The U.S. Embassy IN DUSHANBE requests PROJECT proposals for the 2008 DEMOCRACY COMMISSION SMALL GRANTS PROGRAM

SUBMISSION DEADLINE: January 7, 2008

The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe announces a new request for proposals under the 2008 Democracy Commission Small Grants Program. The purpose of the program is to award small grants for specific projects that support the development of democratic institutions in Tajikistan. Primarily, grants will be awarded to non-governmental, non-profit organizations (NGOs). The amount of a grant must not be more than 12, 000 dollars but the Commission will give priority to the applications that offer the implementation of the similar project with lower budget. To be eligible for consideration, every applicant must be engaged in, or propose to carry out, a project whose purpose is to promote the development of democratic institutions in Tajikistan. The Democracy Commission Small Grants Program has existed in Tajikistan since 2001.

The U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe will accept proposals for consideration of the Democracy Commission Small Grants Program for the following themes:

§ Fostering a Strong and Independent Media
§ Human Rights including Religious Freedom, children’s rights; women rights, etc.
§ Fighting TIP;
§ Respect for the Rule of Law including anti-corruption awareness; transparency in government; etc.
§ Increasing Environmental Awareness including use of alternative sources of energy;

Proposals must be received no later than January 7, 2007. Proposals should contain clearly formulated goals and target groups, and show the ability of the applying organization to carry out the project aims. Proposals should be submitted in English or in Tajik/Russian languages with an English translation to:

U.S. Embassy, Public Affairs Section

109 A Ismoili Somoni Avenue

Dushanbe, Tajikistan

Tel: (992 37) 229 2315, 229 2000, fax: (992 37) 229 2050

Email: kadirovak@state.gov,

Contact person: Abdumalik Kadirov

Note: Projects with a computer based English translation will not be accepted.

The U.S. Embassy Democracy Commission Grant Program is limited to organizations based in Tajikistan. Projects NOT funded by the U.S. Embassy Democracy Commission Program include those requested by non-Tajikistani organizations, those relating to partisan political activity, charitable activity and humanitarian aid, fund-raising campaigns, commercial projects, those involving individuals not affiliated with an organization that can provide long-term sustainability to the project, and those that duplicate existing projects.

Grant application forms are available on our web site http://dushanbe.usembassy.gov/demcom.html. They can also be obtained in the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe or by email. If you have additional questions or need consultation on your project proposal please contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy by the numbers above on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 12:00.

US Embassy to Tajikistan

On 24 June, in Dushanbe, Tajik parliamentarians discussed proposals on changes and amendments to the law of the republic of Tajikistan “On elections to Majlisi Oli (parliament)”. The working group works on the implementation of a project “Professional assistance and reforming of elections in Tajikistan”.

Members of the working group – parliamentarians, representatives of political parties, political experts – discussed proposals on amendments to this law. Participants noted that the Tajik law on elections to the parliament does not meet requirements regarding international observers, access to protocols of election commissions, increase in the number of parliamentarians, etc.

Shokirjon Khakimov, deputy chairman of Tajikistan’s Social Democratic Party says that his party came up with draft amendments to 33 articles of the law. “The essence of our proposals reduces to ensuring independence of the system of elections, — said Khakinov. — The proposed amendments would guarantee fair representation of all political parties in the parliament and in election commissions. They allow to establish precise timeframes for consideration of complaints; to increase the number of parliamentarians in order to represent all social groups and regions of Tajikistan”.

The meeting was also attended by Tigran Karapatian, expert of the International Fund of Election Systems (IFES) in Tajikistan, who told the participants about the project’s goals and the tasks for the working group.

Inter Press Service

University in Khorog received textbooks on journalism

The Tajik branch of the Open Society Institute (OSI) and the Tajik public foundation Pamir delivered 80 different titles of textbooks on journalism to the university in Khorog, the administrative center of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Province (GBAO).

OSI delivered 140 textbooks on journalism to the University library. The public foundation Pamir added 60 textbooks to this donation. Kurbon Alamshoev, head of the public foundation says that the textbooks were purchased from the authors most of whom are teachers and professors of Tajik and Russian universities and scientific institutions. The textbooks will help future journalists to improve their professional skills.

