Central Asia & South Caucasus

Regional Reviewer: Roza Salibekova
Institutional Affiliation: Independent Consultant

Overview

A few major events have impacted the philanthropic environment in the Central Asia and South Caucasus region between 2021 and 2023, including: the war in Ukraine, which affects Belarus, Russia, and other countries in the region, including Georgia and Kazakhstan; the strengthening of the authoritarian regime in Belarus; and the Second Karabakh War between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Due to the Ukraine war and imposed restrictions, sending or receiving cross-border donations is not possible. Civil unrest in Belarus has negatively affected civil society organizations (CSOs), with many activists imprisoned or leaving the country. Armenia and Azerbaijan saw a rise in philanthropy, as many donations were driven toward the victims of the war. The Azerbaijani government’s refusal to sign the Istanbul Convention, which is focused on preventing and combating domestic violence and violence against women, has spurred activism and advocacy around gender equity in Azerbaijan. Conditions of receipt of foreign aid worsened in some of the region’s countries. Since the appointment of a new Minister of Justice in Azerbaijan, for example, receiving funds from abroad has become a major challenge in that country. Additionally, Georgia and the Kyrgyz Republic both adopted legislation on “foreign agents,” a development which, though outside the temporal scope of this research, nevertheless demonstrates negative trends in the region. The relationship between state institutions and civil society organizations underwent significant strain due to factors surrounding Georgia’s integration into the European Union. Governments of Kazakhstan and Russia have been making consistent efforts to support and promote practices of philanthropy and involve citizens and commercial firms in philanthropic activities. A number of positive legislative changes were introduced in Kazakhstan, for example. Since the last presidential and parliamentary elections, and the subsequent formation of a new government, the Kyrgyz Republic has witnessed significant efforts to combat corruption.  

View the full 2025 GPEI Central Asia and South Caucasus regional report:

View Central Asia & South Caucasus Report