English - UNDP

Tajikistan Project Assessment
a Although information on the effectiveness of training
inputs is missing, district level actors and interviewed
stakeholders from the district development committees
confirmed that training provided in the process of elaborating
district development plans made them better able
to contribute to the planning process. Inclusion of district
council members in the training proved beneficial
for their understanding of the potential role of mid-term
planning in the local development process.
a The project helped improve the government’s information
systems for planning, monitoring, and evaluation of
public policy. This was done by introducing district and
regional authorities to new information collection and
registration tools, and aligning collected data with national
indicators of MDG, National Development Strategy
and Poverty Reduction Strategy targets. In addition to the
main statistical data entry tool, other instruments were
also introduced, such as socio-economic baseline survey
and citizen report cards (these instruments were originally
development within the framework of the DGTTFsupported
project Clean Start for Local Councils – Building
Accountability at the Local Level).
Efficiency
In recognition of the special development situation of
Tajikistan and the limited capacity of local authorities to
execute the project, it was agreed to use the Direct Execution
implementation modality. The project was implemented directly
by UNDP Tajikistan under the umbrella of UNDP’s Communities
Programme in close collaboration with the government. This
arrangement ensured efficient project delivery, with the overall
responsibility for the management of the project resting with
the Communities Programme.
The Communities Programme adapted its structures as required,
and established transparent project administration procedures
and operation systems. This helped ensure the scheduled
delivery of inputs and production of outputs. The project’s
financial management was based on UNDP procedures, and
regular financial reports were prepared.
Innovation
In post-conflict Tajikistan, the gap between districts deepened
as a consequence of the existing differences in the economy,
infrastructure, employment, income, and living standards
between the country’s regions. At the same time, there was a
lack of a comprehensive methodological framework to address
priorities at the national, regional and local level and establish
links between planning and budgeting processes. The project
introduced a unique and innovative approach to prepare district
development plans. It used a participatory approach to identify
strategic priorities and to establish specific local mechanisms,
instruments and indicators, aligned with National Development
Strategy and Poverty Reduction Strategy indicators, and to
allocate the required financial resources to implement priorities.
In addition, the project provided tailor-made capacity
development programme (training and mentoring) on poverty
reduction planning and monitoring, plus design of district
development plans.
Finally, the project supported a new approach to donor aid
coordination through a comprehensive information system.
This system encompassed data from the jamoats, and from
the district and national level on a wide range of issues and in
particular, as a matter of priority, on development and poverty
reduction trends in different parts of the country.
Catalytic effect
The project operated within an existing partnership between
UNDP and key national and international development partners,
because it was implemented as a part of the Communities
Programme.
The positive experience and achievements of the project set
the ground for the next phase of the Communities Programme.
The project had secured additional funding from DGTTF (for the
Building a Framework for Local Planning and Budgeting project,
which was integrated into the Communities Programme), as
well as from the UK Department for International Development
and the Canadian International Development Agency.
In addition, the project contributed directly to enhancing
partnerships between UNDP and national partners. This is
reflected by the agreements signed between UNDP and the
Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Strategic
Research Centre, the Institute for the Civil Servants Training, the
Ministry of Finance, the State Statistic Committee, the Ministry
of Labour and Social Protection, and the Parliament.
Sustainability
Based on the results of the DGTTF project and following the
same approach, the District Development Plans were prepared
for the new six districts (in addition to those targeted by the
project). At the same time, three districts that had already
adopted development plans focussed on their implementation.
These activities were implemented within the framework of the
Communities Programme.
The key role in this preparation process and implementation was
and remained with the district development councils. They fulfill
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