At the beginning of 2007, OSI donated more than 400 textbooks to the university in Khorog.

The Department of Journalism and Tajik Philology was founded at the University of Khorog in 2006. More than 60 students are currently studying in this Department.

Pamir Media

Ten journalists are acknowledged best sports commentators in 2007

According to the Tajik National Olympic Committee, the Tajik Association of Sportscasters defined ten best journalists covering sports events. These are a well known sportscaster Narzullo Latipov, Khurshedi Jovid (correspondent of Asia Plus weekly), Ali Sharipov and Rakhmatsho Obidov (sportscasters of the Tajik National TV), Zarrina Abdulvokhidova (correspondent of Persian service of the Tajik Radio), Bobo Rasoulzoda (sportscaster of Minbari Khalk weekly), Mirzosafar Shamsiddionov (freelance journalist), Saiido Nazarov (Khovar news agency), Emomi Nazariyon (Javononi Tojikiston weekly), and Jamila Khusieinova (Charkhi Gardun weekly).

The Olympic Committee officials told NANSMIT that the best sportscasters will receive certificates and special awards of the National Lympic Committee and the Sportscasters’ Association.

NANSMIT Monitoring service

Head of the regional office of the Iranian Humanitarian Fund “Imdod”, Abdugaffor Solehov provided financial assistance in the amount of $400 to Said Oripov, a person with physical disabilities, resident of Tugarak village, Vose district, so that Oripov would spend this money to fix the roof of his house.

NANSMIT monitoring service established that this noble act had nothing to do with the good will of A. Solekhov. The disabled villager received assistance from Akhmad Ibragimov, a freelance journalist from Kulyab.

Said Oripov is a first group invalid, resident of Tugarak village. He lives in a mud hut together with his wife and a five-year old daughter, who are also disabled. When the roof of his mud house started leaking, Oripov’s neighbor provided the poor family with plastic sheeting; however, the thin film protected them only from chilling wind. Oripov applied to the Imdod Fund, and the officials gave an order to provide the applicant with $400.

Under various excuses, the person could not receive the money until Ahmad Ibragimov, a local journalist working for Khatol Press news agency made this fact public. The journalist was reproached for “washing dirty clothes at home”, “beating the good-doers”, etc.; however, the disabled man eventually received the money and fixed the roof of his house.

22.12.2007
NANSMIT Monitoring service

NANSMIT Monitoring service

98 percent of Tajikistan’s population have access to electronic media

Currently, there are nine State broadcasting entities, eighteen private production studios, and six private radio companies. This data was presented by Barakatullo Abdulfaizov, head of the legal and human resource policy department under the State TV and Radio Committee at a workshop “Tajik copyright legislation and its practical implementation”.

The workshop was organized by the State TV and Radio Committee under the Government of Tajikistan, and by the Tajik Ministry of Culture. The goal of the event was to tell the participants about the Tajik legislation on copyright and allied rights, and to exchange opinions on relevant legal problems.

In particular, the participants discussed the issues of remuneration to freelance journalists and producers working for domestic TV and radio companies.

Abdulfaizov explained that, according to the legislation, there are three types of honoraria: the author’s honorarium, the artistic honorarium (for stage directors), and the honorarium for freelancers. The amount and terms of the author’s honorarium are established by the parties in an agreement (contract). As for the use of TV and radio products, it is discussed on the basis of a bilateral agreement between the TV and Radio Committee and the production studio.

Regrettably, TV and radio companies – both the State and the private ones – are still using pirate media products without any permission from the government body. Some individuals produce and disseminate unlicensed products. The government bodies carry out special raids; however, these measures prove to be insufficient. The participants of the workshop suggested to study the problem more thoroughly, and simplify the process of licensing for those involved in production of video and audio commodities. The participants also supported the idea of organizing similar workshops in the country regions.

http://www.khovar.tj/

OSCE Center in Dushanbe presented a study on feasibility of Tajikistan’s printing media

Rukhshona Najmiddinova, the OCSE Center’s public relations assistant said that the assessment of the cost of production of local newspapers was conducted within the framework of a wider study in order to analyze main obstacles for printing media in the country.

