Red Crescent Society of Kazakhstan

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Patience Malone
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1 Red Crescent Society of Kazakhstan Founded: 1937 Members: 227,960 (including 139,203 paid memberships) (2004) Volunteers: 75,671 Staff: 140 Expenditure: KZT 221,154,503 (CHF 1,923,082) (2004) 1. National context 1 Kazakhstan became independent in 1991 following the break-up of the Soviet Union. During the 1990s, the country went through a process of economic liberalization which has led to a fall in living standards for many Kazakhs. Recent years have seen significant economic growth in Kazakhstan, which has been conducive to overall poverty reduction. Nevertheless, 24 per cent of the Kazakhstani population in 2002 lived in absolute poverty with incomes below the subsistence minimum of 4,761 Tenge (31 US dollars) per month. Unemployment remains a serious socioeconomic problem. Currently, state social benefits and targeted social assistance have failed to provide for decent living standards for their beneficiaries. The recent deterioration of many health indicators in Kazakhstan was caused by the following factors: reduced public spending on health care, decreasing numbers of qualified physicians, deteriorating health care facilities, insufficient preventive measures, low quality of medical services, environmental degradation, and low cultural commitment to healthy lifestyles. Kazakhstan reports to have a higher HIV/AIDS prevalence than its four neighboring Central Asia countries combined. According to expert evaluation, around 13,000 people live with HIV/AIDS in Kazakhstan at present. More than 50 per cent of HIV infected persons belong to the group aged Injection drug users represent 77.5 per cent of HIV-infected people. Since 1995, the number of Tuberculosis (TB) cases progressively increased and in 2002 culminated. Official statistics says in 2004 it was per 100,000 people (against in 2003). Currently, detection and treatment of multi-drug resistant TB forms is an extremely important issue in Kazakhstan. Immigration coupled with internal migration affects the living conditions of migrants, in particular oralmans (repatriates) and refugees. Migration from rural to urban areas (high urbanization rates) aggravates urban poverty. Large families with many children further increase the risk of poverty, especially in rural areas. Other vulnerable groups are single -parent families, the elderly and the disabled. Kazakhstan has already achieved two of the Millennium Development Goals : to provide universal primary education and to provide equal access to education for boys and girls. Capital: Astana Population: 14.9 million GNP per capita: US$ 1,656 (2002) Life expectancy: 66.2 years (2002) Infant mortality rate: 61 per 1,000 live births (2002) Adult literacy rate: 99.4 per cent 1 Sources: Poverty in Kazakhstan: Causes and Cures, UNDP 2004; Human Development Report 2004; state statistics

2 2. Foundation Mission The Red Crescent Society of Kazakhstan (RCSK) has a mission statement that is outlined in the society s statutes and communicated to all branches. It is to prevent and mitigate vulnerability, to create atmosphere of respect to human dignity complying with tolerance and antidiscrimination. The statutes were last reviewed at the society s congress in March Currently, the statutes are under revision, and it is anticipated that the new document will be adopted by the congress in The RCSK is guided by the Fundamental Principles of the Movement and the International Federation s Strategy The society has designed its own Strategic plan for , which is focused on searching new initiatives, finding ways to move forward to adjust to the changing environment and to overcome difficulties and constraints. Legal base The RCSK was founded in 1937 as a member of the Soviet Alliance of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and became independent in A presidential decree confirmed the legal status of the society the same year. The society used a double emblem until 2002, when it officially adopted the red crescent as its only emblem, and became the Red Crescent Society of Kazakhstan. In 2003 the RCSK became a member of the International Federation. The RCSK has a generally positive public image among the population. The RCSK works closely with the government, with which it has an agreement for joint disaster preparedness and response activities. This close cooperation does not affect the society s independence. Some branches receive substantial support from the local government while others do not have such a good relationship. The society has been trying for several years to obtain a privileged tax status. Constituency The RCSK is present throughout the country with the headquarters and 18 branches: 14 oblast (regional) branches, two territorial branches, and two city branches. Some oblast branches include district and town subbranches. In addition, 88 representatives of the RCSK operate in a number of districts with oblast subordination. In compliance with the statutes, management and governance functions in branches are separated. 3. Capacity Leadership Congress is the highest governing body of the RCSK which meets every five years. The last national congress took place in The society s president was elected at the congress and a vice president was later appointed. The national council, elected by the congress, meets annually and performs governance functions at national level between the congresses. It has 43 members and includes 10 representatives of governmental, non-governmental and business structures. The executive council is a standing governing body working between the meetings of the national council. It has 15 members and meets quarterly. The national committee (headquarters) is based in Almaty. It mostly consists of programme coordinators and manages all operating and finance issues under control of the president and the vice-president. The leadership of the branches works relatively independently from the national committee and also aims to adjust fundraising campaigns and activities to the new social and economic realities.

