From 12 to 17 November, the Institute for Advanced International Studies (IAIS) at the University of World Economy and Diplomacy launched its Resource Mobilization Training. The program was implemented as part of IAIS’s institutional development initiative under the PRIM grant within the World Bank-supported project “Modernizing Uzbekistan’s National Innovation System (MUNIS)”. The training marked the beginning of a systematic effort to strengthen the Institute’s capacity to attract, manage and utilize external resources for research and policy activities.
The initiative was launched in response to IAIS’s increasing engagement in international partnerships and grant-based projects, as well as the growing need for sustainable funding mechanisms. Building a shared institutional approach to resource mobilization and enhancing staff skills in donor engagement, proposal development and financial planning were identified as essential steps toward improving IAIS’s long-term competitiveness in the scientific and policy landscape of Central Asia and beyond.
The sessions were led by Professor Elena Korosteleva, Director of the Institute for Global Sustainable Development (IGSD). The program covered key elements of resource mobilization, including identifying funding opportunities, aligning project concepts with donor priorities, structuring competitive proposals, planning and allocating resources, and mitigating financial and operational risks. Participants engaged in interactive exercises focused on real institutional needs, exploring practical scenarios related to fundraising, grant applications and partnership development.
During the discussions, participants emphasized that the presented tools would help improve the quality of proposal preparation, strengthen accountability in resource planning, enhance transparency in financial processes, and support more effective coordination across departments. Particular attention was given to the importance of building long-term donor relationships and establishing standardized procedures for monitoring and reporting.
The completed training represents an important milestone in expanding IAIS’s institutional capacity for sustainable resource mobilization. It has laid the foundation for a more strategic approach to securing external funding and enhancing the Institute’s readiness to lead and participate in joint research initiatives.
The program will continue with subsequent modules aimed at developing skills in proposal writing, donor communication, and strategic oversight, enabling IAIS to move toward a more systematic and results-oriented resource mobilization model.
