About the «Community Empowerment Network» Project's web-portal

The Project "Community Empowerment Network" (CEN) is being implemented within the "Fighting poverty" program of the World Bank Institute (WBI). The CEN is an informal network uniting community representatives, government, and development stakeholders working together to promote community-driven development approaches. The network promotes community-driven development through a variety of targeted, small scale projects that help support existing efforts or improve the overall environment and framework for community-driven development. The CEN does not directly fund community projects, but instead implements projects to support the efforts of communities.

The main objective pursued by the «Community Empowerment Network» (CEN) web-portal is to provide information on issues covering problems of local community potential development for efficient project elaboration, implementation and monitoring at the local level through creation of the network of organizations involved in community development; it will inform about development of efficient program to improve population living standards and eradicate poverty; it will also form the database of publications on site's issues and provide information support for community based organizations and stakeholders.

In order to meet these targets CEN web-portal will fulfill the following tasks:

• Provide information about factors conducive to success or failure of CEN project
• Promote experience sharing and exchange of findings by the various parties participating in project development and implementation.
• Provide relevant information and materials through improved access, sharing of local experience on community empowerment as well as involving public in the process.

Expected outcomes of the web-portal: Network of local experts, NGO representatives, state structures, international organizations, national and international consultants involved in the problems of community empowerment and improvement of living standards; promotion of public discussions in the region on site's issues; extensive database of publications and relevant documents on community driven development issues.

National Partners of the Community Empowerment Network (CEN):

1.Azerbaijan - the Community Development Center of Azerbaijan is an independent non-governmental organization dedicated to fighting poverty and strengthening civil society and democracy in Azerbaijan through cooperation with international and national NGOs, operating in the country, as well as other civil society actors, such as municipalities, executive authorities and community groups. Its mission is to serve individuals and families in the poorest communities of the country by empowering them to identify and address problems using their own and potentially available resources for the betterment of their own communities.

2.Kyrgyz Republic - "Counterpart - Sheriktesh" is responsible for coordination of Network activity in Kyrgyz Republic together with " administration group" that makes decisions on the main strategic directions of activity and use of project financial resources. Events, organized by the Network depend on priorities of its members, but can include analysis of actions on potential formation, regular meetings, experience sharing, target educational endeavors and etc.

3. Tajikistan - Community Development programme of the UNDP, Tajikistan gathered information from Steering Group members on community mobilization strategies, and on success stories in working with communities. Currently, CEN Tajikistan promotes joint projects between local governments and communities.

4. Uzbekistan - Association of the Business Women of Uzbekistan coordinates Network activities and events in Uzbekistan. In order to increase project's efficiency the Coordination Group was formed to include representatives from the Oliy Majlis, the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, UNDP, INTRAK, Khamroh - Consulting, and independent experts on civil society development.