| An integrated approach to regional development planning |
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| 24.12.2008 |
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On 13th March, 2007 the EU-UNDP
’Enhancement of Living Standards in Fergana region’ organized a two-day
training seminar on the regional development process in the region and
its link to the Welfare Improvement Strategy Paper and the Millennium
Development Goals (MDGs) 1.
 The ELS project supports the local authorities by increasing capacity
for policy planning at local level for the development of regional and
local development strategies, based on the local MDGs and the Welfare
Improvement Strategy Process.The training session brought
together national and international speakers from the Centre for
Economic Research, the Ministry of Economy, UNDP and ELS who had direct
experience of working on the formulation of the national strategy for
the welfare improvement (WIS), the formulation of national MDGs and
regional development strategies in other regions of Uzbekistan. The
participants were 40 middle level government officials from four
project districts in Fergana region. The event is part of the ELS
training in regional development planning organized in the format of
series of modules delivered independently by various organizations
(i.e. UNDP, UN agencies, the State Academy of Social Development and
Reconstruction, national and international trainers and experts) rather
than one rigid, complete package. Depending on the target audiences,
the ELS module format allows flexibly taking out some modules, changing
the sequences, etc. thus achieving maximum effectiveness. The March event was a combination
of formal presentations, round-table discussions, and working
groups. In the first session, the national strategy (content and
process) were set out, the experience of the UNDP supported regional
development in Kashkadarya explained, and the links of these processes
to the global MDG process explained. The second session was devoted to
discussion of the availability (lack of availability) of statistical
data to set baselines, quantifiable targets, and monitoring indicators
for the national strategy and national MDGs. The third session took
the form of a round table discussion, followed by small group
discussions. The participants were divided into two groups, and asked
to produce a problem tree setting out the factors contributing to one
aspect of improvement of living standards in their rayon (for example,
quality of primary school education, levels of infant mortality, levels
of employment or underemployment); i.e. dimensions of living standards
which are central to the national strategy and to the MDGs. At the end
of the group work, the participants presented their problem trees, and
there was a final question and answer session. The training activities will be
linked and have synergies with other components of the ELS project. For
example, the knowledge acquired through this training will find
practical application in preparing the regional strategies and local
plans , and should contribute to better use being made of the
information collected through parallel activities under Components I
and II, namely the regional household survey, the living standards
assessment and living standards mapping through the production of 50
maps illustrating and localising different dimensions of poverty and
living standards; and the assessment of the role and capacity of
mahallas in Component II. It is expected that the training
will bring about a better understanding of participatory methodologies
to review the cause-effect relationships and prioritize the causes and
manifestations of regional problems affecting living standards. After
the training the participants provided their evaluation and one of the
participants stated ’I truly enjoyed and benefited from taking this
workshop. The knowledge and experience will definitely be helpful to
enhance my life. I think the trainers are wonderful with a rich
economic knowledge’. A special note of appreciation goes
to colleagues from the UNDP Economic Governance Unit and the Centre for
Economic Research for their active support and participation in the
event. For more information on the Centre for Economic Research, see: www.cer.uz
For more information on the living standards strategy, see:
[1] Formulation of the
first national poverty reduction strategy in Uzbekistan was supported
by the ADB, and was officially entitled the “Living Standards Strategy”
(LSS). Further work was supported by the WB, and the strategy was
renamed as “Welfare Improvement Strategy” (WIS). This was accepted by
the WB and IMF as an Interim PRSP. |
Новости и события An integrated approach to regional development planning