On November 22, 2011, EU/UNDP “Enhancement of Living Standards in Fergana Valley” project has conducted one day experience exchange study tour for the community members from Samarkand region, representatives of UNDP Project “Integrated Water Resources Management and Water Efficiency Plan for Zarafshan River Basin” (IWRM) and local authorities from Kashkadarya region.

The study tour has started with presentation at ELS project office in Fergana city where the participants were informed of ELS project activities in Fergana region, best practices and lessons learnt on participatory community development approaches introduced within the project activities. The presentation was followed by discussions regarding a number of community development issues, such as community projects, feasibility study, community mobilization, gender equality, social infrastructure projects and their further sustainability in terms of their maintenance and long-term service to community members. The ELS team has also shared their best practices of building organizational, institutional capacity of community members, training of rural communities in strategic planning, community mobilization, project design, monitoring and evaluation which resulted in more effective community development planning and sustainable project results.

After the presentation, the study tour participants travelled to Besharik district and visited Mahalla Information Resource Center established and equipped with the support of ELS project, and also, the drinking water supply project implemented in MCC “Kuyi zarqaynar”. The presentation made by “Katta tagob” and “Tuyul” community members in Uzbekistan district described the sustainability and hand over of implemented drinking water supply projects in partnership with EU/UNDP project. Leaders of local management committee established in these two communities for further maintenance shared their experience on how they managed the project results by establishing entities with legal status.

“We are the members of Initiative group established in our community to manage the implementation process of drinking water project jointly with ELS project. We will tell you step-by-step how we succeeded in implementing the project” started his speech Initiative Group member of “Uttizambar” mahalla. During the presentation the Initiative group members described the experience of the community in implementing drinking water supply project, in community mobilization, fundraising and their attempts to establish the legal entity, limited liabilities company, in managing the project results and providing sustained service of reconstructed drinking water system.

The representatives of local authorities from Kashkadarya region continued their mission to Uzbekistan district where they visited income generation projects implemented within the framework of Component III. By getting familiar with the products, they had a discussion with sewing shop members, established in “Shorsuv” mahalla, on the history of establishing sewing shop, impact of capacity building activities undertaken, running the sewing shop, achieved financial results, etc.

Then, the mission participants visited demonstration plot on beekeeping established in “Pastki korik” mahalla. They were interested on the best practices in disseminating materials elaborated by ELS project for extension agents, number of people replicated bee keeping and shared experience of bee keeping in Kashkadarya region.

 
The visit was finalized with the meeting in “Katta qaynar” mahalla at the building of the first aid hospital base station that was constructed with the support of ELS project. The guests were interested on the history of prioritizing first aid base station and the services provided to people after project implementation.

 
“The visit was very fruitful. During a short period of time we were able to see a lot and touch upon lots of questions interested us” says the Kitab district Mahalla Fund head of Kashkadarya region on the way back to Fergana from the mahalla.