The European Union (EU) intends to finance a number of projects in Central Asia, which are related to migration issues and economic development, says RT.  

A special attention will be paid to human rights problems, gender equality and support of vulnerable groups.  The EU is reportedly ready to allocate more than €21 million 21 million euros for these purposes.  

RT notes that the grant for the projects is awarded by the International Center for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), the organization that is sponsored by the European Union. 

The tender description says that “the program on border management in Central Asia (BOMCA) represents a “long-term initiative.”  

The project reportedly provides for financing non-commercial organizations in five countries of the region: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. 

Among the stated tasks are: “providing assistance” to civil society organizations functioning in border areas; formation in society of discussions on migration and border areas.

The International Center for Migration Policy Development is an international organization founded in 1993.  ICMPD holds UN observer status and cooperates with more than 200 partners including EU institutions and UN agencies.

Active in more than 90 countries worldwide, ICMPD takes a regional approach in its work to create efficient cooperation and partnerships along migration routes.  Its three-pillar approach to migration management – structurally linking research, migration dialogues and capacity building – contributes to better migration policy development worldwide.  The Vienna-based organization has a mission in Brussels, a regional office in Malta and project offices in several countries.