Main objective:
The main objective is to strengthen the capacity of the governments of the Central Asian countries to deal with the drug phenomenon in a comprehensive and sustainable manner.
Summary:
The Central Asian Drug Action Programme (CADAP 7) is an EU-supported initiative that has been continuously developed since 2003. Its main objective is to promote effective drug demand reduction policies in the Central Asian region. These policies are carefully designed, based on sound evidence and best available practice, to strengthen the capacity of Central Asian governments to address the complex drug problem in a comprehensive and sustainable manner. Episteme Social plays an essential role in the CADAP 7 programme, particularly in Outcome 1, which focuses on drug policy. This component aims to develop evidence-based policies, improve inter-institutional cooperation, promote social reintegration and apply a public health approach with a gender perspective and respect for human rights. In this context, Outcome 1 comprises a series of five deliverables planned for the period 2023-2024, each of which contributes significantly to the achievement of the overall objectives of the programme. The first deliverable is the development of a detailed work plan. This meticulously designed plan serves as an essential guide for the subsequent phases of Outcome 1. It sets out the guidelines and structure necessary to successfully carry out all the planned activities, thus ensuring efficient implementation.
The second deliverable concerns the production of a systematic report on the national drug policy dialogues in the five Central Asian countries. Episteme Social plays an active role in this phase by participating and collaborating in these dialogues in each of the countries. During this phase, in-depth fieldwork will be carried out to gather crucial information on the specific perspectives and challenges faced by each Central Asian country in relation to drug policy. The third deliverable focuses on the preparation of a systematic report on the regional seminar held in Astana, Kazakhstan. This seminar focuses on building and strengthening balanced and evidence-based drug policies. It brings together experts and policy-makers from across the region and provides a valuable space for knowledge exchange and strategic cooperation in this important area. The fourth outcome is the production of a Handbook for Drug Policy Making. This resource will provide clear guidelines and best practices on how to address the drug challenge in an effective and evidence-based manner, providing crucial guidance to policymakers in Central Asia. Finally, the fifth outcome is a Regional Drug Policy Report. This report consolidates the results of the national drug policy dialogues and the regional seminar, as well as European best practices and international standards. This report will become a valuable tool to guide decision-making and policy implementation aimed at drug demand reduction throughout the Central Asian region.
Keywords:
CADAP 7, European Union, Outcome 1, Central Asia, inter-agency cooperation, gender perspective, human rights, deliveries, scientific evidence, drug policy, international standards, best practices, public health, National Dialogues, Regional Seminar, drug demand.
