Pilot Social Fund Project

closed

The Pilot Social Fund Project supports the development of human resources and poverty alleviation objective of the Country Assistance Strategy (CAS), and targets disadvantaged populations, fostering access to funds for community-determined projects. The project includes four components. 1) The first component will finance small socio-economic infrastructure, through the rehabilitation and extension of elementary schools and health centers, to include installation of water points and/or construction of latrines, etc. Repair of bridges, and community public centers, such as markets, will also be considered under this component. 2) The second component focuses on capacity building, financing human capital investments for community benefits, thus increasing functional literacy and providing training for village health workers. It will also provide beneficiaries with organizational , managerial and strategic skills. 3) The third component will support financial intermediation. Although the definition of this component will become effective as the project progresses, institutional building will promote income-generating activities. 4) The fourth component will promote institutional mechanisms for a system of decentralized social funds, where project management and institutional building will have control over operational expenditures concerning implementation, supervision and coordination.