Transparency data

Open Futures: objectives 2018 to 2019

Published 20 September 2018

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. The Programme seeks to advance our National Security Strategy and Foreign & Commonwealth Office objectives around projecting our influence and promoting our values by championing effective governance, democracy, civil society and human rights in the region. The programme also supports FCO objectives to prevent conflict and promote stability. This work supports the UK Aid Strategy in promoting global prosperity and strengthening global peace, security and governance helping to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

2. FCO objectives on open futures

The FCO’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
• help to maintain the space for civil society to contribute constructively to the creation of open and successful societies
• build capacity in civil services and government bodies to strengthen development of effective governance
• promote internationally recognised universal human rights and democratic participation, and improve respect for minority and vulnerable groups

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

The UK Aid Strategy underlines the importance of strengthening global peace, security and governance; this programme is seeking to tackle the causes of instability and insecurity in the region, and improve the Rule of Law. It also seeks to build capacity and to promote economic development, which will in turn contribute to the reduction of poverty and strengthening business opportunities, including for UK companies.

FCO 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

This programme’s key workstreams are:

• 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
• 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 financial year 2017 to 2018

Many of the challenges the programmes has addressed 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 2017 to 2018 include:

• building people to people links between UK institutions and future leaders from the region. This complements the programme’s work with the Chevening programme, which provided University scholarships across the 12 EECAD countries
• supporting civil society and human rights organisations. This included funding a local NGO in Uzbekistan to carry out visits to prisoners detained on politically motivated grounds
• supporting the newly established Astana International Exchange (AIE) on development, monitoring and enforcement of international rules.
• supporting a pilot project in Ukraine to help communities design more effective and transparent local budgets. This methodology is now being rolled out across the country