INFORMATION STRATEGY

General strategy on the block of Information programs for the

period 2000 and 2001 year

For period 1996 -1998 there were created and are maintained:

• Independent information center "Polyton" with a network, consisting of 12 regional newspapers.
• Grants competitions for newspapers and libraries in 1998.
• There were organized seminars for kazakh-language print journalists.
• There was published catalogue «Mass-media in Kazakhstan».
• There were organized traveling training workshops for the 120 TV-journalists in different regions of Kazakhstan.
• There were produced social documentary films through the competitions «Independent Video»: 1996- 11 films, 1997 -12 films, 1998 - 7 films.
• There were produced PSA : 1996 - 5 clips about activities of NGO’s, 1997 - 4 clips antiAIDS, antialcogolism, 1998 - 3 clips about elections.
• Network, consisting of 18 of libraries - grantees of Soros Foundation Kazakstan - which were trained in new management, information technologies, collection development and trained other libraries in their region.
• There was established Internet training center.
• Association of book publishers, including Almaty book publishing houses which had received grants from Soros Foundation Kazakstan.

For specialists from all spheres of the informational infrastructure trainings and seminars on modern management, usage of new technologies and implementation of the international standards were organized and conducted.

The formation of free access in the informational environment in Kazakstan goes on with big difficulties and has a spontaneous character, with separate elements, which have not formed a working integrated system. There is still not open access to information.

The information space of society can be structured as following: mass media and information agencies, library and information resource centers, archives, book publishing houses, electronic editions and Internet. Practically all these spheres, except for independent mass media and information agencies, should be financed from the state budget, as they continue to remain state institutes.

The constraining factors for the development of the flow of information spheres could be referred to the following:

• The unreasonable governmental economic policy in spheres of information
• accessibility. Finances, allocated from the state budget, are actually enough only for payment of municipal services and wages of the workers. The expenses for development of specific activity are not provided, i.e. technical base is not updated, there are no new books, periodic editions, new technologies do not take root, there is lack of finances for professional training of the staff.
• A logical privatization policy was replaced by artificially organized on tenders on the audiovisual media (1997), and then, and on newspapers (1999), book publishing houses (1998-1999) and libraries (1998). These structural changes are carried out at accelerated rates with horrible infringements of democratic principles in the tender competitions. In its turn, the winners of the tenders became corrupted and closely linked to governmental power.
• Out-of-date technologies and a shortage of modern equipment;
• Inadequate interregional coordination of the press/media;
• Inadequate training of personnel and insufficient modern management skills;
• Absence of mechanisms of stimulation for economic independence;
• Slowed down in the introduction of international standards because of the lack of regular external contacts, weak knowledge of foreign languages.
• Absence of consumers skills and marketing.

USAID (USIS, IREX, IFES): support of the projects on democratization of the society, journalists, mass media, creation of advertising rollers, connection to Internet of noncommercial organizations, seminars in sphere of information space, grants for the experts - professionals.

Eurasia Fund : support of the projects on information space.

INTERNEWS: Support of the independent broadcasts and TV-journalists.

British Council: conducting of seminars on issues of copyright for book publishers.

UNESCO: Support to Association of independent electronic mass media, radio stations, faculty of journalism at KazGU.

TACIS: Support to newspapers and magazines, independent school of journalists.

Goethe Institute in Alamty: support of libraries.

According to general strategy of Soros Foundation Kazakhstan for the period of 2000-2001 year, the mission of the programs of the information block is aimed for promotion of development of democratic processes in Republic of Kazakstan by means of supporting institutes and mechanisms for the development of better access to information.

Opportunity to provide wide access of the citizens of Republic of Kazakstan to information on the basis of support of already created infrastructures - Mass media, news agencies, libraries, archives, publishing houses, NGO involved in this area and introduction of new technologies (Internet and electronic versions of magazines and newspapers).

Strengthening of horizontal interrelations of infrastructures in the field of information and initiation of a fruitful dialogue with organizations of governmental sector, working in this to sphere (MINISTRY of education, and culture, Ministry of science and higher education) with the purposes of acceleration of process of creation and introduction of the state programs for development of information resources of the country.

Introduction of best practices in analytical journalism and investigative journalism will help to strengthen journalist skills to disclose information that should be in the public domain. Such skills are required to develop the press into the forth branch of power and counter balance the rhetoric and scants in government.

Cooperation with state and donor organizations in the field of creation and improvement of professional development and implementation of new technologies.

Support and development of information networks, established by Foundation Soros-Kazkstan during 1996-1999 years (network of libraries, Internet, non-governmental mass media organizations) with the purpose of coordination and cooperation in distribution and interchange of information.

