Turkmenistan, part of the Soviet Union until 1991, is nestled among Afghanistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and the Caspian Sea. Turkmenistan operates under a single-party political system and is currently led by its second president since achieving independence.

QED is implementing the USAID Turkmenistan Governance Strengthening Project (GSP), which provides technical expertise, training and material assistance to the Government of Turkmenistan. The GSP supports national reforms initiated by the government through a mix of strategic technical and capacity building assistance activities, including training; study tours; and short-term technical assistance.

QED’s GSP team organized a national women’s seminar in November 2011 which brought together the Women’s Union of Turkmenistan, particularly civil servants, and government officials from central and regional government offices around the country. The seminar focused on increasing the qualifications of women civil servants. The GSP team worked closely with the School of Business under the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs to establish an innovative program and agenda for the three day meeting.

In addition, the team has helped USAID train more than 60 government officials on effectively using email, online information sharing, Skype, and other programs. The GSP team is also organizing trainings for government officials from the Ministry of Finance of Turkmenistan, particularly on financial management and reporting, covering important aspects of governance such as transparent budget oversight and accountability.

QED’s work includes increasing knowledge of effective governance practices, increasing the practice of inclusive dialogue and information sharing, and assisting the government to better develop and implement legislation and policies. QED is seeking to enhance public dialogue, policy discussions, and conferences related to key governance issues important to Turkmenistan’s development.

The GSP is a project under USAID’s Encouraging Global Anti-corruption and Good Governance Efforts (ENGAGE) IQC.