OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER FY 2005 BUDGET REQUEST The Open World Program was authorized by the U.S. Congress in 1999 as a result of discussions between Librarian of Congress Dr. James H. Billington and Members of Congress led by Senator Ted Stevens (AK) on ways to increase mutual understanding between Russia and the United States and to support Russia's efforts to strengthen its democratic reforms. The program is the first and only exchange program administered by the legislative branch of the U.S. Government. It takes as its model a small but disproportionately successful component of the Marshall Plan that brought young Germans to the United States after World War II to see for themselves how a free society works. The Open World Program was designed to bring emerging federal and local Russian political leaders to the United States to meet their American counterparts and gain firsthand knowledge of how American civil society works. Program participants experience American political life and see democracy in action, from the workings of the U.S. Congress to debates in local city councils. Since July 1999, Open World has brought 7,547 current and future Russian decision makers to America, where they have experienced American political and civic life in all 50 states. The success of the Open World approach and the continued importance of its mission led Congress, through the leadership of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittees, to establish in December 2000 a permanent, independent center to house the program: the Center for Russian Leadership Development at the Library of Congress, renamed February 20, 2003, the Open World Leadership Center (the Center). Program Leadership The Librarian of Congress, Dr. James H. Billington, serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees, with Senator Ted Stevens (AK) as honorary chairman. The Center's Board members are Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (TN), Senator Carl Levin (MI), Representative Amo Houghton (NY), Representative Robert E. "Bud" Cramer (AL), former Ambassador to Russia James F. Collins, former Representative James W. Symington, and financier and philanthropist George Soros. Program Objectives Open World was authorized to enable emerging young leaders from the Russian Federation to: observe U.S. government, business, and community leaders as they carry out their daily -2 experience how the separation of powers, the system of checks and balances, freedom of the press, and other key elements of America's democratic system make the government more accountable, transparent, and responsive; develop an understanding of the U.S. free enterprise system and its relationship to government; learn how U.S. citizens organize and take non-governmental initiatives to address social and civic needs; build mutual understanding with their U.S. counterparts; share Russian approaches to common challenges; participate in American family, community, and cultural activities; and establish lasting personal and professional ties with their U.S. hosts and counterparts. Program Structure - A summary of the Open World program structure is attached. Strategic Goals As the Open World Program has matured from its six-month pilot in 1999 to its current scale in four countries, the Board and staff have been guided by strategic goals that shape the annual budget submission and year-round operation. Goal I: Contribute substantially to improving U. S. - Russian relations and mutual The Open World Program is located in the Legislative Branch, housed in and administratively supported by the Library of Congress, but it is shaped and implemented in the U.S. Embassy in Moscow. All elements of the program- its focus themes, candidate nomination and selection, parliamentary delegations, alumni communications are defined by and continually coordinated with Embassy personnel in Russia and State Department leaders as well as Russianpolicy experts in the U. S. Goal II: Provide the highest caliber program for the U. S. visit so that participants return to the Russian Federation with a meaningful understanding of U.S. democracy and market economy. Open World has refined and focused its grants award program to improve the quality of the U.S. program. Continuous monitoring of programs, site visits, post-visit evaluations and annual participant surveys contribute to annual review and evaluations of all program elements. The program has increasingly focused on a few key themes central to democracy-building-such as the special recent emphasis on the rule of law. Goal III: To extend the catalytic effect of a 10-day U.S. stay with continued communication among Open World participants, with alumni of other USG-sponsored exchange -3 In 2003 Open World launched a new bilingual website with online forums (and assisted translation for cross-cultural communication) and introduced an electronic newsletter for all U.S. and Russian participants. If pilot programs continue in Ukraine, Uzbekistan, and Lithuania, alumni activities will be expanded to develop such structures for these countries as well. The staff continues to evaluate and monitor the results of participation in Open World as a means of measuring the program's impact. Since its inception in 1999, Open World has conducted an exit survey of all participants in order both to evaluate the substance and quality of the program, and to assess attitudinal and other changes in the participants. In 2004, additional evaluation of specific program themes and hosts will be added in order better to shape the size and dimension of future program components. Program Follow-up and Ongoing Alumni Activities Open World organizes numerous activities in Russia for nearly 7,600 Open World alumni and encourages ongoing communication and cooperation among delegates and between delegates and Open World staff. The Open World Alumni Outreach Program in Russia conducts regional conferences on selected hosting themes, regional computer skills seminars, professional development classes, and distance-learning courses. The interactive, bilingual Open World website allows alumni to participate in online forums and thematic conversations and to receive a quarterly alumni bulletin. The Outreach Program is managed by a network of regional alumni coordinators in 26 cities throughout Russia (13 of which were funded in 2003-2004 by Open World Board member George Soros) who are responsible for communicating with alumni, organizing local alumni events and disseminating information about upcoming events and opportunities. Russia Program: Recent Activities and Plans Open World hosted 2,120 young Russian leaders in calendar year 2003, accomplishing wide regional representation in Russia (82 of the 89 regions), hosting experiences throughout the United States (47 states), a high percentage of women delegates (57%) and multi-ethnic representation. Delegates experienced wide-ranging and in-depth programs. Open World hosting themes given special emphasis were rule of law, women as leaders, and health. In FY2004, the Center plans to further refine the hosting themes, while continuing to coordinate with the State Department and other agencies on areas of emphasis. The Center's parliamentary program will be reactivated following the Russian parliamentary elections in December 2003, with a focus on themes of mutual interest to Congress and to the Parliament of |