Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Representatives of the Rural Infrastructure Development Project Implementation Group (PIU) and the World Bank held a regular meeting with Uktam Pardaev, a civil society activist from Jizzakh region. The project tasks and activities implemented in this region of the country were discussed.

A constructive discussion was held by videoconference with the participation of Zafar Urakov, PIU Director, Robert Wrobel, Senior Social Development Specialist of the World Bank, and Uktam Pardaev. A number of issues related to the implementation of the Rural Infrastructure Development project were discussed. Mr. Pardaev orally presented the preliminary results of his independent monitoring of the implementation of project activities in the villages of Jizzakh region.

The Rural Infrastructure Development project not only invests in the development of basic social infrastructure and services for rural communities and improves the living standards of hundreds of thousands of citizens in more than 300 remote villages of the country, but also stimulates the participation of representatives of local communities in identifying priority areas for such investments and monitoring the implementation of project activities.

PIU is open to dialogue with civil society organizations and activists and welcomes their constructive feedback on project activities. They are essential to the success of the project as they help improve the implementation process and achieve the above development goals.

As part of this dialogue, PIU will arrange regular videoconference meetings with Mr. Pardaev. Since May 2021, four meetings were held with this civil society representative, including one in person during the working visit of the PIU director to Jizzakh region. Within the framework of these meetings, Mr. Pardaev presents the results of his independent monitoring of the implementation of project activities in the villages of the Jizzakh region, receives information from the PIU and the World Bank on the progress of the project, as well as comments and clarifications in response to the monitoring results presented to him.

During a recent meeting, Mr. Pardaev orally presented the results of the monitoring carried out in the village of Muzbulok, Bakhmal district, Jizzakh region. He drew the attention of the meeting participants to the need to develop infrastructure in this village, including bridges, roads damaged by leashes, and water supply systems. Mr. Pardaev also called for improving the awareness of local residents about the project, their mobilization to participate in project activities and decision-making processes at various stages of the project.

The PIU and World Bank representatives thanked Mr. Pardaev for his monitoring activities and encouraged the submission of a preliminary findings report through the project’s grievance redress mechanism so that the PIU can respond appropriately to them.

The PIU and World Bank representatives also noted that gender-responsive principles and broadly inclusive community participation are included in the project design and implementation documentation. However, the project’s initial plans for community mobilization had to be modified to minimize health risks and prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus through multi-stakeholder meetings. These measures aimed at protecting people, unfortunately, limited the level of participation of representatives of local communities in project activities.

However, the PIU is actively working with village facilitators and its regional staff to find alternative solutions in order to comprehensively inform local communities about project activities and their participation in relevant processes, including assessing the needs of villages in specific types of social infrastructure and services, making planning decisions. development of their settlements, as well as supervision of the implementation of sub-projects for the reconstruction and construction of approved facilities. Among other measures, they also include improved access to information about the project through the website and social networks of the PIU, for example, the Telegram channel, said Mr. Urakov.

In addition, Mr. Pardaev was informed that PIU has contracted with two assistance partner organizations to carry out community mobilization activities in villages in the project area in Fergana, Andijan and Namangan regions. One of these partners, selected on a competitive basis, is a consortium of international and national non-governmental organizations. It includes the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development - ACTED (France), the International Secretariat for Water Resources (Canada), the national movement "Yuksalish" (Uzbekistan) and the Center for Support and Development of the Population "Tarakkiyot" in Fergana (Uzbekistan). It is expected that their experience in community development programs will also generate new ideas in order to raise the awareness of local people about the project and their participation in it in the current difficult environment.

It was noted that the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan was instructed to ensure control over the open and transparent use of project funds, in accordance with the decree of the President of Uzbekistan dated November 25, 2020. Last week, during a working trip of PIU employees to the Fergana Valley, Akmal Burkhanov joined them. Director of the Agency. He was informed about the progress of the project. The agency will constantly supervise the implementation of project activities.

Mr. Urakov once again urged Mr. Pardaev to continue sharing the results of his monitoring activities through the project’s grievance redress mechanism so that the PIU team can respond appropriately and take the necessary corrective action. PIU is open for cooperation with Mr. Pardaev and other independent civil society organizations and activists. She will continue to ensure the transparency of the project. PIU staff are ready to assist in the monitoring activities of Mr. Pardaev and invite him to join them during their working trips to the villages located in the project area, Mr. Urakov repeated.

Constructive dialogue with organizations and civil society activists will help improve the project implementation process and achieve its goals for the benefit of hundreds of thousands of beneficiaries living in remote villages in five regions of Uzbekistan.