April 11, 2011

 

Pictures are worth a thousand words. However, travelling the distance to see development changes in real time creates a true appreciation for the partnership between EU and UNDP in enhancing living standards of people living in the Fergana Valley. This is what representatives from European Union (EU) diplomatic corps decided to do.

 

Representatives from Poland, Czech Republic, France, Slovakia, Bulgaria and Romania travelled to Fergana region to see how the EU-UNDP Enhancement of Living Standards project is bringing development closer to people living in the rural areas of Uzbekistan. All that is valuable in human society depends upon the opportunity for development.

Since 2005 the Enhancement of Living Standards Programme (ELS), financed by the EU and implemented by UNDP with support from the Government, partners and promotes the involvement of people and local authorities in their own development in Karakalpakstan and the Fergana Valley. The programme uses an integrated approach, where the three project components work in synergy to support rehabilitation of infrastructure and income generation in the communities alongside local development planning.

The visit started in the morning with an introductory slide-presentation of the ELS programme, delivered by the ELS Programme Coordinator, Mr.Emilio Valli, and with a short video presentation of activities and outputs, followed by a questions and answers session. Most notably the ELS supported the set-up of 36 enterprises with 2500 new jobs and community infrastructure projects benefitting people with up to 30% increased access to water; 6% for health services and 7% for gas.  With clear drinking water and better primary healthcare cases of hepathitis A and B infectious diseases, which are mainly waterborne, reduced by 15% in Fergana valley.

To see how these statistics show through as real impact in real people’s lives the delegation travelled to the Oltiarik district, namely to Navoi, Kumirchi, and Chordara communities.

In the Navoi, where ELS supported project on development of irrigation and land reclamation system, the Initiative group leaders shared their long way from the capacity building trainings to development of business plans for future development of community. Once the presentation was over, heavy water head flew out of the water pipe was better of any words, proving how the water is important for our life. Pleased smiles on the guests’ faces were an emotion, explicitly demonstrating the happiness and joy for the improved conditions of the local people.

Next route step Kumirchi local community also proudly showed-off their demonstration-plots for early vegetables and the greenhouse, all established thanks to support of the ELS. These demo-plots help household incomes from sales in local and regional markets, and make a major contribution to families’ nutrition requirements. There is very strong traditional knowledge base of small-scale fruit and vegetable processing in the communities. The ELS income generation component is tailored to the needs of rural households and small farmers, men and women with a focus on equitable access to capital, markets, and means of production, knowledge and support /advisory services.

Smiling women in white smocks, medical staff of the clinic, greeted guests with the hands laid on the heart side waited for us at the third visit point - rural medical point in the Jonibek local community. Rehabilitated within the framework of the social infrastructure improvement component of the ELS, improved access to medical service is now available for more than 3260 people (1691 women and 1164 children) of Jonibek and two neighbor communities, helping to lower the number of gastrointestinal, viral hepatitis, tuberculosis and other diseases.

At the final destination in Chordara community the demonstration of the improved access to drinking water supply, enhanced sanitary and domestic conditions in the community, building local capacities on socio-economic planning and implementation was held. Before the ELS, only 6% of population had access to drinking water. The nearest drinking water source was located in neighboring community. In result of the implemented project all community residents gained an access to drinking water.

These projects have greatly empowered women. When rural women are actively involved in decision-making, planning and implementation of community initiatives everyone assumes more responsibilities which foster true development. With more than 8, 4 million women living in rural areas of Uzbekistan the programme involves women and listens to their voice when rehabilitating infrastructure, training rural people for better capacity to do business, farm land and provide services, all important forms of livelihood.

 “Now local communities are better informed and have gained confidence to speak out, express their hopes and concerns and participate in important decisions that affect their wellbeing” – said Sharifaxon Djo’raeva, leader of Jonibek community, involved in CDP.  In total, 312 community plans developed by communities with the assistance of the ELS programme, where 172 community projecs were funded by ELS support and 299 by local government and donors. The community plans are an example of participatory community development where all community residents sit together and identify their priorities to find their future solution either by community internal resources or by attracting external funds and partners.

“UNDP and the EU have developed a strong partnership in the pursuit of shared development goals” – reiterated a participant of the delegation, as the field visit came to an end and the delegation headed back to Tashkent. For the past 6 years the EU and UNDP have joined efforts to improve the quality and efficiency in aid delivery, align donor programmes with development agenda, improve coordination with each other and better integrate aid policies with action in such areas as enhancement of living standards and sustainable development. The ELS programme is a successful example of continued collaboration between the EU and UNDP in promoting rural development in a way that one can see, touch and feel.

For more information on:
Water supply and sanitation - http://www.els.uz/index.php/en/news/245-water-supply-and-sanitation
Microcredits - http://www.els.uz/index.php/en/news/164-sharing-the-success
Community Development plans - http://www.els.uz/index.php/en/news/262-briefing-session-presented-good-practices-and-lessons-learnt-on-community-development