reacted by organizing an 

exhibition highlighting health care achievements over the last decade and celebrating the 10-year 

anniversary of the State Health Program in December 2005. During the anniversary event, the 

Government opened a new building for the Ministry of Health, a mother and child health hospital, and 

diagnostic centers in all velayats of the country. This indicates a desire on the part of the Government to 

address key weaknesses of the existing health care system. Nevertheless, the Government continues to 

be reluctant in interacting with international organizations in this sector. 

U.S. Assistance Priorities: USAID’s social sector programs focus on pressing the Government to accept 

recommendations for health care reform by focusing on the delivery of quality primary health care, 

promoting healthy lifestyles, fighting infectious diseases, and improving the lives of mothers and children. 

By establishing a trust relationship with the Ministry of Health, USAID manages to engage the 

Government in critical reforms in areas that are not currently being addressed by social policy. USAID 

seeks to bring the Government of Turkmenistan into closer alignment with international standards of 

healthcare practice and to promote open and transparent methods for surveillance and prevention of 

diseases and illnesses. 

Program Performance: Health reform remains the area in which USAID has been able to make the most 

progress in Turkmenistan. The “Keeping Children Healthy” campaigns expanded in FY 2005 to 10 pilot 

centers, providing important information at the village level on acute respiratory infections, nutrition, and 

diarrhea. Through the American International Health Alliance, the Primary Care Training Center in 

Ashgabat continued to flourish, reaching 100% of all family nurses and doctors in Ashgabat with training 

on basic diagnosis and healthy lifestyles promotion. The opening of a second center for doctors and 

nurses from outside of Ashgabat was delayed until FY 2006. Having established a strong trusting 

relationship with the Ministry of Health, USAID will start a second phase in primary care reform, offering 

trainings to doctor/nurse teams to improve their ability to identify and treat HIV/AIDS, other sexually 

transmitted infections, and domestic violence and providing guidance in developing open and congenial 

patient/doctor interaction. In addition, a training center for health care facility managers at the State 

Medical Institute will be launched this year. The center will train managers to make health institutions selfsustainable. 

Under continuous pressure from USAID and other international donors, Turkmenistan finally agreed to 

support two programs aimed at reducing high child mortality rates, namely the Safe Motherhood Program 
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and the introduction of an international definition for live child birth. 

Training in the DOTS methodology continued for TB specialists, primary health care physicians, and other 

health professionals in Ashgabat, Turkmenbashy, and Mary, with more than 500 professionals targeted in 

all regions. Work also continued toward the implementation of a TB DOTS pilot center in Balkanabad, 

which officially opened in December 2005. The TB situation in Turkmenistan remains serious. In 2004, 

the rate of reported cases was 67.5 per 100,000 people, and the mortality rate was 10 per 100,000. Even 

these figures underestimate the true magnitude of TB infection, as government statistics are unreliable. 

Since the introduction of the TB DOTS program in 2000, the number of pilots increased to six and covers 

about 40% of the population. Treatment success rates in DOTS pilots have risen from 66.5% in 2001 to 

80% in 2003. In 2004, Turkmenistan successfully applied for TB drug support from the Global Drug 

Facility for three years. 

The rate of HIV prevalence in Turkmenistan remains unknown, but the Government has indicated interest 

in applying to the Global Fund for AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria. USAID provided technical assistance 

during the preparation of the TB application; but, regrettably, the Government failed to submit applications 

for any of the three sectors. USAID and CDC launched a Blood Safety Program in Turkmenistan and 

equipped six laboratories for national blood banks. This program will prevent donors’ blood from 

transmitting blood-borne infectious diseases, the most dangerous of which are HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis C. 

With the support of international donors, including USAID, Turkmenistan drafted a National Safe 

Motherhood Strategy and a national plan for introduction of an international definition for live child birth, 

indications of its slow steps towards establishing health standards that meet international norms. The 

Integrated Management of Childhood Illnesses Program continues its expansion and now includes an 

additional five pilots. 

In the fall of 2004, Turkmenistan was the first Central Asian Republic to be recognized by WHO as having 

universal salt iodination. During FY 2005, USAID helped monitor the adequate iodine levels in all types of 

salt production available in the country. Turkmenistan continues to be free of polio and in 2005 confirmed 

99% vaccination coverage. Through CDC consultation and training, all newborns continue to receive 

Hepatitis B vaccinations, provided by the Global Alliance for Vaccination, to reduce the levels of viral 

hepatitis infection. This year, paid services for vaccination against Hepatitis B were opened in Ashgabat 

for adults and children who volunteer to be vaccinated. USAID actively participates in an inter-agency 

committee under the Ministry of Health to address these and other issues related to Hepatitis B. 
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FY 2006 Program 

SO: 120-0131 An Improved Environment for the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises 

Improve Private Sector Competitiveness 

Improve Private Sector Competitiveness ($680,000 FSA, $323,478 FSA carryover). Future work in the 

area of Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) development will strengthen SME support institutions, such 

as local associations and the private sector, to impart business knowledge, skills, and information in 

select regions beyond the capital. Work to foster trade advisory services will continue. USAID will also 

support implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards by strengthening the capacity of 

the professional accounting association and adoption of international accounting standards through a 

certification program. Principal contractors/grantees: to be determined (TBD) (primes). 