3 Human resources The RCSK has a total of 140 staff members. However, the number does not include the personnel of the national socie ty s owned facilities (nursery care hospitals, charity houses etc.). The headquarters employs 43 staff (33 professional and ten technical staff). Branches employ two or more staff, depending on their financial situation. The society has 227,960 members and 75,671 volunteers. Volunteers are involved in various activities within the programmes like disaster management, health and care, IHL and fundamental principles dissemination, migration, and others. Financial resources In 2004 the RCSK s expenditure amounted to CHF 1,923,082 (KZT 221,154,503). There is no funding provided for the society activities from the government budget. However, in 2004 the society received CHF 431,304 from the local government budgets and internal donor organizations for certain social projects. In accordance with the statutes, branches transfer 8 to 15 per cent of the gross revenue to the centralized RSCK fund (its functions are listed in the statutes) basing on the developed scale of allocations. Material resources The national committee of the RCSK owns part of the building in which it is located (the rest is owned by the health ministry). The national committee has six vehicles, and several branches own 12 vehicles as well. Nine oblast branches own buildings, which accommodate their offices and are partly rented out to others. The RCSK owns required number of computers and office equipment. The national committee has Internet connection. Organization/planning The society has a Strategic plan for , which highlights the following priorities: expanding and strengthening the activities focused on assisting the most vulnerable, responding to their humanitarian needs; building a positive image of the society and the International Movement; breeding the responsible attitude and forming association of all members, volunteers and staff with the organization; establishing and developing cooperation and partnerships with state structures, governmental bodies, different international humanitarian organizations, business structures, as well as with other components of the Movement; consolidating the society through organizational development. Ten chapters of the Strategic plan cover the activities of the national society in strategic areas organizational development, international activities, dissemination of humanitarian values, the Movement s Fundamental Principles and international humanitarian law, youth movement development, disaster preparedness, health and care, migration and assistance to refugees, tracing service, strengthening the financial and material resources base. Partnerships The society woks directly with the International Federation, the ICRC, Netherlands Red Cross (branch development in Aral Sea zone), Spanish Red Cross (street children, TB prevention), UAE Red Crescent (assistance to orphans) and international partner organizations UNHCR (assistance to refugees), UNDP (disaster preparedness), Counterpart International, Project HOPE and others. 4. Performance Activities Disaster preparedness In 2000, the RCSK developed, along with the agency for emergency of Kazakhstan, a national disaster preparedness plan in which the role of the RCSK and other NGOs in disaster preparedness and response was identified and officially approved. Since the end of 2000, four regional disaster preparedness centres were

