1. 1 Regional Training/Consultations on Capacity Development for Sustainable Growth and Human Development in Europe and CIS Bratislava, SLOVAKIA 10-11 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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