The management of the programs will be carried out by the Board of Soros Foundation Kazakstan taking into consideration recommendations of the expert committee, consisting of representatives of all of the information spheres. The direct management and administration of the programs will be handled by the coordinators of the programs.

The evaluation will be made on the basis of current monitoring of activity of networks; a level of independence, economic and financial abilities of information institutes; the qualitative and quantitative analysis of information products; assessment of a level of the experts professionalism in the given sphere.

In result of expansion of access to information resources an overall level of informatization and education of the population of Republic of Kazakstan will be raised, and this will provide increase of civil activity, that in its turn will promote process of democratic transformations in a society.

INTERNET TRAINING CENTER

Background

The popularity of the Internet in Kazakhstan is growing exponentially. Demand to Internet access and education of Internet applications are rapidly growing. According to an estimation made by local Internet magazine Internetia, the total number of corporate and individual users of Internet in Almaty exceeds ten thousand. Those who have not yet experienced the Internet need a convenient, relaxed atmosphere where they can feel comfortable learning about and utilizing the current technologies. ITC will provide its customers with affordable Internet access and education.

The main activity of ITC is training. It is of crucial importance that appropriate facilities for training and development be available in the region. Due to rapidly growing public interest in the Internet in Kazakhstan there is a large need for a place where any community member might learn about the subject. ITC staff will organize a continuous flow of training workshops and seminars for all groups of population concentrating on introductory courses for novices in Internet. The focus group might include high schools and university teachers, librarians, medical personnel and others who can propagate obtained knowledge further.

The aim of the Internet Training Center (ITC) project is to provide a unique site for communication and education through the medium of the Internet. ITC, and companies like it are the answer to an increasing demand. ITC will provide the community with a social development and educational facility for world wide communication.

ITC was created as non-profit NGO, which will use any extra income to provide "low-income" social and academic institutions (NGOs, libraries, schools etc) with affordable education facility and access to the Internet. Our staff and invited trainers will educate the community on the benefits of the Internet. Also we plan to become an educational center for the training and content development for the regions of Kazakhstan. We will also consider all that pertains to extending access information to schools with innovative methods in the educational process.

ITC's objectives for the first three years of operation include:

The creation of a unique, upscale, innovative environment that will differentiate ITC from other local Internet service providers and educational facilities.

• Educating the community on what the Internet has to offer.
• Creation the critical mass of members of community which can use Internet in everyday life and can educate other people in Kazakhstan.
• Affordable access to the resources of the Internet and other on-line services.
• Giving ITC the market presence needed to support marketing and sales goals.

The financing will allow ITC to successfully open and maintain operations through year 2000. The successful operation of year 2000 will provide ITC with a customer base that will allow it to be self-sufficient in year 2001 and subsequent years.

During 2000, ITC plans to organize constantly working continuous flow of training seminars of different types. Mainly that would be general introductory Internet courses but some part of these seminars would have more specialized orientation, for example, medical Internet, Internet applications for librarians, electronic publishing, etc. We are going to train a whole team of local trainers which can organize similar training in other parts of Kazakhstan.

ITC will focus on introducing new media concepts and solutions into the independent media sector in Kazakhstan and elsewhere, through training, technical and content-building consulting, and project-oriented product development. It will bring to the media in Central Asia advanced, cutting-edge technologies in the field of new media, and adapt them to the specific local conditions.

The ITC is managed by the Executive Director assigned by the Board of Soros Kazakhstan Foundation. The program design and activities are based on the decisions made by the Board of ITC.

Sales $ 51 000

Direct Cost of Sales $ 60 000

Gross margin ($ 9 000)

Gross margin percent -18,00%

Operating expenses: $ 3 600

Advertising/Promotion $ 6 000

Travel $ 1 200

Payroll expense $ 20 400

Utilities $ 2 400

Rent $ 14 000

Depreciation $ 6 000

Payroll Burden $ 8 200

Contract/Consultants $ 0

Total Operating Expenses $ 61 800

Profit Before Interest and Taxes ($70 800)

Taxes Incurred 0

Net Profit ($70 800)

Net Profit/Sales -138%

According that plan ITC needs financing $70 000 to cover losses in year 2000. We believe that covering will come in matching form ($35 000 from National Budget of Soros Foundation of Kazakhstan and other $35 000 from OSI New York). We also believe that in year 2001 ITC might achieve self–sustainability.

