Community Based Approach to Local Development Project - Ii
COMMUNITY BASED APPROACH TO LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT - II
Context
Authorities and communities in Ukraine lack the capacity to jointly plan, budget and implement local development strategies. Such limited capacities create a scenario where local development priorities attract insufficient focus and resources; poverty level remains high, local living conditions continue to deteriorate and negative social trends often remain unaddressed. First phase of CBA succeeded in introducing the community based development approach countrywide. While some progress has been achieved to improve transparency, accountability and quality of public services, there remains room for further improvement and dissemination of the approach.
Donors and budget:
CBA-II Project is funded by the European Union and is co-financed and implemented by UNDP, with the support of the Government of Ukraine and in partnership with local executive and elected bodies. The Project’s total budget is €17 million. Project time frame is 4 years (June 2011 – June 2015).
Main objectives:
To promote sustainable socio-economic development at local level by strengthening participatory governance and encouraging community-based initiatives throughout Ukraine. CBA Project specifically aims to promote community based approach to local governance and sustainable development and to enhance energy efficiency at local level.
Geographic coverage:
The Project will be implemented in all 25 regions of Ukraine and 200 rayons, selected on a competitive basis. It is expected that around 60% of the successful pilot rayons of the first phase of the project will have an opportunity to continue the cooperation. At local level, CBA-II will reach 900 local councils.
Partners of CBA:
At national level, the project works with line ministries, parliamentary committees, national associations of local councils and other counterparts. Partnership Agreements will be signed with 24 oblasts and AR Crimea, as well as with all pilot rayons and village councils.
Project methodology:
900 rural communities will be selected through a competitive process based on criteria of hardships, such as poverty, availability of basic services (health, water, energy saving, waste management) and level of commitment to share their resources.
CBA-II will support pilot rural communities in solving the most pressing problems of their development, helping them to organize, develop their potential and implement minor community initiatives (micro-projects) within major project priority:
■ Health (local health posts network);
■ Environnent;
■ Energy (energy conservation measures at local level, etc.);
■ Water management;
■ Small business promotion (through agricultural/service cooperative development
The Project will work in villages, settlements and small towns with less than 10,000 residents.
The maximum amount of grant for communal infrastructure rehabilitation will be $10000. The Project will be implemented through co-financing scheme. Accordingly, CBA will provide 50%, the local budget – 45%, and the communities – 5%.
The ceiling of grant for energy efficiency projects will be up to $20000 with CBA cost sharing up to 70%, local budget 25% and community’s share 5%. About 30% of the total project budget is allocated to promote alternative energy and innovative technologies in energy saving.
In CBA-II, knowledge management will play a central role with the creation of knowledge hub and targeted cooperation with universities.
Results and achievements of CBA-I:
• 418’000 people from all regions got organised into 1146 community organizations to improve their living condition through collective actions and partnership with local authorities
• 1656 trainings on various aspect of sustainable local development were held for community members and local authorities representatives
• 1303 community initiatives worth UAH 196 mln were implemented on energy conservation in schools and kindergartens, renovation and purchase of equipment for medical centers, water supply, waste management, etc.
• Living conditions of 1,2 mln beneficiaries was improved
• Improved citizens-authorities relationship
• Visible change in mindset of stakeholders
More information is on the web site of CBA-I: http://cba.org.ua/one/.
Video films and publications on regional experiences of CBA-I: http://cba.org.ua/one/ua/library/experience
CONTACTSCentral office of CBA Project: 20 Esplanadna Str., Office. 704-708, Kyiv 01601. Tel./fax: (+380 44) 537 3470 Web site of CBA-II: www.cba.org.ua.
Contacts of regional offices of CBA: http://cba.org.ua/en/contacts/regional-divisions.