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The UNDP Component B: Consultancy services for rural infrastructure development - Community empowerment, Phase II, an integral part of the IsDB IRD Project
The UNDP Component B: Consultancy services for rural infrastructure development - Community empowerment, Phase II (Project), an integral part of the Islamic Development Bank’s (IsDB) Integrated Rural Development (IRD) Project
Project Summary:
The UNDP Component B: Consultancy services for rural infrastructure development - Community empowerment, Phase II (Project) is an integral part of the broader Islamic Development Bank’s (IsDB) Integrated Rural Development (IRD) Project in Uzbekistan financed and executed by the IsDB in response to an official request from the Government of Uzbekistan (GoU), with the Ministry of Economy and Finance being the executing agency. The GoU and IsDB define the strategic IRD Project objectives as to raise the living standards, build capacity, and improve the prosperity of the rural population. The IRD Project core targets are improved quality, extended coverage, and better integration of rural infrastructure for improved economic opportunities and agricultural productivity, expanded employment opportunities, higher levels of health, and reduced exposure to natural disasters and climate changes. Collectively, these outcomes would improve standards of living for the rural population in targeted areas. The IRD project beneficiaries are estimated at around 500,000 rural population who will have improved access to quality basic infrastructure and services. In addition, 3,600 rural residents will receive capacity building training related to modern agriculture methods, business operations, livestock intensification and participatory governance processes.
The IRD Project is targeting Samarkand, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions where poverty rates are high, with 157 mahallas where infrastructure development are lagging to be supported.
Main objectives:
The Project has three interconnected outputs:
Output 1: Development and implementation of Community Development Plans (CDPs). Strengthened capacities of 157 mahallas in Samarkand, Kashkadarya, and Surkhandarya regions in participatory CDP process that result in development, implementation, and oversight of climate smart CDPs focusing on improvements of infrastructure and services.
Output 2: Capacity building in income generation, with focus on vulnerable groups. Strengthened capacities of businesses and individuals such as entrepreneurs who work in agriculture complex, including the vulnerable groups in businesses development/expansion.
Output 3: Capacity building of regional and local authorities. Strengthened capacities of officials in all targeted regional and local authorities in participatory planning, implementation, oversight, and sustainable management of the local infrastructure and services. 2. Strengthened capacities of local population, including the vulnerable groups in participatory decision making.
Expected results:
The Project will contribute to rural poverty reduction, economic and agricultural development through targeted infrastructural investments, advancement of climate smart, gender responsive solutions and strengthening local participatory decision-making mechanisms and processes. Specific expected outcomes include:
Component 1: Development and implementation of Community Development Plans (CDPs)
1. 157 mahalla level CDPs developed through participatory process and effectively implemented.
2. At least 622,631 rural population have improved access to quality basic infrastructure and services.
3. Improved coverage and quality of local infrastructure and services.
4. Measurable improvements of living conditions and economic conditions of supported communities.
Component 2: Capacity building in income generation, with focus on vulnerable groups
1. increased incomes of individuals (men and women living under poverty, people with disabilities, young women and other vulnerable groups) who benefitted from business training and support.
2. Improved business practices and increased revenues from supported local industries.
3. Increased adoption of climate smart and energy efficient business solutions.
Component 3: Capacity building of regional and local authorities
1. Supported khokimiats and mahallas have improved accountability, transparency and participatory mechanisms of integrated rural planning and development, including CDPs.
2. Increased involvement of local population, including vulnerable individuals, in local decision making at regional and local levels.
The Project will pursue synergy among these three components.
In developing CDPs (Component 1), communities will be asked to provide their inputs into identifying economic and agriculture infrastructure priorities and agriculture/business development priorities for their mahallas. To do so safe and welcoming environment will be created for women and people with disabilities and other vulnerable groups to meaningfully contribute to development of mahalla priorities.
In identifying income generation opportunities (Component 2), communities will be also asked how the infrastructural investments can be optimized to ensure that they support the identified agriculture/business development goals. Climate smart and gender-responsive solutions will be promoted through all Project components.
Component 3 that is focusing primarily on institutionalizing participatory mechanisms and promoting sustainability of the infrastructure established through Project interventions will be customized to reflect local circumstances, infrastructure investments and income generation priorities pursued.
