Bishkek and Osh Urban Infrastructure Project

closed

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The objective of the Bishkek and Osh Urban Infrastructure Project (BOUIP) is to improve the living conditions in selected semi-informal settlements (novostroiki) in Bishkek and Osh, the two largest cities of the Kyrgyz Republic, by increasing the availability of basic infrastructure to the residents of these areas. BOUIP will consist of the following four components: (A) Basic Infrastructure: the component will finance upgrading and/or expansion of water supply, road and other basic infrastructure as well as rehabilitation and/or upgrading of service equipment required for improving the availability of basic services in selected novostroiki settlements. (B) Community Investment Programs: the component will finance small-scale investments in neighborhood infrastructure and equipment that will be identified and implemented with the active involvement of residents of novostroiki areas in both Bishkek and Osh following generally, the approaches used by other Community Driven Development (CDD)-type Bank operation in the Kyrgyz Republic. (C) Institutional Development: the component will finance technical assistance and other forms of institutional support to the Bishkek and Osh Municipalities. (D) Operational Support: the component will support project implementation by financing: (a) the contracting of local experts for assisting ARIS, the implementing agency, and the Municipal Project Units (MPUs) established by the Bishkek and Osh Municipalities in the implementation of the project investment programs; (b) the creation and maintenance of a system to continuously monitor and evaluate the performance and results of the project; (c) a portion of the operating costs of ARIS, including staff salaries, in-country travel expenditure and mandatory employer contributions to the Kyrgyz Social Fund as well as the purchase of a limited amount of office equipment and vehicles; (d) training for ARIS staff and other persons associated with project implementation; and (e) annual audits of project accounts. The other municipal infrastructure projects in the Europe and Central Asia Region (ECA) and elsewhere shows that the successful achievement of the objectives pursued by an operation such as BOUIP depends on a number of factors: (a) a decentralized approach to decisions on local investments that reduces bureaucracy and strengthens local government accountability; (b) a close involvement of local communities that generates local ownership and reduces the risk of post-project loss of purpose and interest in operation and maintenance; (c) an effort to complement investments in local infrastructure with support to institutional development and strengthening of local government capacities; and (d) a design of implementation arrangements that is tailored to the level of local capacity and expertise available in the country.

FY17 - Public Administration,FY17 - Transportation,FY17 - Water, Sanitation and Waste Management

World Bank Group

Project

Road, Water Supply and Storage, Power Transmission, Automotive, Biomass, Residential, Waste Processing and Treatment, Government, Power Generation (CCGT), Commercial