LOCAL INITIATIVES UNIT
The Local Initiatives Fund provides funds to local communities for simple, small and highly visible projects, which generate tangible solutions to local priority needs. They are active examples of grassroots community approaches to improve the living conditions in neighbourhoods and to alleviate poverty through participation in the planning process.
Aims of the Local Initiatives Fund
- Build trust between local communities, local government and the private sector through common activities, shared responsibilities and a transparent planning and monitoring process
- Implement sustainable improvement of infrastructure, social services and economic opportunities through the participation of local private businesses, community groups and local authorities
- Improve participation chances of local communities by empowering them to identify their needs, prioritise their most urgent needs, participate in all planning and implementation in processes and suggest means of sustainability
Process
The ideas for local initiatives come from local community groups themselves and prove to correspond to their most urgent needs. The ideas are discussed in local meetings with community leaders and NGOs in the presence of the District Chief and in some cases the Governor. Through consensus, the community selects one local project. All initiatives must have the approval and support of the local authorities. Local community groups plan the execution, estimate the costs and mobilise the resources either financial or in kind from the local administration or businesses. They also provide a convincing sustainable management concept. IN all steps of project identification, planning and implementation, local community groups are assisted by professional NGOs. The Local Initiatives Fund, created by the Ministry of Economic Development (MoED) and supported by the German Development Bank (KfW), provides financial assistance.
Impacts of the Local Initiatives Fund
- Rapid and low cost solutions to local priority needs.
- Most projects implemented are now owned and maintained by communities themselves.
- Local administrations proved to be cooperative in financial and logistical support. They became facilitators of the communities’ development priorities.
- Quick, highly visible and tangible improvements created trust among local partners.
- Since 2002, local communities contributed more than 8.5 million EGP to their initiatives.
- Almost one million citizens have been reached through 102 local initiatives in 12 governorates since 2002.
- Some initiatives have been further developed or replicated without funding.