Transparency data

Open Futures: objectives 2020 to 2021

Updated 24 June 2021

1. Overview

The overall aim of the Open Futures programme is to support the development of stable, open and prosperous countries in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region. Using International Programme funding, this work seeks to advance our National Security Strategies and departmental objectives to project our influence and promote our values by championing effective governance, democracy, civil society and human rights in the region.

2. Objectives on Open Futures

The FCDO’s work on Open Futures seeks to:

• invest in future EECA leaders in a range of fields, building links with UK institutions, cultures and values, and raise awareness of an alternative worldview
• help to maintain and strengthen the space for civil society to contribute constructively to the creation of open and successful societies
• build capacity and resilience in civil services and government bodies, supporting Public Sector Reform to strengthen development of effective governance and increased support for the Rule of Law
• promote internationally recognised universal human rights and democratic participation, including gender equality, and improve respect for minority and vulnerable groups
• empower independent media by building capacity and raising the professionalism of journalists, as well as providing higher quality products to local audiences, helping counter disinformation
• encourage economic reform and support socially-responsible business and investment ties that enable mutual prosperity

The countries covered by the Programme are Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.

3. Official Development Assistance (ODA) and Open Futures

FCDO Open Futures programmes are funded by a blend of ODA and non-ODA support. ODA scoring within Open Futures is limited to ODA-eligible activities in DAC-listed countries.

4. Open Futures project objectives for financial year (FY) 2020 to 2021

Open Futures contributes to the FCDO’s new strategic framework for ODA, primarily the commitments on open societies, but also climate change, gender, trade and economic development.

This programme’s key workstreams – delivered via individual projects - are to:

• build the capability of public and civic leaders to reform and improve governance across the region
• support the role of civil society groups in policy dialogue and democratic processes, and the full participation of minority groups (e.g. ethnic and religious) in national life
• increase resilience against threats to stability and economic growth, including issues such as corruption and poor labour rights
• support progress towards political and media pluralism, and greater access to basic freedoms, including freedoms of expression, association, religion and belief

5. Open Futures programme during FY 2019 to 2020

Many of the challenges the programme addresses are long term and deep-rooted in nature. Some key achievements of projects which contributed to the objectives of the open futures programme in financial year 2019 to 2020 include:

• building people to people links between UK institutions and future leaders from the region through the John Smith Trust (JST) Fellowship. The Programme helps Fellows develop plans in support of democracy, good governance, rule of law and social justice in their home countries. Last year the JST also strengthened their alumni network by holding relevant online speaker events. Previous fellows have gone on to drive change in their home countries, working in a range of sectors, including civil society, national and local government, public administration, media, environmental protection and law; and maintain strong links and affiliation with the UK. The Fellowship complements the Chevening programme, which provided University scholarships across the 12 EECAD countries
• supporting the capacity of media organisations. For example, projects have assisted in the training of 50 young independent journalists in Azerbaijan over 3 years. The long-term goal is to improve the quality of independent journalism
• raising public awareness of and responses to human rights violations in the region. We supported Ukraine to successfully implement its National Human Rights Strategy through developing the capacity of human rights defenders and strengthening human rights monitoring mechanisms. Through work with partners at UNDP, we supported capacity building at Turkmenistan’s Ombudsperson’s Office towards the practical implementation of the country’s National Human Rights Action Plan

6. Open Futures programme allocation for FY 2020 to 2021

The FY 2020 to 2021 ODA allocation for the Open Futures programme is £1.53 million.