The NGO Expert Center’s team has accumulated an extensive amount of work experience in the education of the private sector. This experience involves a skilled approach to task solving that is taught to the Center’s clients.
The main responsibility of staff members is to provide assistance in carrying out the activities of the Center, along with organizing various events, and providing access to a resource bank of information.
Bakhytnur Otarbayeva
The Chief Executive, the NGO Expert Center
"Dear colleagues! I would like to congratulate everyone on the launch of the NGO Expert Center’s website! I look forward to active and effective collaboration. I am confident that the site will be informative and useful due to your creative ideas and constructive proposals."
Bakhytnur Otarbayeva, the Chief Executive, the NGO Expert
Bakhytnur Otarbayeva graduated from the Kazakh State University. She worked as a teacher at Almaty State University named after Abay. After she was awarded a Fulbright scholarship in 1994, she worked as a visiting professor at Indiana University Bloomington, USA. In 1996 Bakhytnur Otarbayeva received a scholarship from the Woodrow Wilson International Center, and worked at the Kennan Institute in Washington as a scholar. In 1997 she participated in the research project, entitled “Scientific Resources in the Study of Central Asia” at the Harvard Forum for Central Asian Studies under the guidance of Dr. John Schoeberlein.
Since 1997, Otarbayeva has worked at the Soros Foundation-Kazakhstan as the national coordinator. Otrabayeva then worked as the Executive Director of the Social Fund “National Debate Center”, which has become one of the most prestigious and popular training centers among young intellectuals. In 2003 she joined the International Development Evaluation Association’s (IDEA) Board in the Netherlands. She was also the president of the Fulbright Association of Kazakhstan (FASK) in 2002-2007.
Bakhytnur Otarbayeva took part in various national and international seminars, courses, and conferences dedicated to management, strategic planning, fundraising and leadership. These national and international seminars, course, and conferences include the Central European University in Budapest (Austria), the Czech Republic, Croatia, Poland, the USA and Turkey.
In addition, Otarbayeva is a graduate of the Central Eurasia Leadership Academy. In 2005 she won Joel Fleishman’s scholarship on Civil Society at Duke University (North Carolina, USA). In 2007 she worked as vice-director of the International Relations Department at the Kazakh Economic University named after Turar Ryskulov. In 2010 Otarbayeva defended a Ph.D. thesis in Political Science on the subject “The Formation of Social Partnership in Kazakhstan”. In 2012 she won the JFDP grant, and was invited to Indiana University as a visiting professor. She is a board member of the Public Fund “Wikibilim”. Apart from speaking three languages – Kazakh, Russian, and English – Otarbayeva also understands various Turkic languages. Currently Bakhytnur Otarbayeva works at the International Academy of Business as an associate professor of the General Disciplines Department, and is the head of the NGO Expert Center.
Alma Sholpankulova
Project Manager, EFCA
"I am glad to congratulate you on the opening of the NGO Expert Center’s website! I hope that it will provide you with new opportunities for communication, exchange of experience, professional development, and the expression of new ideas!"
Alma has been working at EFCA since August 2012. Before joining EFCA, Alma worked as a regional manager of the education and youth development programs for the U.S. Peace Corps in Kazakhstan.
Alma coordinated the work of Peace Corps volunteers in the southern regions of Kazakhstan for 10 years. In particular, she was responsible for developing and conducting training sessions, assisting in project planning and management, and taking part in the design and implementation of the Environmental Program Project Plan for U.S. Peace Corps in Kazakhstan.
Alma's awards and achievements include:
- Letter of recognition for contribution in developing “The Classroom Management Idea Book” (U.S. Embassy, 2009)
- Letter of recognition for contribution and coordination of the “World Wise Schools” program (Washington, USA, 2010)
- Holds a diploma for the completion of studies at the Almaty Institute of Foreign Languages (Almaty, 1985)
- Trainer’s International Certificate in Environmental Studies (Romania, 2003)
- Certificate awarded by U.S. Peace Corps for working in Education and Organization of training sessions program (Washington DC, USA, 2005)
Konarova
Project Assistant, EFCA
«We hope that our site will become an informational hub for the dissemination of high-level knowledge in the sphere of civic education. Our site is accessible to everyone around the clock, and we are always ready to provide professional consultation and assistance»
works at the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia as an assistant of the “NGO Leader Capacity Development Initiative” program and “Rural Civil Society Support Program” since August 2013. graduated with an economics degree from the International Academy of Business in 2012, and is currently pursuing her studies at the Modern University for the Humanities (Moscow, Russia). During her studies in the Academy, interned twice in the company „FoodMaster – Ice Cream” based in Almaty. also has a certificate in accounting and has successfully completed internships in the local business sector. was selected for participatinion in a number of international trainings, including “Youth of the 21st Century: Debates and Producing of Mass Media” (Kyrgyzstan, 2012) and “SICampCA” (Tajikistan, 2013), where her project “Website of Trust 911” took the prize. is also the winner of the Republican-level art competitions – in 2012 won prizes from the Embassy of the Republic of Cuba in Kazakhstan and from the Faculty of Journalism of Al-Farabi Kazakhstan National University. has been engaged in civic activities from a young age, volunteering with NGOs in Akmola oblast and later with Civil Alliance of Kazakhstan, where she suppported national social projects in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakshtan. is also active in debate competitions.
Kuanysheva Ainur
Coordinator, NGO Expert Centre
“I hope that it will provide you with new opportunities for communication, exchange of experience, professional development”
In 2012 graduated from East Kazakhstan State University named Sarsen Amanzholova, in degree program me of economic. In 2013, I’m successfully completed the Masters in International Academy of Business in Finance program.
In 2011, took courses on national financial reporting standards, taxation and program "1C -Accounting ." Participated in the National Student Movement "Students Alliance of Kazakhstan" 2008 2009. Participated in a conference of young scientists and students "Contribution of young researchers in the industrial - innovative development of Kazakhstan" in 2010 .
Participated in the II Republican scientific conference of students and young scientists "Unity of Education, Science and Innovation" took 1st place, 2011 Member of the educational project: educational trading " Exchange Simulator " STrade "" 2012 Member of the Forum of youth entrepreneurship within the International "Global Entrepreneurship Week " 2013. Prior to joining the IAB, worked in the following organizations: 03.01.13 - 01.07.13 - BPH NIIETF RSE Kazakh National University. Al-Farabi, position - economist. 01.11.13 - 24.01.14 - SI "Education Management EKR" position - statistician accounting department and public procurement.The International Academy of Business working from January 2014, to the position coordinator Expert Center NGO.
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Bakhytnur Otarbayeva, 
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