Improve Quality of Workforce through Vocational/Technical Education 

Improve Quality of Workforce through Vocational/Technical Education ($14,308 FSA carryover). USAID 

will improve the quality of business and economics education at the high school level. Principal 

contractor: TBD (prime). 

USAID will continue to provide assistance for business and economics faculty development by organizing 

short term courses and providing faculty with teaching and research materials through the Business and 

Economics Education Project Resource center. Principal contractor/grantee: Carana Corporation (prime). 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 120-0131 An Improved Environment for the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises 

Improve Private Sector Competitiveness 

Improve Private Sector Competitiveness ($700,000 FSA). Further support will be provided to expand 

opportunities for businesses to grow and become more competitive. USAID will continue its work on 

accounting reform. Principal contractors/grantees: TBD (prime) and TBD (prime). 

FY 2006 Program 

SO: 120-0211 Strengthened Democratic Culture among Citizens and Targeted Institutions 

Strengthen Civil Society 

Strengthen Civil Society ($1,090,000 FSA, $88,178 FSA carryover). USAID will provide training and 

technical assistance to community-based organizations and professional associations to increase their 

exposure to internal democracy, transparency, and accountability. In addition, USAID will provide training 

to law students to prepare them to teach classes on civic rights and responsibilities. Principal 

contractors/grantees: Freedom House (prime), American Bar Association Central European and Eurasian 

Law Initiative (sub), and to be determined (TBD) (prime). 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 120-0211 Strengthened Democratic Culture among Citizens and Targeted Institutions 

Strengthen Civil Society 

Strengthen Civil Society ($1,100,000 FSA). USAID will provide training, technical assistance, and 

financial support to local organizations to increase the availability of and access to information on 

democracy. Principal contractor/grantee: TBD (prime). 

FY 2006 Program 

SO: 120-0320 Increased Utilization of Quality Primary Health Care for Select Populations 
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Address Other Health Vulnerabilities 

Address Other Health Vulnerabilities ($645,000 FSA, $464,085 FSA carryover). USAID’s health reform 

project, ZdravPlus II, will provide further technical assistance to the Turkmen Ministry of Health and 

Medical Industry (MOH) to explore possibilities for voluntary health insurance in Turkmenistan. USAID 

will sponsor a conference on this topic for national and velayat-level health officials. ZdravPlus II will 

coordinate closely with other donors and the MOH to produce a practical National Plan on Safe 

Motherhood for Turkmenistan, and will assist the MOH with the provision of training for medical service 

providers under that plan. Rational financial management and monitoring of epidemiological information 

will be promoted through the introduction of a hospital clinical database, facilitating the analysis of health 

care data on a national level, as hospitals throughout the country utilize the same computerized system 

for record keeping and reporting to the MOH. USAID’s maternal and child health program, Healthy 

Family, will add a nurse training component to improve the integrated management of childhood illnesses 

(IMCI) in pilot sites; and, together with the World Health Organization, jointly sponsor a program to 

introduce hospital-level IMCI in all eleven etraps. Community-level educators will be trained to promote 

healthy childcare practices in all etraps (districts). Healthy Family will complete its antenatal care 

program with final trainings for nurses in all pilot etraps. USAID will assist the MOH to develop proper 

infection-prevention strategies to modify or replace existing, nonfunctional legislation. USAID will support 

the MOH with adoption of the WHO-recommended live and still-birth definitions. Principal 

contractors/grantees: Abt Associates (prime and sub), John Snow Inc. (sub), Boston University (sub), 

U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (prime), and Project Hope (prime). 

Prevent & Control Infectious Diseases Of Major Importance 

Prevent & Control Infectious Diseases of Major Importance ($533,000 FSA). CDC will continue to train 

Turkmen professionals to be skilled epidemiologists through the Applied Epidemiology Training Program 

(AETP). CDC will also expand existing training programs on laboratory quality control for diagnosis of TB, 

support implementation of the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS), and institutionalize 

advanced laboratory techniques. Ministry of Health officials will be trained on the utilization of 

epidemiological software and record keeping practices. USAID’s TB Control Program will continue to 

strengthen political commitment to DOTS, promote public awareness of TB, upgrade clinical capacity, and 

improve the quality and availability of TB services in pilot sites. Principal contractors/grantees: CDC 

(prime), Project HOPE (prime), Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health (sub), John 

Snow Inc. (sub), New Jersey Medical School National TB Center (sub), Chemonics International (sub), 

and CAMRIS International (sub). 

