Soros Foundation – Kyrgyzstan (SFK) is informing its partners of appointment of Shamil Ibragimov as the new Executive Director.
After four years as the Executive Director, Kumar Bekbolotov left his post to continue education at the University of California, Berkley (USA), specializing in “social entrepreneurship”.
In April 2012, open competition was announced for the vacancy. In total 84 applications were received, including those from citizens of other countries. After preliminary screening, the Foundation’s Supervisory Board made a list of candidates for the position of the Executive Director and recommended them to Foundation’s Founder. The final decision was made by the Foundation’s Founder — Open Society Institute (New York). After consideration of all the candidates and several stages of the competition, Shamil Ibragimov was appointed as the new Executive Director, who begins to work on August 21.
Shamil Ibragimov was born in Kyrgyzstan. He has graduated from the Kyrgyz National University named after Balasagyn, with specialization in “international relations”. For the last three years he has worked as an Executive Director of the Eurasia Foundation in Central Asia. For a few years he has worked as a consultant to the USAID Enterprise Development Project, and as the Country Director for TFI International. He has experience in international institutions on conflict prevention and development of business environment.
“In program planning, the thematic priorities will remain unchanged since we continue implementing the approved 2011-2012 Strategy that will be extended to the next year. However, as throughout the whole period of its activity, the Foundation is ready to consider the needs beyond its programs. The priorities will continue to be given to those issues that are on the agenda of social life in Kyrgyzstan, where the Foundation’s may ensure the progress and improvement of the situation. On behalf of the Foundation, I would like to thank all the partners for cooperation and express intention to further promote the Open Society values as the head of the organization,”- Shamil Ibragimov, Executive Director of Soros Foundation – Kyrgyzstan said.
For nineteen years, Soros Foundation – Kyrgyzstan has been one of the key institutions in formation and development of civil society in the Kyrgyz Republic. During these years, the country received more than 60 million USD through SFK, for free. Currently, the Foundation is working in nine major program areas: legal and educational reforms, media support, public health, youth, budget transparency, information area, public administration, and East East Beyond Borders international cooperation program.
