On December 9-10, 2008, Representative Office of Counterpart International in Kazakhstan organizes training for 28 participants who represent 15 Disabled People Organizations (DPOs) from 8 regional cities of the country. The title of the training is Strategic Planning and Financial Management and it is organized within the PRIDE program of Counterpart International and funded by the sponsorship of Citibank Kazakhstan.

The Counterpart's Strategic Planning and Financial Management training is designed to help organizations to identify and work through the specific problems that are restraining their movement to a higher level of development. The training component includes sections aimed to provide long-term technical assistance to organizations and assist them in creating a series of organizational policies, strategies and achieving financial sustainability based on developmental strategic planning. Training sessions also include the incorporation of organizational financial sustainability with a work plan, roles and responsibilities chart.

Financial management training is aimed to enhance the skills of participants in the areas of international standards of financial reporting, and accounting procedures for NGOs (non-governmental organizations) related to grant activity and transactions. Particular attention will also be paid to accountability of financial management and compliance with all relevant government regulations.

This will result in stronger and more financially sustainable DPOs in Kazakhstan which will in turn allow them to better serve and represent the needs of their constituencies.

Daniel Connelly, CEO of Citibank Kazakhstan said: “Financial education is a key priority for us at Citi - it is a natural extension of the work we do and our commitment to make a difference in the communities where we operate. In 2004, US-based Citi Foundation made a historic 10-year $200 million global commitment to support financial education and we are now well ahead of schedule in funding that commitment. As a part of this global program, Citibank Kazakhstan has supported Counterpart International to introduce this Strategic Planning and Financial Management training for 15 DPOs. We believe that this kind of training will promote financial literacy, help disabled people to be independent and enhance skills in the area of international standards of financial reporting requirements and accounting procedures for NGOs.”