USAID/GSP Program Successfully Concludes in Ashgabat

Date of publication: 20 April 2024 / Views: 643

Ashgabat, Turkmenistan – On April 19, a closing ceremony was held at the Yyldyz Hotel to celebrate the successful completion of the USAID Governance Support Program (GSP) in Turkmenistan. The program, which began in 2015, was initially extended for four years in 2019 and then for an additional year due to the global coronavirus pandemic.

The program was implemented by Q2 Impact (formerly known as QED Group LLC). The event was attended by:

Mr. Chris Bergaust, Acting Coordinator for the U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia (U.S. Department of State)
Mr. Nicholas Weiland, Director of Democracy, Security, and Humanitarian Programs (Q2 Impact)
Mr. Jeffrey Skarin, USAID Country Representative in Turkmenistan
Ms. Nargiza Metyakubova, Public Health and Governance Specialist of USAID in Turkmenistan

Among the invited GSP partners were representatives of government, public and private organizations, from which the following spoke:

Ms. Chemen Rejepova, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee on work with local representative self-governance bodies of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan
Mr. Babahan Berdiyev, Coordinator for international projects of the Academy of Civil Service under the President of Turkmenistan
Mr. Kepbanov Yolbars, National Legal Consultant
Mr. George Tugushi, International Consultant (via video link)

During its tenure, the GSP program collaborated with over 40 partners, conducted over 400 activities (trainings, seminars, conferences, etc.), participated in the improvement of 33 laws and by-laws, and key policies, and e-Government Mechanisms implemented.

Ms.N.Metyakubova in her speech had presented the new 5-year program “Governance Activity in Turkmenistan” (GAT), which will be launched in May of this year. The program, with a budget of $6 million, will be implemented in cooperation with the Government, Civil Society, and the Private sector.

The company that will be awarded the contract to implement the project will be announced soon. Q2 Impact also participated in the tender and has a good chance of success.

A noteworthy point was that during the speeches, in addition to translation from English into the national language and vice versa, sign language interpretation was provided for people with hearing impairments. This innovation, in line with the principles of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, is the result of one of GSP’s bright initiatives in 2022 to train sign language interpreters.

Berkeli Atayev.