Grant Programs

This research project focused on a wide range of factors determining the key aspects of innovation policy. Researchers and experts in innovation and technology interviewed many leading Russian experts, representatives of innovative small and medium size companies, as well as larger companies operating in traditional sectors. On the basis of these interviews and their own research, OPORA produced a major study with recommendations for a new innovation policy in Russia.

Teaching and Research of Comparative Constitutional Law in Contemporary Russia: Challenges and Ways to Modernize Legal Education

July-December 2009

Institute of Law and Public Policy
www.ilpp.ru

The first phase of the project was a student competition. The jury, which included leading Russian scholars of law faculties of Moscow and St. Petersburg State Universities, the Higher School of Economics and a representative of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, evaluated 84 works. Six prizewinners were recognized at the conference held on October 19-20th, 2009 in St. Petersburg. The conference was attended by 60 representatives from different regions of Russia, including well-known scientists, lawyers and judges of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation.

Entrepreneurs Are Made, Not Born

October-December 2009

Interregional Non-Governmental Organization JA Junior Achievements
www.ja-russia.ru

The project supported the development of three new programs on entrepreneurial education: Be entrepreneurial, Success Skills, and School Company. 258 teachers and 11,570 students from 192 educational institutions in various Russian regions took part in training sessions. Nearly half a million students in 71 areas became participants in the events and activities of the International Entrepreneur Week 2009, held on November, 16-22, and more than 35,000 businessmen were able to share their practical experience of entrepreneurship with young participants.

The Russian National Championship of the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court

March - April 2010

International Students Association
www.ilsa.org

The Jessup Competition, established in1959 as a moot court competition on international law, plays out “cases” from the International Court of Justice. For Russian students the Jessup Competition is a unique educational experience which allows the very best to join the top rank of young professionals. Nine Russian teams were given the opportunity to represent Russia in international rounds in 2010, held in Washington, DC.

Active Projects

Support for Women Working in Business

October 2009 - September 2010

Noncommercial Partnership Committee of 20
www.kom20.ru

The project facilitates the exchange of experience among women who own their business or work in major companies as senior executives. They are strongly motivated to support the advancement of women in the corporate world. This project has contributed to the development of new corporate programs that will promote the professional growth of women and help them reach the highest levels of corporate management.

Development of Microfinance in Russia

March 2010 - January 2011

Russian Microfinance Center
www.rmcenter.ru

The project addresses the needs of participants in the microfinance market by developing a financial literacy program. It includes the “training of trainers” for workshops and consultations, as well as amanual covering legal and accounting aspects of microfinance. The project also aims to provide support to commercial banks to develop microfinance programs.

Strengthening the Rule of law, Governance and Accountability in the Financial Sector of the Russian Federation

March - November 2010

Volunteer Corps Financial Services (FSVC)
www.fsvc.org

In cooperation with the Central Bank of Russia (CBR), FSVC will develop recommendations to improve the principles and procedures for risk management and internal controls. It will provide consultations on matters of credit transactions, valuation, and non-judicial foreclosure. Leading experts of CBR will become familiar with the practice of American regulators in dealing with internal controls and risk management in crisis situations.

Study of the Legal Services Market in the Russian Federation

March - June 2010

Institute of Economic and Social Research
www.fund-research.ru

The study will analyze the interaction of different organizations providing legal services to citizens on a regional level and on factors determining the development of these services. The results of the research will be presented as an analytical report, which will include a description of the legal services provided to the Russian population.

Legal Protection of Small and Medium Businesses in the Southern Federal District in Terms of Entering the WTO

April 2010 - January 2011

Volgograd State University
new.volsu.ru

The Legal Support Center at the Volgograd State University will conduct practical workshops on such topics as the legal aspects of foreign economic activities, minimization of risk, and interactions with government regulators in foreign economic activity. Lawyers, attorneys, economists, managers, and owners of small or medium enterprises located in the Southern Federal District will participate in the workshops.
Club of Non-profit Sector Lawyers
March 2010 – February 2011

Student Law Clinics

May 2010 - April 2011

Law Faculty of Moscow State University named after MV Lomonosov
www.law.msu.ru

Consultations by the Law Faculty are a form of free legal assistance and they help students learn practical skills. Clients are given recommendations, advice, and explanations on the rule of law and are assisted in drafting various procedural documents (claims, complaints, petitions, appeals, etc.). The status of a consultant is given to senior and graduate students, who have received training in providing legal advice.

Organization of the Exhibition “The Tsar and the President. Liberator and Reformer”

March 2010 - May 2011

The American Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation
www.a-rccf.org

On February 2011 an exhibition will be held in Moscow on the life and work of Alexander II and President Abraham Lincoln, their contribution to the liberalization of public administration in Russia and the USA, and their policies that uphold the principles of justice and legality.

Improving Energy Efficiency

May 2010 – April 2011

State University - Higher School of Economics and University of North Carolina
www.hse.ru
www.unc.edu

This project will develop recommendations for the improvement of policies aimed at promoting energy-efficient technologies, products and production activities in Russia and the United States. It is based on an analysis of national policy priorities in the field of energy carried out by governments of Russia and the United States, as well as on a comparative study covering the international aspects of energy efficient technologies and practices of their implementation at the national level,. The practical results of the project will be used in training courses related to the study of energy issues, energy efficiency, and environmental protection.

Student All-Russia Juridical Academic Competition 2010

April - May 2010

Youth Union of Lawyers of the Russian Federation
www.molorgmos.ru/organizations/element

The annual All-Russian Juridical Academic Competition is held to foster traditions of professional student competitions in the field of law and related disciplines. This year USRF supported additional nominations in the areas of: Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (Russian and international experience), Legal Problems of Investment Activity in Russia, Legal Factors of Russian Innovative Economic Policy, and Financial and Legal Aspects of the Modern Investment Management.

NGO School

www.ngoschool.ru

Based on discussions of current legal aspects of NGO activities, an electronic newsletter will be developed and made available on the portal created by the Public Chamber of the Russian Federation. Weekly consultations on the legal regulation of NGOs will be provided for organizations and initiative groups, as well as for citizens. Comments on the Federal Law On Nonprofit Organizations will also be developed and published. Excerpts from the commentary will be posted on the website of The School for NGOs.

Pilot Project of the Russian-American Judicial Partnership with Participation of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation «Rule of Law and the Correlation between Public and Private Interests in Solving Economic Disputes»

May 2010 - February 2011

Institute of Law and Public Policy
www.ilpp.ru

The project will enhance cooperation between the judges of the Constitutional Court and representatives of the American judiciary on specific issues related to private and public interests in economic disputes and general issues of the rule of law, as well as on the process of court verification. Russian and American experts in the field of law, political science and economics will prepare analytical materials, which will be of use to practitioners of law.

Pilot Exchange Program Between Russian and American Rule-of-Law Professionals

July 2010 - June 2011

Paul Klebnikov Fund
www.paulklebnikovfund.org

Participants in the exchange program will be Russian and American lawyers, prosecutors, law enforcement officials, law students involved in the development of law. Two- to four- week training courses will be held at Cornell University in the United States and the Law Faculty of the Moscow State University in Russia. The training program will take into account the individual professional interests of participants. The project will contribute to establishing strong international ties between professional practitioners.

Creation of the English Version of OPORA ROSSII Internet Portal

May 2010 – November 2011

All-Russian Public Organization of Small and Medium Business “OPORA ROSSII”
www.opora.ru

The English version of an Internet portal will help foreign companies and investors find reliable business partners among Russian small and medium-sized enterprises, provide them with reliable information on the legal regulation of business activity in Russia and the legal aspects of entering the Russian market.

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