Launched in 2008, the CAMCA Fellowship is a joint program of the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at the American Foreign Policy Council and the Rumsfeld Foundation. The program brings exceptional rising leaders from Central Asia, Mongolia, the Caucasus and Afghanistan (CAMCA) to the United States for a high-level, intensive exchange experience designed to forge enduring personal and professional connections. The Fellowship aims to develop intraregional cooperation among the program countries and foster stronger relations between the U.S. and the CAMCA region, serving as a starting point for continued dialogue and collaboration among the innovative regional leaders of the program’s alumni network.
As participants of the 30th Fellowship session, the Spring 2025 group will join the program’s growing alumni network of 299 former Fellows.
Throughout their five-week program, Fellows will attend a series of private high-level meetings with top policymakers, business leaders, journalists, academics, military personnel and regional experts, exposing them to inside perspectives on opinion-making, decision-making and policy-making processes in the United States. For insights into local economic development and good governance, the group will also spend a week traveling to Huntsville, Alabama; Louisville, Kentucky; and Nashville, Tennessee. Beyond group sessions, program staff will assist Fellows in arranging individual meetings relevant to their specific interests and provide opportunities for professional development and networking.
The Spring 2025 Fellows consist of a diverse group of talented regional leaders, pictured left to right below. Find their full bios here: Spring 2025 CAMCA Fellows.
Mr. Daniel Abdyldaev – Kyrgyz Republic – Chief Investment Officer at Accelerate Prosperity, the largest startup accelerator in Central and South Asia
Mr. Undral Amarsaikhan – Mongolia – Co-Founder and CEO of TenGer TV and Unread Media, the only media company listed on the Mongolian Stock Exchange
Ms. Yelena Gareyeva – Turkmenistan – Logistics Coordinator for C5+O.N.E. at the American Councils for International Education and Founder of the SAGA Podcast, a platform highlighting creative professionals in Turkmenistan
Mr. Rati Golijashvili – Georgia – Managing Director of BioChimPharm, a Georgian-based biopharmaceutical company
Mr. Rufat Hasanov – Azerbaijan – Award-winning film director and producer with over 15 years of experience in content creation, training and international consulting
Ms. Hokuma Karimova – Azerbaijan – PR and Corporate Communications Director at NAR (Azerfon), a mobile telecommunications company
Mr. Tsogtbilguundari Khishigbat – Mongolia – CEO and Co-Founder of unnu.news, an award-winning explanatory journalism startup
Mr. Nuriddin Lafizov – Tajikistan – CEO of Alif Uzbekistan, a fintech company driving digital banking solutions across Central Asia
Ms. Assel Mussabekova – Kazakhstan – Partner and Executive Director at Colliers Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
Mr. Davlat Umarov – Uzbekistan – Director of Gazeta.uz, an independent online media outlet covering political, economic and social developments in Uzbekistan
To learn more about the CAMCA Fellowship Program please visit our CAMCA Fellowship page.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Sarah C. Tonucci
Executive Director, Rumsfeld Foundation
1100 17th Street NW, #402
Washington, D.C. 20036
Tel: (202) 944-1304
E-mail: sarah@rumsfeldfoundation.org
David Soumbadze
Director, CAMCA Fellowship Program
509 C Street NE
Washington, D.C. 20002
Tel: (301) 257-5753
E-mail: soumbadze@afpc.org