4 established where rapid response teams are functioning. The centres store regional stocks of emergency items to support the population in case of disaster. Minor stocks have also been formed in each of 18 oblast and territorial branches of the Red Crescent society. Over the yeas the programme developed a comprehensive approach to disaster management that includes not only disaster response, but other elements like mitigation of disaster consequences, risk mapping etc. The role of the national society in disaster preparedness is increasing. Each year the society provide humanitarian assistance to victims of disasters (worth of USD 2.5 to 5 million), medical-social support, train the staff and volunteers of the society and population in disaster preparedness, produce and disseminate training films, booklets, posters and brochures to communities. Health The society has three hospitals with a total of 110 beds, three mercy houses able to provide shelter for a total of 165 people, three Red Crescent wards for 35 beds, four pharmacies and two medical humanitarian centres (one of which is for refugees), and four training centres. Three centres are equipped for first-aid training (in Almaty, Karaganda and Ust-Kamenogorsk). The branches are now responsible for their own fundraising, with varying success, to support the programme. In total, there are 82 people working in hospitals and mercy houses. The society has a long experience of health educational activities. Ten thousands of students of schools and higher educational institutions gained the knowledge of harmful effect of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse, HIV and sexually-transmitted diseases prevention through the programme Youth and healthy life style running since The HIV/AIDS prevention programme aims to raise awareness of the disease among youth. The national society also works with risk groups intravenous drug users and sex workers in four cities of the country (Astana, Karaganda, Semipalatinsk and Ust-Kamenogorsk). Four groups of trainers and 16 groups of volunteers-instructors have been trained to support these activities. Two friendly centres function in Almaty and Ust-Kamenogorsk within the framework of the harm reduction project. There is also a hotline that has been functioning in Almaty city for two years to render psychological assistance to young people, including drug users. Since 1998 the Red Crescent society of Kazakhstan is a member of the European network of the Red Cross and Red Crescent societies to fight HIV/AIDS (ERNA). The national society also runs the visiting nurses programme in five regions of the country to provide social support to vulnerable people with tuberculosis under post hospital treatment. Organizational development Organizational development aims at strengthening the national society s independent, effective and efficient activities to reduce the vulnerability of the population. At present the Red Crescent society defines development as a process through which the vulnerable groups of population can become less vulnerable. Development is also seen as consolidation of the national society to perform its humanitarian mandate and implies: developing and improving sustainable financial base, finding new funding sources; improving financial management; bringing the statutes and other legal documents in compliance with the Movement standards and local legislation; applying modern governance and management practices; recognizing the important role of volunteers and youth in the national society s work, devising the appropriate policy on human resources development.

5 Youth The society runs 14 youth centres throughout the country. The members of youth organizations held charity actions, provide care to lonely elderly, street children, people with disabilities and assist families with many children. The key objectives of the youth movement are: healthy life style and humanitarian values promotion, training of young people in disaster preparedness and first aid, and breeding mercy and humanity in youth. Red Crescent youth participate in dissemination of humanitarian values, disaster management and organizational development programmes, mercy teams, internet-clubs, assistance to street children and a hot line. Refugees According to the data of the UNHCR there are 15,800 refugees residing in Kazakhstan. They are mostly people from Chechnya, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and other countries. The RCSK run the programme to support refugees since The programme aims to assist the refugees in solving their most acute social problems and with accessing primary health care in line with the international rules. International humanitarian law Since 1995 the national society regularly conducts seminars, lectures and other events to disseminate the norms of the international humanitarian law among government authorities, military structures, teaching staff and students of all types of educational institutions and general public. Annually around 30,000 people are covered with dissemination activities. A new element of the programme dissemination of knowledge through trained volunteers from professional teaching personnel was introduced by the national society in Since then teaching staff from 12 military chairs and 14 journalistic departments of the universities have been trained. Tracing Every year 300 to 500 people apply to the RCSK s tracing service for help. The service assists with: communicating information between families separated by armed conflicts and disasters; tracing of documents confirming the facts of detention in concentration camps, ghetto and forced labour on the territory of Germany, after evacuation or deportation during the World War II; tracing of persons missing as a result of armed conflicts; searching for war graves and certification of preservation of war graves abroad; on request from the family members tracing of persons with whom the contact has been suddenly lost.

Ukrainian Red Cross Society

Ukrainian Red Cross Society Founded: 18 April 1918 Members: 5,000,000 (2004) Volunteers: 70,000 (2004) Staff: 800 employees and 3,200 visiting nurses (2004) Expenditure: UAH 1,752,000 (CHF 438,000 or EUR