”Our goal is to create an information base for public officials responsible for the media, and provide them with recommendations on strengthening financial sustainability of Tajik newspapers, — said Michail Unland, the OSCE Center’s media advisor. — The more stable are the newspapers, the better is the information they give to readers”.

Mirsaid Sultonov, the author of the study says that very few newspapers in Tajikistan are profitable; the rest of them struggle to survive. “Many of the media managers have journalistic backgrounds, but they lack managerial skills”, — said Sultonov.

According to the study, the main reasons of cost-inefficiency are high production costs and inability to attract advertisers. “Many of the government newspapers solve these problems by means of State subsidies and forced subscription campaigns – also supported by the government”, — says the study.

There are no daily newspapers in Tajikistan, and most printing outlets have only up to three thousand copies, which means the lack of access to the printing media.

For a more thorough and detailed study, the OSCE Center in Dushanbe is going to convene a meeting of editors and managers of Tajik newspapers. The meeting is scheduled for January 2008.

http://www.asiaplus.tj/

The Tajik National Association of Independent Media (NANSMIT) reregistered in the Ministry of Justice

On 21 December 2007, Nuriddin Karshibaev, chairman of NANSMIT received a certificate on registration of the NGO he is heading from the Ministry of Justice. Davlat Sulaimonov, head of the State Registration of Public Units and Political Parties under the Ministry handed the certificate to Nuriddin Karshibaev and wished success to his NGO that strengthens democratic institutions by means of developing independent media in the country.

Karshibaev thanked the Ministry officials for timely preparation of documents for registration. “We look forward to further fruitful cooperation in the name of development of the civil society in Tajikistan”, — said Karshibaev.

The process of registration of public units in Tajikistan commenced in August 2007, in accordance with the requirements of the new Law “On Public Units” endorsed on 12 May 2007. Re-registration will continue until 1 January 2008. Activities of public organizations that failed to reregister until the established term will be terminated according to the legislation.

NANSMIT Monitoring service

On 13 December, after a two-month recess, the Firdavsi district court in Dushanbe recommenced hearings on the criminal case of Saida Kurbanova, editor of “Ovoza” weekly and two correspondents – Mukhayo Nozimova and Farangis Nabieva

In mid October, at the beginning of investigation in court, the attorney of defendants Inoyat Inoyatov expressed distrust to the expert opinions performed by specialists of the Institute of Language under the Tajik Academy of Sciences and presented to the court. Taking into consideration the statement made by the attorney, Chairman of the hearing, Judge Akbar Safarov assumed a decision to send the text of the article titled “Raikhona pi-pi-pi… Afghanistan” published in the newspaper “Ovoza” on 21 June 2007 for a secondary consideration of a linguistic commission in order to receive a more objective assessment.

Upon the accomplishment of the first day of hearings, editor of the Tajik newspaper “Farazh” Khurshedi Niyoz informed the audience that according to the new linguistic assessment, the article contains criticism, but contains no words defaming honor and human dignity.

However, the Judge decided to invite the members of the linguistic commission, and the hearing was postponed.

The journalists of “Ovoza” are accused of violation of three articles of Tajikistan’s Criminal Code: Article 135, part two (libel in public speeches and publications); Article 136, part two (insult in public speeches and publications); and Article 144 (unlawful collection and dissemination of information on private life).

NANSMIT Monitoring Service

A two-day workshop started on 12 December in Dushanbe. The training covers the issues of access to official information and incentives for efficient cooperation between authorities and journalists

Organizers of the workshop are the OSCE Center in Tajikistan and the Tajik President’s Office.

“Political will of officials, provision of access to information, professionalism and sense of responsibility of the media stimulate the development of the society.” — said Vladimir Pryakhin, head of the OSCE Center in Dushanbe.
“The State guarantees equal rights on access to and dissemination of information.” – noted Saidmurod Fattoyev, State Advisor to the President on Social Development and Public Relations.

More than 30 participants took part in the workshop among whom there were journalists and representatives of the government press services. International and local experts conducted training sessions on legal and ethical principles of cooperation between the authorities and the media, and the global principles of access to information. The participants also discussed the main problems of communication between the government representatives and journalists.

In 2005, the OSCE Center in Dushanbe launched several training programs targeted to strengthening of relations between the State bodies and journalists.

http://www.toptj.com/