Irkutsk Information Center

The center was established in 1994 by the Citizens' Information Initiative with funding from The Eurasia Foundation to "establish a center for professional development" in Irkutsk. Currently the center also acts as an East Siberian representative for Interlegal, based in Moscow, and coordinates Russian projects for the New York State-based organization Ecologically Sustainable Development, Inc.

The center provides logistical, communication and networking services for foreign and Russian organizations, for Irkutsk and foreign business people, and for Irkutsk professionals such as scientists, doctors, and journalists. It provides consultation to local organizations in writing grant proposals and business plans. It provides information about organizations and businesses in Irkutsk to potential partners abroad.

The center promotes the use of electronic mail communication. It works in close cooperation with Omniworld Communications, an Irkutsk Relcom node dedicated to the support of local NGOs in the use of computer-mediated communication.

The center also represents the first U.S. government-funded project that promotes professional development through information links in the large and rapidly developing region of East Siberia. The center provides assistance to women and to other less empowered groups in Russia. Half of the board members are women, as are all of the staff.

The organization also works with the Eugene (Oregon)-Irkutsk Sister City Association, East-West Business Association, and Baikal Watch/Center for Citizen Initiatives.

Last updated:    June 1997

A print version of much of the information contained in this NIS Third Sector Organizations section can be found in the The Post-Soviet Handbook (Seattle and London: University of Washington Press, 1999).

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