At the “Intercontinental” Hotel on December 26 Social Initiatives Support Fund (SISF) is holding Conference dedicated to reporting on it’s activity in 2008. Representatives of NGOs, government and business, as well as international organizations and diplomatic missions will take part in the Conference.
SISF – non-governmental non-commercial organization, established in 2006 with the aim to consolidate efforts of civil society of Uzbekistan to improve quality of life of the citizens, who are in need.
Main directions of Fund’s activity are assistance for development of healthcare, education, social infrastructure, environment and provision of support for people, who are in need.
Main objectives of the Fund are development and implementation of national social programs, attraction of financial and other material resources from both local and international donors, funding social programs and projects through grants as on the regional as well as on the national scale.
In 2008 SISF became a participant of the State program “Year of youth” and successfully implemented number of large projects in cooperation with its partners by continuously increasing geographic areas of activity. Over the last 2 years a public organization takes active participation in designing and implementing the State programs as one of the equal partners and not only as an observer. This is a significant indicator of democratization of the society, considering that NGOs represent interests of various social groups whose votes have determining factor.
Following this principle there were implemented programs and projects of the Fund. So, in a year more than 80 thousand citizens of Uzbekistan have been able to improve own economic and living conditions, to gain useful information and knowledge through participating in 10 projects of the Social Initiatives Support Fund.
For example, the “Healthy mother – healthy child – 2” project, which was designed and implemented with the participation of local and international NGOs, the Health Institute under the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and supported by number of multinational companies. As a result of this cooperation more than 20000 young Uzbek women received professional information and training on safe motherhood and how to take care of their babies. This knowledge and skills will enable them to raise healthy children.
In the social support direction of activity SISF supported more than 400 rural women of Uzbekistan. These women have started their own private business, have created more than 400 new jobs and have improved the socioeconomic condition of their families.
Another project is the “Clean water” project. Together with its partners the Fund supported the initiative of the inhabitants of 4 mahallas (communities) in Tashkent and Kashkadarya regions and the Republic of Karakalpakstan to construct water pipe-lines for them. Thanks to this project, more than 8000 people of these communities received a direct access to the pure drinking water, which did not have such opportunity prior to the implementation of this project.
In frames of all projects SISF conducted 330 seminars, 2 international conferences, 80 working meetings with partners, and 1 awarding ceremony. Also, during implementation of projects there were developed partnerships with 44 local NGOs, 10 international organizations, 4 multinational corporations, 27 state organizations and 32 representatives of local business. Total budget of SISF projects in 2008 consisted of more than 2,3 billion Uzbek soums, where 1,9 billion soums are partner’s share and 400 million soums were given by SISF.
Conference participants will exchange opinions on implemented projects and programs of the Fund in 2008, as well as discuss further activities in assisting for sustainable development of SISF projects in 2009.
Information on the Fund’s activity is available on our website at www.sisf.uz
For additional information on the Conference please contact Elyor Abbosov, Programs Director, phone/fax (998-71) 239 29 38/39.