Jeff Erlich, President

As the president of the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA), Jeff oversees a five-country, multi-million-dollar development foundation supported by government, corporate and private donors. Jeff also serves on bilateral U.S.-Kazakhstan working groups to combat corruption, and enhance government transparency and economic competitiveness; on the board of KIMEP, Central Asia’s leading university; and as the co-chair of AmCham Kazakhstan’s CSR working group.

Between 2001 and 2006, Jeff led all five Central Asian offices for Eurasia Foundation. Prior to joining Eurasia Foundation in 2001, Jeff spent seven years as a widely published print journalist, specializing in international security affairs. From 1998 to 2000, he was the first and only Peace Corps volunteer in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, Russia’s space center.

Jeff earned a bachelor’s degree from The American University and a master’s degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University. He is fluent in Russian. He is married to Halida and has two children, Joseph and William.

Saltanat Akylova, Regional Director of Finance and Administration

As the Regional Director of Finance and Administration of the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia (EFCA), Saltanat Akylova oversees finance and administration areas. The following EFCA operations are under her control: Accounting, Budgeting, Donor Management, Grant Management, IT, HR and Office Administration. Saltanat Akylova holds Masters Degree in Economics and is a Certified Accounting Practitioner (CAP).

She has worked for the Save the Children Fed Ink as Finance and Admin Manager and was responsible for monitoring progress of donor funded projects in line with funding commitments and implementation work plans. Saltanat managed also preparing all forms of financial reports and successfully led the fundraising process for the new proposals the link eyes with donors in Kyrgyzstan; she coordinated financial planning, budget preparation and donor proposal development. While working at the Save the Children (SC) she had had good travel opportunities like a trip to Delhi (India) where she participated in a training on the Software SUN system and "Cultural Heritage and Monetary Institutions Central Asia and the Caucasus" that took place in Caucasus.

Before taking up the managerial position at the SC , she has worked for the EFCA as an accountant where has shown her high professionalism in dealing with accountancy by being in charge of both Bishkek and Osh offices in the respective field. By significant contribution to the accounting system of the organization, she has been chosen as an "Employee of the year".

Ms Akylova is a Member of Chamber of Accountants and Auditors in Kyrgyz Republic.

 Anastasia Blok, Regional Communications Director 

Since 2006, Anastasia Blok has been managing departments with links to the public in four subdivisions of the EFCA and is responsible for formulating and fulfilling PR strategy organisation.

Before working in the non-commercial sector, Anastasia introduced copyright in the largest network of advertising agencies. Her creative ideas helped the agencies to achieve success in gaining tenders, and also laid down the foundation for many television commercials and advertising campaigns.  The slogans she created are still being used today.

Until 2003, Anastasia Blok worked as a correspondent and artist in Kazakh weeklies, as press secretary for the festival “Choice of the year – Person of the year” in Kazakhstan and as manager for development in the law firm “GRATA”.

Anastasia graduated from the Kazakh State Law Academy specialising in “Coroporate law”, and also completed the masters program in international journalism at KIMEP, specialising in Public Relations. She is a member and initiated the creation of the Association of Young PR Specialists of Kazakhstan.  She is a prize-winner of young people’s competitions in the sphere of journalism and PR.

Edward Winter, Regional Director of Program Development and Evaluation

Edward Winter is the Regional Director of Program Development and Evaluation. He is responsible for fundraising, overseeing the development managers in all offices; coaching directors and project managers on program design; and increasing the use and effectiveness of project evaluations. He is a British citizen with a BA from Durham University, England in History and a Masters in Development Management from The Open University, England. He has 12 years working in the development sector in Nigeria, Rwanda, Eritrea, Moldova, the U.K, U.S. and Kyrgyzstan for organizations including VSO, the British Embassy and UNV as well as providing independent consultancy services. He is a competent speaker of Russian and French.

He has lived and worked in Central Asia for three years, working on the UNV Youth Project for a year before starting with EFCA. He specializes in capacity building of NGOs, community-based development and education. He enjoys the challenge of harnessing the potential of Kyrgyzstan's citizens to make a real difference. As an expatriate head of a local organization, he seeks to build a legacy of accountability to the needs of local citizens.

Rinad Temirbekov, EFCA Kazakhstan Executive Director

Shamil Ibraghimov is responsible for managing Bishkek and Osh offices. He has broad experience in the sphere of organizing and managing business processes. Mr. Ibraghimov actively participated in elaborating the strategy of the project "The Regional Trade Promotion" of the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Mr. Ibraghimov also was the head of an international construction company and is a member of the International Organization on Industrialization and Development.

Mr. Ibraghimov graduated from Kyrgyz State University with a degree in International Relations. He passed a series of training sessions and seminars in various educational institutions of Great Britain, Austria and Malta. He speaks English, Russian and French.

Azalia Dairbekova, EFCA Tajikistan Executive Director

Azalia Dairbekova is the Executive Director of the Eurasia Foundation of Central Asia in Dushanbe. She is responsible for managing the Dushanbe office. She has an extensive experience in private sector development, non-profit organization management, program development, policy formulation, project management, training and consulting services. She was involved in several economic reform and development initiatives in Kyrgyzstan, as well as within the areas of international development and international banking with United Nations Headquarters and leading U.S. banks.

Azalia Dairbekova is a graduate of Kyrgyz State National University, with a year of study at Montana State University under the exchange program. Additionally, she earned her Masters in International Affairs with focus in International Finance and Business from Columbia University, New York. Ms. Dairbekova speaks fluent Russian and English.