On November 23, 2023, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) published a brief on civil society in Turkmenistan, titled “Civil Society Brief: Turkmenistan”, covering its development since independence and focusing on key aspects such as funding opportunities, capacities of CSOs, cooperation with donors like ADB, as well as legal and regulatory framework for civil society.
It is noted that given the small size of civil society in Turkmenistan, ADB has yet to implement projects involving CSOs. The updates on CSOs legal and operational framework in Turkmenistan by the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) have last been provided in 2018. The brief is based on ICNL’s assessment of the legal framework for civil society in Turkmenistan.
The brief provides a list of registered CSOs operating in Turkmenistan.
Below is the summary of key areas and issues addressed in the brief:
- Legal and Regulatory Framework
Turkmenistan’s legal framework recognizes citizens’ right to form civil society organizations (CSOs) through Public Associations (PA), but bureaucratic obstacles and limited autonomy hinder their effectiveness. In 2014, a revised law in Turkmenistan made CSO registration mandatory, leading to the disappearance of unregistered organizations. Since then, the country’s civil society has mainly comprised national PAs supported by the government, alongside local PAs and economic societies reliant on grants from various donors.
The registration process for PA has become more burdensome since 2014 and can take more than one year to complete, with denial of registration occurring without explanation. Although appeals of denials are possible, the process is rarely successful. Some organizations resort to registering as economic societies to avoid these challenges. The Ministry of Justice and the National Statistics Committee do not publicly provide data on CSOs in Turkmenistan, but based on an informal estimate, around 135 PAs operate in the country as of 2023. And while international CSOs can operate in Turkmenistan, none are officially registered as of 2023. Currently, a national PA must have at least 50 founding members to register, while a local PA must have at least five founding members.
- Government – Civil Society Relations
Although no legislative provision mandates the involvement of civil society in government decision making, and in theory CSOs have direct access to government policymakers, in practice their interactions are limited to social assistance, environmental protection, and implementation of the government’s national development programs.
- Funding of Civil Society Organizations
Funding for CSOs in Turkmenistan highlights disparities, with national PAs benefiting from significant government support, while other CSOs rely on limited foreign grants, which usually do not exceed USD 25,000. PAs sometimes contract with local government agencies to work on social services and youth programs. Corporate social responsibility programs are underdeveloped in Turkmenistan, yet private sector philanthropy is beginning to take hold.
- International Donors
The main international donors include the United States, the United Kingdom, the European Union, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), and the United Nations Development Programme.
For example, the US Embassy in Turkmenistan provides funding to CSOs through a small grants program. Additionally, USAID runs two projects in the region: the Social Innovation in Central Asia project (2019–2024) by the Eurasia Foundation, and the Safe Migration in Central Asia project (2019–2024) by Winrock International, aimed at preventing human trafficking, supporting survivors, and promoting safe migration. USAID with IOM also offers small grants to local CSOs, such as Dap-Dessur in Mary Province, which is implementing four projects funded through this channel. The OSCE collaborates with national institutions, unions, and PAs on gender mainstreaming, combating domestic violence, and addressing migration issues. Furthermore, a joint EU–UN program, Strengthening Resilience Against Violent Extremism in Asia, supports government and CSO efforts to resist violent extremism in local communities.
- Capacity of Civil Society Organizations
National PAs benefit from government backing and well-established structures, leaving other CSOs with limited resources and inadequate management. Organizations without support from international sources or the government often struggle to retain staff, leading to frequent changes in personnel. While tax exemptions delay closure, the lack of long-term plans threatens their survival.
