ENHANCEMENT OF LIVING STANDARDS IN FERGANA REGION

The overall objective of the project is to improve livelihoods of local communities in Fergana region through empowerment of local communities, income generation and job-creation.

The period of project implementation April 2006-December 2007

Project strategy

The project strategy implemented through two EU-funded Enhancement of Living Standards projects is based on the Government's strategy for the improvement of living standards of population in Uzbekistan.

This strategy rests on three principle pillars: a) support regional authorities to develop regional strategies that primarily take into account the regions potential and aspirations; b) building partnerships between local authorities and civil society in parallel with support to communities to rehabilitate essential infrastructures; c) support to income generation mechanisms to sustain communities’ livelihoods in disadvantaged districts and enclaves.

The project works in the Fergana Region in Fergana, Baghdad, Sokh and Rishtan (40 communities) in the lowland irrigated areas that are experiencing the most pressing socioeconomic problems, and in 10 communities in the upland enclaves of Shahimardan and Sokh (5 community per enclave). The choice of working in these two enclaves is based on the fact that the enclaves, which are clearly defined territories physically separated from the rest of the country, lend themselves well to the piloting of enhancement of living standards strategy models that can be replicated elsewhere in future.

In order to maximize implementation efficiency and in recognition of the clear complementarities with the projects in Namangan and Karakalpakstan, the new project in Fergana Region will use the same approaches and will benefit from the lessons learned in terms of practical community mobilization, development methodologies and economies of scale.

The 4 districts of Fergana, Baghdad, Sokh and Rishtan are selected where activities are identified in a consultative process involving major project stakeholders, including European Commission (EC), UNDP, Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan, Khokimiyat of Fergana region, as well as Khokimiyats of project districts. Project communities are chosen on basis of a fair competitive process to further implement social investment projects, micro-credit schemes and other undertakings. Particular attention is paid to equal participation of men and women during the process.

The project is implemented by UNDP on the basis of provisions of the grant agreement concluded between UNDP and EC. UNDP applies National Execution (NEX) modality in implementing this project, which implies direct cooperation with a designated government institution in executing the project.

A Project Steering Committee provides guidance and monitors project progress and achievements and ensures that the project is implemented in accordance with the workplan. The Steering Committee includes representatives from the Ministry of Economy, Khokimiyat of Fergana region, UNDP, EC, and TACIS National Coordination Unit (UzbyuroKES).

Also the project will ensure that activities can be continued after the completion of the project or replicated elsewhere, if appropriate. Therefore, collaboration with and from local authorities and other projects will be critical. The project benefits from existing experience of and the infrastructure created by partner organizations. For example, the ELS project has much in common with UNDP's Sustainable Income Generation Programme, which, among others, contains micro-credit schemes and microfinance training components. In the case of microcredit schemes, established and experienced microfinance institutions are partnered to deliver products to direct beneficiaries.

The project uses the successful experience and lesson learned from other similar projects, for example, the current ELS project in Namangan and the completed EC projects in Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya (Social Investment Fund). Exchange of experiences and knowledge between beneficiaries of past and new projects internalizea lessons learnt from previous experiences. On the mutual interesting issues, the project has the potential for cooperation with similar EU funded projects implemented on the territory of Fergana Valley (i.e. in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan).

Project Document ELS Fergana region [Adobe Acrobat PDF - 1013.25 KB]