RFE Governance and Civic Leadership Program

Beginning in October 2005, FRAEC launched Enhancing Local Governance and Civic Leadership in the Russian Far East. Funded by the U.S. Department of State, Office of Citizen Exchanges, this two-year activity in two regions of the Russian Far East, Primorsky Krai and Khabarovsk, worked to improve the capacity of local government and civic leaders to:

Promote local governance that is more transparent and responsive to citizens’ needs,
Increase understanding of techniques to improve governance, anti-corruption, and accountability practices, and,
Develop and enhance professional and personal linkages between U.S. and Russian communities that will lead to sustained interaction in the future.

Activities include hosting two delegations of Russian Far East local leaders in the Pacific Northwest in the first year of the program. Participants spent three weeks in the region with local government, civic and business leaders and experienced U.S. local governance, civil society, and citizen involvement in government. Following their return to Russia, FRAEC continued to work with the delegations to implement projects in their local communities that promoted open and transparent governmental processes and increased citizen participation.

In the second year of the program, two groups of Pacific Northwest local leaders and trainers traveled to the Russian Far East to continue instruction and consultation on these topics. In addition to working with program participants, this team conducted trainings for up to 300 members of communities in the RFE to raise awareness and improve skills that they can use to increase citizen involvement and good governance in their regions.

Russian and American citizens and local leaders had the opportunity to develop long-term personal and professional relationships that improved cultural and economic ties between both our regions.

FRAEC’s partners included Seattle-based trainer and consultant Mr. Robert Ness, the World Affairs Council of Oregon, and Professionals for Cooperation in Russia.