Enterprise in community development

The project will involve co-financing, training, and TA. A local contractor will help USAID/P with implementation responsibilities. An estimated 12-18 participatory community development subprojects (SP"s) will be jointly undertaken each year by communities and sponsoring private firms with project co-financing and/or TA. These will include but not be limited to: small-scale infrastructure, public works, income generation, and activities in agriculture, forestry, fishing, and health and nutrition improvement. SP"s will be funded based on merit with priority given to proposals by firms who have not previously received assistance and/or SP"s in least developed areas. Structures built or physical property obtained under the project will be owned and maintained as public goods or property. Training will be an integral part of the project. Private firm employees responsible for SP management will take a basic 5-7 day course in program management and A.I.D. procedures. In addition, a 2-3 day workshop will be offered to senior-level private sector managers to encourage them to program and use resources for community development wisely, and a 2-3 week course will be conducted for beneficiary community members to develop their skills in organizing community members and planning and implementing SP"s. A small project set-aside component will provide up to $50,000 per year to partially fund (up to 75%) SP proposals of $5,000 or less from civic service organizations and private sector entities such as Rotary Clubs. SP managers under this component will participate in the course for community members. A local contractor will be hired by USAID/P to publicize the project, screen and monitor SP"s and the provision of outside TA, and provide the training noted above.