Project description:

The project was implemented within 18 month period, starting in fall 2012 by Regional Center of Expertise on Education for Sustainable Development (RCE KG) (www.ias.unu.edu: www.rce-networking.org) and Resource Center CACSARC-kg (www.cacsarc.kg). The project facilitated rising of living standards of project participants by increasing operational efficiency and level of cooperation between producer/marketing chain of handicraft/textile industry, revival of traditional handicrafts knowledge on a country and transboundary levels. For the first time in the Central Asian region the project applied mechanism of mentorship, the project managed to build a team of mentors and interns.

Subjects of producer/marketing chain of handicraft/textile industry:

1. Production:

• Raw materials suppliers;

• Entrepreneurs;

• Specialists-producers;

• Investors.

2. Production distribution:

• Marketing specialists;

• Intermediate party;

• Ordering party/customers;

• Civic parties.

The project recruited participants and active in three countries of Central Asia, however, states are on a different levels of development and are not cooperating with each other. The project included training for Afghan interns in order to prepare for possible replication in Afghanistan with future funding.

The project aimed to establish sustainable connections between the subjects within the chain and between the countries by:

• Motivation;

• Awareness;

• Trainings;

• Civic Partnership;

• Mentoring.

Ostrich and public relation

The project distributed on a regular basis; information to public on progress of project through: articles in media and internet; TV programs; radio programs; creation of media products; press conferences etc.