Reduce Transmission & Impact Of HIV/AIDS 

Reduce Transmission and Impact of HIV/AIDS ($222,000 FSA). Through the Central Asian Program on 

AIDS Control and Intervention Targeting Youth and High-Risk Groups (CAPACITY), USAID will provide 

technical assistance to the Government of Turkmenistan on the development and submission of the 

application on HIV/AIDS for the sixth round of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria and on 

implementation of activities to respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. CAPACITY will improve the ability of 

health providers to diagnose sexually transmitted infections, a crucial factor for controlling the spread of 

HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will work towards establishing a system for 

sentinel surveillance of HIV, and will train Turkmen officials on its use. CDC will also continue the 

development of blood screening programs in Turkmenistan. Principal contractors/grantees: John Snow 

Incorporated (prime), Population Services International (sub), Abt Associates (sub), International 

HIV/AIDS Alliance (sub), Howard University (sub), and CDC (prime). 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 120-0320 Increased Utilization of Quality Primary Health Care for Select Populations 
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Address Other Health Vulnerabilities 

Address Other Health Vulnerabilities ($643,000 FSA). ZdravPlus II will continue to develop a health 

insurance program and implement the clinical database for financial and technical management of 

hospitals; this database will be linked to an automated payment system. In coordination with WHO, the 

World Bank, and the Ministry of Health, Zdrav Plus II will facilitate the roll-out of the safe motherhood 

program to additional sites. Healthy Family’s IMCI activities will be transitioned to the national Maternal 

and Child Health Institute, and pre-service IMCI education will be introduced at velayat level medical 

schools. Healthy Family will build upon the policy work conducted in FY 2006 by orienting health workers 

on newly-adopted standards of infection prevention. USAID will support implementation of the WHOrecommended live birth definition. Principal contractors/grantees: same as above; additional 

contractors/grantees to be determined (TBD). 

Prevent & Control Infectious Diseases Of Major Importance 

Prevent & Control Infectious Diseases of Major Importance ($495,000 FSA). CDC will continue the 

Applied Epidemiology Training Program to support the Ministry of Health with identification, investigation, 

documentation, and dissemination of information about outbreaks of infectious diseases through a trained 

cadre of public health epidemiologists. The TB Control Program will continue to build capacity for DOTS 

in Turkmenistan. Principal contractors/grantees: same as above; additional contractors/grantees TBD. 

Reduce Transmission & Impact Of HIV/AIDS 

Reduce Transmission & Impact of HIV/AIDS ($262,000 FSA). CAPACITY will continue to strengthen 

prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. CDC will continue to build capacity for HIV surveillance and blood 

screening. Principal contractors/grantees: same as above; additional contractors/grantees TBD. 

FY 2006 Program 

SO: 120-0340 Improved Quality and Access to Basic Education in Target Areas 

Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education 

Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education ($0 FSA): In FY 2006, USAID will continue to 

provide training to teachers, school administrators, and local education officials in interactive methods 

that build students’ analytical and critical thinking skills in the communities of Tedjen, Abadan, Yangala, 

and Turkmenbashi. Opportunities to expand activity will be considered should they arise. USAID will 

continue to include Turkmen participants in regional events to provide them with opportunities to learn 

more about educational innovations introduced successfully by USAID in other Central Asian countries. 

In addition, USAID is hopeful that FY 2005 efforts to engage the central Ministry of Education will result in 

new activities with the teacher training institutes. Principal contractor/grantee: Academy for Educational 

Development (prime). 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 120-0340 Improved Quality and Access to Basic Education in Target Areas 

Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education 

Achieve Equitable Access to Quality Basic Education ($0 FSA): This level of funding is insufficient to 

support a follow-on education activity. It is critical to continue programming in primary and secondary 

education to ensure that gains made are institutionalized and to complement the activities of other donors 

by providing strategic vision and technical assistance in the sector. With more than one in three residents 

of the country of school age, educational quality and access have implications for democracy, economic 

development, and social stability. Provided the availability of funding in the amount of approximately 

$100,000 annually (estimated size of current effort), USAID plans to launch a new award in FY 2007. 
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The program will use the capacity built during the first four years of the strategic objective, and focus on 

institutionalizing the reform process, as was recommended by an independent evaluation commissioned 

by USAID in 2005. Program directions will include integrating modern teaching methodologies in preservice teacher training institutes; building links between theory and practice in teacher training by 

connecting the institutes with the Professional Development Schools; institutionalizing community 

education initiatives and strengthening the ability of communities to advocate for reform; and improving 

management capacity throughout the public education sector. Principal contractor/grantee: TBD (prime). 

