1 Regional Training/Consultations on Capacity Development for Sustainable Growth and Human Development in Europe and CIS Bratislava, SLOVAKIA July, 2007 Capacity development for accountable and responsive public governing institutions at the regional (area based) level: EU/UNDP Project for Enhancement of Living Standards in Fergana Valley, Uzbekistan Jan Harfst Consultant on Area-Based Development in Post-Conflict & Transition Countries

2 Context / Challenges Cautious economic reforms coupled with centralized decision- making and lack of political freedom Initial stability but growth now lagging behind some neighbours Growing regional discrepancies in growth & poverty Fergana Valley: 40% of population, but relatively isolated Border controls disrupted flow of goods & people in the Valley History of inter-ethnic/communal tensions (water) & political unrest After “Andijan”, activities of local NGOs/CBOs severely restricted and those of US and International NGOs closed down Government’s Welfare Improvement Strategy aims at improving regional planning and promoting decentralization

3 EU/UNDP Project for Enhancement of Living Standards in Fergana Valley 3 Components: 1.Increase policy formulation & strategic planning capacity at regional, district & community levels in line with WISP Training & capacity development of regional/local government & self- governance structures in bottom-up, participatory policy formulation & strategic planning 2. Reinforce local governance development capacity by empowering communities to engage in socio-economic development Strengthening organizational capacity of community self-governing structures and support to 50 self-help initiatives in social infrastructure 3. Create and strengthen pilot income generation schemes microfinance schemes for the poorest and establishment & support to farmers’ associations/enterprises

4 Main Partnerships & Budget Main Partnerships: Ministry of Economy Regional/District Authorities Community Self-Governance Structures Local research institutes & consultants World Bank, UNICEF, EU, local NGOs Farmers’ Associations Budget: 1.1 million euros per region for two years 40% for seed-grants 15% for capacity development (training, study tours, seminars, surveys, mapping, publications)

5 Capacity Assessment & Development Methodologies Defining geographical area of support: Poorest & most vulnerable regions Pilot districts/communities selected based on poverty indicators Areas of intervention defined on existing territorial-administrative boundaries Capacity assessments & response strategies (general): Clear linkages between national, regional, district, community levels through bottom-up participatory process Strengthen credibility of community-level planning through direct support to community self-help initiatives

6 Capacity Assessment & Development Methodologies Capacity Assessments & Response Strategies (regional/district levels): No systematic capacity assessment, but no tradition of territorial, multi-sector planning based on available resources Regional/district working groups of government officials & local research institutes established, trained on policy formulation & engaged in development planning Tools: Living standard surveys, GIS-based regional/district poverty maps, WISP, sector plans Regional seminars in Uzbekistan & international study tours Regional Development Strategies & District Development Plans prepared & linked with WISP

7 Capacity Assessment & Development Methodologies Capacity Assessments & Response Strategies (community self-governance level): Independent assessment of mahalla capacities & constraints Establishment of Citizens’ Information & Service Centers Social mobilization in pilot communities and training on participatory community development & problem analysis Community development planning based on community MDG baseline maps & needs maps Seed grants for self-help initiatives in social infrastructure Consultative meetings of communities for WIS preparation

8 Ownership & Sustainability All surveys, mapping, training, facilitation by local institutes/ consultants, trained by international consultants Planning exercises lead by regional/district authorities Link with WISP provides institutional framework Citizens’ Information & Service Centers institutionally linked to Mahalla Funds with mandate to expand services Centers funded through Mahalla Fund, mahalla contributions & cost- recovery mechanisms Direct involvement of communities in self-help initiatives that are sufficiently small and technically simple to be sustainable Lack of administrative/fiscal decentralization may hamper long-term sustainability

9 Monitoring & Evaluation Main progress indicators regional/local policy & planning: Key persons of local authorities & non-government partners trained Availability of improved data for policy planning Regional strategies and District plans prepared Main progress indicators local governance/community empowerment: Community projects implemented by local communities Mahallas able to participate in policy formulation & planning Main progress indicators income generation schemes: Microfinance schemes operational Farmers’ enterprises created

10 Monitoring & Evaluation Indicators broken down in more specific sub-indicators Progress measurement through monitoring field visits, training evaluation reports, community project completion reports, interviews with local authorities, communities, trainees Benchmarks based on household living standards surveys, GIS- based poverty maps, community MDG baseline maps, community needs maps

11 Challenges & Lessons Learned Practical experiences at local level can help accelerate central-level policy & decision making Linking regional/district strategies with WIS & MDGs essential Implementation of strategies/plans questionable due to lack of fiscal/administrative decentralization Improved capacity at local levels shows that decentralization can work Difficulties in promoting citizens’ participation due to lack of civil society partly overcome by supporting self-governing structures Focus on improving living conditions can be kept non-political yet result in tangible improvements and genuine empowerment

12 Challenges & Lessons Learned Communities have mostly focused on single priorities that may remain “one-off” events Comprehensive community development planning will promote long- term perspective of needs & priorities and closer links with district plans, regional strategies and national WIS Project is strong on measuring quantitative outputs, but weak on measuring outcomes & impact: system currently under preparation Project time-frame too short to ensure institutionalization of results and long-term sustainability, i.e. project has demonstration/pilot function Future EU plan for 3-year project may remedy this