The VIII «Insights into Development» International Conference
Organizers: Civil Society Development Association (ARGO), KIMEP University
Partners: PO “Educated Society”, Azerbaijan; NGO “Fidokor”, Tajikistan; Nature Protection Society, Turkmenistan; Civic Participation Fund, Kyrgyzstan.
Donor: USAID/CAR
Date and Venue: 28-29 June 2017, Almaty, Kazakhstan
Participants: representatives of existing civil society organizations (CSOs), civil society organizations leaders and experts, government officials working with civil society organizations, donors, representatives of international organizations.
For the first time for the Central Asian region countries the VIII International Conference «Insights into Development» was held with a view to promoting innovations in the civil society sphere. This conference makes it possible to improve quality of civil society organizations’ (CSOs) activities in Central Asian countries through sharing and introducing innovations, the latest methods and new approaches to addressing problems in the social sphere; building a constructive dialogue between CSOs and government authorities in Central Asia and other Asian region countries to promote innovative practices and sharing experiences.
Topics of the conference have encompassed a wide range of issues about innovations in civil society. The participants discussed innovations and opportunities for their introduction into civil society in Central Asian countries, took part in plenary sessions, panel discussions and activities in a ‘side event’ format. One of the conference days comprised master classes dedicated to new social technologies for the work with target groups.
During the conference, an awarding ceremony of CSO New vision Award! winners in Central Asian countries and Azerbaijan was held. This contest was conducted to identify best practices of how CSOs can tell about their achievements and promote a CSO positive image in a new fashion by using state-of-the-art technologies. The selection committee, consisting of representatives of ministries, donor and international organizations, experts, reviewed 41 applications and selected 9 winner presentations: two from each Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, one from Azerbaijan and one from Turkmenistan.
After a call for applications and collection of articles for the «Insights into Development-2017» Book had been announced, the ARGO team received 194 questionnaires from Central Asian countries, and a request for participation of 3 people from Afghanistan and 25 articles for the book.
According to the «Partnership for Innovations» Program working plan, an expected number of conference participants was 150 people from 5 countries such as Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. In fact, more than 200 people took part in the conference: leaders and representatives of civil society organizations, government authorities, representatives of higher educational institutions and international organizations, journalists, experts from 14 countries, including delegates from Afghanistan.
A final document of the VIII International Conference «Insights into Development», 28-29 June 2017 in Almaty became a Resolution, being a “Сivic Asia” Call to Action! Almaty Declaration for civil society organizations (CSOs).
In the Resolution the participants manifested their commitment to the world where diversity is maintained, social cohesion is enhanced; a cross-cultural dialogue and understanding, tolerance, mutual respect, gender equality, innovations, entrepreneurship are strengthened, as well as cultural identity, security and dignity of all people. Also, they identified the following strategic priorities for actions:
Sustainable communities and civic participation; Initiative for mitigation and adaptation to climate change impacts; Gender equality promotion; Youth leadership development; Migration; Conflict and violent extremism prevention; Favorable space expansion for civil society organizations; Interaction with government authorities.