The Rumsfeld Foundation is pleased to announce the 11 professionals who were selected to participate in the Fall 2018 session of the Central Asia-Caucasus Fellowship Program. Launched in 2008, the Program is a partnership with the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council which brings rising young leaders from Central Asia, the Caucasus, Afghanistan and Mongolia to the United States to promote better understanding and stronger relations among the people of the ten countries of the region, as well as between the United States and the region. The Program aims to foster dialogue and an exchange of ideas among exceptional young professionals working across all sectors and encourages increased regional cooperation.
To view the full announcement, please click here: 
Fall 2018 Fellows Annoucement
As participants of the 21st Fellowship session, the Fall 2018 group will join the Program’s growing alumni network of 195 former Fellows.
Throughout their six-week program, the Fellows will attend a series of private high-level meetings with top policy-makers, business leaders, journalists, academics, military personnel and regional experts exposing them to inside perspectives on how opinion making, decision making and policy making processes work in the U.S. The group will also spend a week traveling to additional cities including Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Greater Milwaukee, Wisconsin and New York City, New York for meetings with local businesses and officials, providing them a view of the U.S. beyond the nation’s capital. In addition to group meetings, the Program staff will assist Fellows in arranging individual meetings for their independent research projects and provide opportunities for professional development and networking. The Fellows will also participate in a group presentation at a Central Asia-Caucasus Institute public forum toward the end of their program, where they will engage with representatives from local embassies, businesses, universities, the media and others interested in current perspectives from the region.
The Fall 2018 Fellows consist of a diverse group of talented regional leaders:
Ms. Hadeia Amiry – Afghanistan – Deputy Director General of the Fifth Political Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan in charge of the Americas, Australia and New Zealand Bureau. Research topic: “Importance of Regional Connectivity in Contemporary Politics”
Ms. Anna Sarkisyan – Armenia – International security expert with extensive experience in project management in Armenia and the South Caucasus; recently affiliated with the Defense and Security Program of Transparency International Armenia and the Open Governance Research & Development Unit Project at the UNDP. Research topic: “Diplomacy Index for the South Caucasus, Central Asia, Afghanistan and Mongolia”
Mr. Rufat Abbasov – Azerbaijan – Founding partner at Synergy Partnership, an Azerbaijan-based PR and marketing company which offers clients exceptional content including consultancy, strategic communications, advertising, social media management and influencer marketing. Research topic: “Entrepreneurship in the CAMCA Region”
Ms. Natia Gvenetadze – Georgia – Head of the Professional and Institutional Development Department at the Defense Institution Building School (DIBS) at the Ministry of Defense of Georgia; currently pursuing a PhD in Conflict Analysis and Management at Tbilisi State University. Research Topic: “Security Issues in the Black Sea-Caspian Region and Prospects of Regional Cooperation”
Mr. Ruslan Kozhakhmetov – Kazakhstan – Vice-Rector for Corporate Development at Almaty Management University, a private business university, where he is responsible for finance, operations, campus development and digitalization. Research Topic: “Development of an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in Kazakhstan and the CAMCA Region”
Mr. Nurlan Kyshtobaev – Kyrgyzstan – Partner at GRATA Law Firm, a legal consulting firm with 26 years of experience in Central Asia and the Caucasus, where he manages the firm’s offices in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan representing a wide range of domestic and international corporations. Research topic: “UN Security Council Reform: Possible Implications for the CAMCA Region”
Mr. Enerelt Batbold – Mongolia – Director of the Finance Department/Chief Financial Officer at the Mongolian Railways State-Owned Shareholding Company; Independent Board Member at the National Investment Bank of Mongolia where he heads the Risk and Audit Committee and supervises the formation and execution of bank policies and strategies. Research topic: “Trade Facilitation and Infrastructure Development in Mongolia and the Greater Central Asia-Caucasus Region”
Mr. Munkhnaran Bayarlkhagva – Mongolia – Policy Analyst at the National Security Council of Mongolia; experienced international elections observer. Research Topic: “Small State Soft Power Strategies: A Case Study of Mongolia”
Ms. Zarrina Abdulalieva – Tajikistan – Country Officer at the World Bank in Tajikistan managing the country portfolio, leading the dialogue and relationship with the government and participating in the development strategy for the country. Research topic: “Revival of the Great Silk Road: Arising Opportunities and Challenges”
Ms. Khilola Muminova – Uzbekistan – Director and Co-founder of Business Development Group (BDG), a consultancy company and a business school, accredited by the UK’s Chartered Institute of Marketing; Member of the Public Council under the Ministry of Information Technologies and Communications of Uzbekistan representing the interests of the Ministry of National Education of Uzbekistan in vocational education as a consultant. Research topic: “Vocational Education as the Foundation of an Efficient Market Economy in Uzbekistan”
Mr. Malik Mukhitdinov – Uzbekistan – Program Officer at the Japan International Cooperation Agency’s (JICA) Uzbekistan Representative Office coordinating cross-sector and regional projects in Uzbekistan in close partnership with different Uzbek government agencies, with countries of operation including Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia. Research topic: “The United States’ and Japan’s Engagement in the CAMCA Region: A Win–Win Game”
To learn more, visit the Central Asia-Caucasus Fellowship Program page.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Sarah C. Tonucci
Executive Director, Rumsfeld Foundation
1030 15th Street, NW, B1, # 366
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 944-1304
E-mail: s.tonucci@dhrllc.net
David Soumbadze
Director, Rumsfeld Fellowship Program
509 C Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
Tel: (301) 257-5753
E-mail: soumbadze@afpc.org