PUBLISHING PROGRAM

BACKGROUND

A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE PROGRAM CONTEXT AND ACTIVITY IN 1996-1999:

• The total number of published books in 1997-1998 in Kazakstan according to the data of the Book Chamber is:
• 1997 - 458 editions in Kazakh and 413 - in Russian
• 1998 - 504 editions in Kazakh and 574 - in Russian.
• The total number of registered publishing houses : 83 - in 1997 , 98 - in 1998.
• There are 23 publishing houses in the Republic each issuing 10 printed editions a year in sociological and humanitarian sciences.
• During the last year the volume of budget funding allocated by the government for printing, mass media and culture was sharply decreased. As compared to 300 mln tenge granted in 1997, this amount was reduced to nearly three times less in 1998. The national Program of support to Kazakstan book-printing facilities is supposed to promote publishing of a certain complex of socially demanded literature. There exists a special "National Program for issuing socially important literature in 1999", promoting annual publishing of literature in 12-15 main thematic specializations. The program is being carried out on a tender basis with the participation of approximately 40 publishing houses.
• The general trend in the book-publishing network in Kazakstan is characterized by a further increase of private publishing organisations in number and the decreasing number of state publishing houses. While in 1995 the number of state publishing houses amounted to 18, by now most of them have already been privatized or are being privatized.
• "The publishing program" carried out by the SOROS Foundation - Kazakstan included the following projects since 1996:

1. Training and seminars in modern management, application of new technologies and introduction of international standards;
2. The Association of Publishers and distributors was set up to independently deal with issues of publishers’ extension training;
3. Books on the history of Kazakstan and social sciences have been translated and published.

Promoting the development of democratic processes in Kazakstan by means of ensuring a wide access for the citizens of the Republic of Kazakstan to information resources (books, magazines, electronic publications).

• Integration with other Programs of the Foundation;
• Providing consultations and rendering technical services.

The contents and priorities of "The Publishing Program" are defined and formed on the basis of priority guidelines of the Foundation programs . This field of special needs and priorities must direct the publishing process and comply with the Foundation mission. The selection of books for translation and publication will be carried out by the Committee of Experts of the Program from the lists of the Central European University, "East translates East" and "Civil Society".

Since the status of the Program was changed for 2000-2001 it will be focused on the following specializations:

• Development of network programs;
• Integration with other programs of the Foundation.

1. Network Programs Management.

• Management of the electronic publications project of electronic publications jointly with educational programs and Internet Training Centre:
• Management of the "Translation project". Translations from the list of CEU, "East translates East", books on the civil society and gender issues ,etc.

2. Intergration with other Programs of the Foundation

The coordinator of the "Publishing Program" shall :

• help other Programs to use editions as a tool for expansion and improving their activity;
• hold open competitions for publication of manuals, magazines and books required by the society;
• be a source of information on author’s rights, legislation, modern polygraphic technology;
• together with Internet Program offer the ways to use electronic publications to the best.

The present status of the Program stipulates the following scheme of work:

• Cooperation with other Foundation Programs and preparation of the list of books to be translated, its approval at a sitting of the Board;
• Purchase of author’s rights;
• Preparation of books for tender;
• Approval of tender conditions at a sitting of the Expert Committee and the Board;
• Tender operations, selecting winners. Approval of the competition results at a Board meeting;
• Signing a contract with the publishers winning the competition;
• Monitoring of the grants/ Contracts.

Publication of books will be carried out through co-funding based on a 50/ 50 principle

at the expense of the Foundation Program placing the order and the Center for Publishing Development (Budapest).

The informative part of the "Publishing Program" will be filled with the orders from other Programs of the Foundation. In case the coordinators and experts of these Programs deem it necessary to use the publishing component, this part of work will be transferred to the coordinator of the "Publishing Programs" for execution. Publishing technology issues will be considered by the Committee of Experts on Information. In case tender bids need to be considered - a special commission of three experts is to be organised (publishing specialists) to determine the results of the tender. All the problems related to the Program activity are to be approved by the Board of the Foundation.

Evaluation of each publication will be carried out during the translation or publishing process. A final evaluation of each translation will also be completed.

The "Conference and Travel'' program strategy for the year 2000-2001

Background

The program has worked in the channel of the Foundation's general strategy, supporting Kazakhstani institutes and the citizens of the Republic in enlarging the informational space, ensuring the aspiration to develop the Open Society.

The program has financed travel expenses of participants of international seminars, conferences, exhibitions, competitions that were held outside Kazakhstan, and also students, who study in the foreign educational institutions. The priority areas of financing were: the humanities, culture, law, reforms in the social sector.

During the existence of the program (1995-1998 years) 840 people from 22 cities of Kazakhstan went to international activities, which were held on 5 continents and in 42 countries and in 156 cities of the world.

