Components

Component I – Local Development Planning

The programme will operate in districts and selected communities in Karakalpakstan, Kashkadarya and Tashkent regions to improve the capacity of the authorities so that they can better support local development plans and the capacity of communities to take part in and contribute to their socio-economic development. The training in regional development planning will seek to increase government officials’ familiarity with the MDGs, the concepts of human development, the Welfare Improvement Strategy (WIS) and its relevance to the region. It will also help government officials share their experiences of regional development planning with other regions of the country.

Component II – Community Development

In order to ensure improved local governance systems for public service delivery in rural areas, the project will help Mahallas identify and prioritize community needs in a participatory manner, mobilize local resources for the rehabilitation of basic infrastructures and prepare local community development plans that can be linked to and financed from the local government budgets and/or sponsors.
 

Component III – Support to income generation and microfinance

The programme will support improved access to microfinance without need for collateral (one of the limiting factors to access to microcredit by low income rural population).  Training in income generation and business will complement the credits and ensure their improved utilization and sustainability.  In order to increase the flow of benefits to the poorest, the project will support cooperatives formed by members with smaller landholdings (dekhans and household plots).
The project will seek to increase the number of the cooperatives assisted through grant funding. Funds will be rationed by inviting cooperatives’ proposals as to their own financial contributions to the cost of the plant or equipment for which partial grant funding is sought.

Standard Service Package Component II