The project will work with existing indigenous organizations, such as the Mahalla Committees, which are traditional social network groups of elders who volunteer to address problems and conflicts within their communities. Thus the communities will work together to identify why TB is a problem and come up with their own solutions. Through community outreach activities the project will contribute to achieve trust in the communities and ensure a better understanding among the people about the importance of preventive measures as well as treatment of TB. Based on this approach there is a growing interest to support the project nationwide as it fits-in well with an emerging national vision of working with local community-based organizations (Mahalla) through volunteers.

This will be a unique project in Uzbekistan and the experience and lessons learned will be important for all those working in community development for poverty reduction and innovative systems of TB management and care in Uzbekistan. In this way, TB prevention and care serves as entry point, with the potential to expand the community mobilization approach to tackle other development issues. Because of its volunteer focus and community involvement, the project will offer a good platform for UN agencies and other interested donors to gather efforts and bring several advocacy activities at the community level, such as good nutrition, reproductive health, environmental education, and prevention of HIV/AIDS. It provides a forum for donors’ coordination and exchange with UN agencies and has a potential for joint UN programming.