The data on grant recipients shows: humanities 115 people (14%), culture--268 (32%), law--85 (10%), reforms in the social sector--79 (9%), education--293 (35%). The program has effectively furthered the improvement of the general situation in the Republic of Kazakhstan, in terms of the informational break through in the enlightenment of the citizens of the country to the idea of an Open Society.

The evaluation of the program's work for the period of 1996-1997 has showed that 85% of the grant recipients after the trip financed by the Fund have received new invitations and 90% of them consider their new invitation a result of their previous trip which was financed by the Foundation. 63% of the grant recipients have spoken in mass media about the results of their trips.

Kazakhstan needs to have more of its highly trained specialists, graduate students, social and cultural elites become introduced to the principles of democracy and the observance of the human rights, about the real democratic values and about the social movements in the countries with developed democracy. The development of the newest informational technologies contributes to the movement of Kazakhstan into the world community, but it doesn't replace the importance of the personal communication with the foreign colleagues.

In the area of culture and art Kazakhstan is still a closed space for the world community. Due to the geographical remoteness of the country from the cultural business centers, trips abroad exceed the annual average Kazakstani wage: the average wage in Kazakhstan is 1056$ a year, and the cost of the plane tickets from Kazakhstan to European cities is 800-1000$, and 1200-1500$--to the cities of the USA. There are already some wealthy people in the country, but the culture of charity hasn't become popular yet.

This program of the Soros Foundation--Kazakhstan finances travel expenses of participants of international seminars, conferences, exhibitions, competitions, which are hold outside Kazakhstan.

The program accepts applications for financial aid in the following areas: humanities, culture, law, reform in the social sector, education (for the 1^st year graduate, postgraduate and Ph.D.students only in the areas listed above). The program doesn't finance: participating in the events in the area of natural sciences, medicine, sports, tourism, business, participating in the scientific-research works, trips by personal invitations, trips of the higher officials of the government.

Financing covers travel expenses only: other expenses, such as lodging, meals, organizing payments, visas, international medical insurance and others are covered by the holders of the event, other sponsors or partly by the grant recipient. Applicants, whose expenses for the event are 100% covered by the holders of the event, have an advantage in receiving travelling grants.

The Foundation awards not more than 1 grant in two years to candidates who participate in short-term events (up to 1 month). The Foundation awards travel grants for a round-trip from Kazakhstan and back only once to students going to study abroad. The Foundation finances not more than 1 person from an organization and not more than 3 persons from Kazakhstan for each event.

1. Support the transfer of best practices and the latest knowledge from different countries to specialists in Kazakhstan who can implement that knowledge in Kazakhstan for its development.
2. Dissemination of information about Open Society and encouraging citizens to participate in building of Open Society by means of supporting private individuals, artists and non-governmental organizations who don't have finances for the development of professional interaction in the areas, which actively promote democratization of society in social sciences and humanitarians, culture and art, education, reforms in social sector.

1. Information about the ''Travel grants'' program is being brought to the notice of citizens of the Republic of Kazakhstan by the following channels:

• announcement are being printed in republican newspapers not less than 2 times a year.
• announcements are given on the republican radio.
• grant recipients appear in mass media and speak about their trips to the international events
• through the Foundation's Centers in Shymkent, Karaganda and Aktubinsk

1. Applications for the travel grants are accepted not later than 40 days before the beginning of an international event.
2. Applications are reviewed by Expert Committee 2 times a month

The ''Travel grants'' program operates all year long. The applications are reviewed twice a month.

The budget for 2000--$150,000; 2001--$120,000.

1. The Board of Foundation affirms the ''Rules of the award of the travelling grants'' each year.
2. Expert Committee reviews applications 2 times a month
3. Travelling grants are given in the form of travelling documents on the base of the Agreement, confirmed by the executive director
4. After the return the grant receiver is obliged to:

• introduce to the Foundation a creative report with the description of the contents and the scale of the event
• take part in the actions of the Foundation without any compensation according to his professional possibilities
• appear in a mass media with the story, which will reflect the most useful part of the trip from the point of building an open society in Kazakhstan

The evaluation of the program is held according to the following plan:

1. The logic model of the evaluation is elaborated, it is confirmed by the Foundations administration.
2. The quantity and the quality exponents are the criteria of the program evaluation.
3. The grant receivers fill in questionarees on the large range of the questions annually: the 1996-1997 questionarees contained 9 questions, the questionarees of 1998--24 questions.
4. According to the results of the evaluation the terms and the criteria of the grant award for the next year are corrected.