Problematising the community-contribution requirement in participatory projects: evidence from Kyrgyzstan

Abstract

This article examines the extent to which the World Bank-funded Village Investment Project in Kyrgyzstan promoted empowered participation of citizens in co-financing arrangements. It is based on in-depth qualitative interviews and focus-group sessions in 16 rural communities. The study found that the poor and marginalised did not always have the ability to engage in the processes of consensus building, influencing local decision making, and exercising free choice with regard to the contribution requirement. Participatory projects must carefully design arrangements and operational procedures for the co-financing component of the project, in order to support citizen empowerment and democratic inclusion.

Problématiser l'exigence de contribution communautaire dans les projets participatifs: données provenant du Kirghizistan

Cet article examine la mesure dans laquelle le Projet d'investissement villageois mené au Kirghizistan et financé par la Banque mondiale a favorisé la participation autonomisée des citoyens aux arrangements de cofinancement. Il se base sur des entretiens qualitatifs approfondis et des sessions en groupe de réflexion dans 16 communautés rurales. L’étude a constaté que les personnes pauvres et marginalisées n'avaient pas toujours la possibilité de s'engager dans les processus d’établissement de consensus, d'influencer la prise de décisions au niveau local et d’être libres de choisir en ce qui concerne l'exigence de contribution. Les projets participatifs doivent concevoir avec soin les arrangements et les procédures opérationnelles pour l’élément de cofinancement du projet, afin de soutenir l'autonomisation des citoyens et l'inclusion démocratique.

Problematizando o requisito de contribuição da comunidade em projetos participativos: evidência de Kyrgyzstan

Este artigo examina até que ponto o Projeto Village Investment financiado pelo Banco Mundial em Kyrgyzstan promoveu a participação empoderada de cidadãos em arranjos de co-financiamento. Ele se baseia em entrevistas qualitativas aprofundadas e sessões de grupo focalizadas em 16 comunidades rurais. O estudo constatou que os pobres e marginalizados nem sempre têm a habilidade de engajar-se nos processos de construção de consenso, influenciando as tomadas de decisões locais e exercitando a livre escolha em relação ao requisito de contribuição. Os projetos participativos devem cuidadosamente montar arranjos e procedimentos operacionais para o componente de co-financiamento do projeto para apoiar o empoderamento do cidadão e a inclusão democrática.

El debate sobre el requisito de la contribución comunitaria en proyectos participativos: resultados de Kirguistán

Este ensayo analiza el papel que tuvo el Proyecto de Inversión en Aldeas, financiado por el Banco Mundial en Kirguistán, en el fomento del uso de mecanismos de cofinanciamiento por los habitantes. El ensayo se fundamentó en entrevistas cualitativas a profundidad y en diálogos con grupos específicos en 16 comunidades rurales. El estudio encontró que los pobres y los marginados no siempre tienen la oportunidad de participar en procesos de construcción de consensos, ni influir en la toma de decisiones a nivel local. ni decidir libremente sobre la contribución comunitaria. Los proyectos participativos deberán diseñar cuidadosamente sus mecanismos y procedimientos operativos respecto al confinanciamiento, a fin de facilitar el empoderamiento de las personas y potenciar la participación democrática.

Keywords:

• Civil Society
• Central and Eastern Europe and the CIS

Acknowledgements

This research (PTA-155-27-0012) was conducted under the Non-Governmental Public Action Programme funded by the UK Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC). I would like to thank Gazbubu Babayarova, Jude Howell, and David Lewis.

Notes

The arguments about the usefulness of community contribution have a logical appeal; at the same time, there is little empirical evidence to demonstrate whether the contribution requirement of CDD projects enhances local self-reliance and sustainability of local infrastructure.

Local residents who volunteer to help local administration in solving organisational issues, including mobilisation of resources and labour at a district or street level.

The widespread inequality and the popular dissatisfaction with the governing elites led to a mass uprising, which forced President Bakiyev to flee from Kyrgyzstan in April 2010.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Babken V. Babajanian

Babken V. Babajanian is a Research Associate at the Centre for Civil Society at the London School of Economics. His interests include international and comparative dimensions of social policy, poverty reduction, governance, community development, and civil society.