FY 2006 Program 

SO: 120-0420 Cross-Cutting Programs 

Program Support 

Program Support ($320,000 FSA, $430,000 FSA carryover, $200,000 FSA prior year recoveries). 

Participant Training Program: USAID will continue participant training to complement ongoing technical 

assistance in the following areas: small and medium enterprise development, health care reform, energy 

and water resources, and agriculture. In spring 2006, a conference will be organized with training 

resources to bring together religious leaders from across the region to discuss religious extremism. More 

than 500 participants will be trained through participant training activities in Turkmenistan during FY 2006. 

Principal contractor/grantee: Academy for Educational Development (prime). 

Community Connections: In FY 2006, USAID will begin implementation of the Community Connections 

Program, a public diplomacy initiative previously funded by the State Department. Through the program, 

approximately 50 Turkmen citizens per year will participate in exchanges to promote mutual 

understanding between the United States and Turkmenistan through exposure to U.S. society and 

personal connections with Americans. The Community Connections Program will help achieve U.S. 

Government priorities in Turkmenistan by targeting professional groups and individual entrepreneurs that 

are central to economic and democratic reform. Exchange programs will last from 3-5 weeks, and be 

tailored to the individual needs of participants. Principal contractors/grantees: World Learning (prime) 

and American Councils for International Education (sub). 

Program Support: A wide range of program support will continue to be funded, including evaluations, 

technical assistance, management needs, public outreach, and staff costs. As required, funding will 

enable USAID to take advantage of unanticipated opportunities to advance or reinforce USAID strategic 

objectives. Furthermore, USAID will expand outreach efforts to engage traditional religious leaders in the 

region. The goal of this initiative is to better inform religious leaders about USAID programs and to bridge 

the gap with traditional community leaders whose views, in the past, have not generally been 

incorporated into USAID programmatic decisionmaking. In accomplishing this goal, USAID will conduct 

tours of its programs for religious leaders and the media, hold regular representational events with 

religious leaders, and work with technical assistance providers to incorporate religious leaders into 

development activities. Principal contractor/grantee: N/A. 

FY 2007 Program 

SO: 120-0420 Cross-Cutting Programs 

Program Support 

Program Support ($320,000 FSA). A wide range of program and personnel support activities will 

continue. As required, funding will enable USAID to support unanticipated opportunities to advance or 

reinforce USAID objectives. Additionally, religious outreach efforts will continue and be expanded, 

through tours for and representational events with religious leaders. Principal contractor/grantee: N/A. 
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Results Framework 

120-0131 An Improved Environment for the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises 

Program Title: Small and Medium Sized Enterprises 

 IR 1.3.1: Increased Opportunities to Acquire Business Information, Knowledge, and Skills 

 IR 1.3.2: More Responsive Financial Institutions, Instruments, and Markets 

 IR 1.3.3: Increased Implementation of Laws and Regulations 

120-0161 Improved Management of Critical Natural Resources, Including Energy 

Program Title: Energy and Water 

 IR 1.6.1: Increased Management Capacity in the Natural Resources Sector 

 IR 1.6.2: Improved Policy and Regulatory Framework 

 IR 1.6.3: Sustainable Models Developed for Integrated Natural Resources Management 

 IR 1.6.4: Public Commitment Established for Natural Resources Management Policies 

120-0211 Strengthened Democratic Culture among Citizens and Targeted Institutions 

Program Title: Democratic Culture and Institutions 

 IR 2.1.1: Stronger and More Sustainable Civic Organizations 

 IR 2.1.4: More Effective, Responsive, and Accountable Local Governance 

120-0240 Conflict Mitigation 

Program Title: Conflict Prevention 

120-0320 Increased Utilization of Quality Primary Health Care for Select Populations 

Program Title: Health and Population 

 IR 3.2.1: Select Populations are Better Informed about Personal Health Care Rights and Responsibilities 

 IR 3.2.2: Improved Quality of Health Care including Infectious Diseases and Maternal and Child Health 

 IR 3.2.3: Improved Use of Health Care Resources for Primary Health Care 

 IR 3.2.4: Improved Legislative, Regulatory, and Policy Framework 

120-0340 Improved Quality and Access to Basic Education in Target Areas 

Program Title: Improved Quality of and Access to Basic Education 

 IR 3.4.1: Improved Quality and Access to In-Service Teacher Education in Target Areas 

 IR 3.4.2: Increased Parent and Community Involvement in Target Areas 

 IR 3.4.3: Strengthened Institutional, Management, and Technical Capacity in the Education System 

120-0420 Cross-Cutting Programs 

Program Title: Cross-Cutting Programs