Rural Development Project (APL #1)

closed

The project development objective of the Rural Development Project for Romania is to strengthen the institutional capacity of local administration, community/user groups, and private service providers: a) to plan, implement, operate, and maintain small infrastructure investments in a participatory and accountable manner; and b) to increase the access of rural inhabitants in pilot areas to markets and social services, and improved water and sanitation. There are two main project components beside the project management component. The first component finances technical assistance and training activities to build the capacity of local stakeholders, primarily communes and their constituents (including likely project beneficiaries), but also private service providers, county council technical staff, and other stakeholders. The second component provides funding for demand-driven investments prepared for communes and community-based organizations. The component will also finance a public environmental health promotion campaign, and a rural water/sanitation strategy study. In connection with roads, the component will fund studies aimed at improving the broader legal, institutional, and regulatory framework for rural transport and roads.