Crimean local contributions to Development Programme amounted to USD 4.3 million, which is a 72%-increase in comparison to the last year, as Crimea Integration and Development Programme (CIDP) experts announced in Simferopol, summing up on the Programme's activity results in 2006.

“In 2007, local contributions will amount to USD 4.3 million which represents 72% of total project costs,” said Sascha Graumann, CIDP Coordinator. “We are seeing a trend in strengthening local ownership of development projects. Local authorities increasingly buy in to our projects as CIDP projects produce tangible results.”

Local contributions to CIDP projects have been continually growing. In 2005, local authorities and communities contributed 51% of project costs, while in 2006 it increased to 62%. The 2007 level is set to climb to 72%.

This increase in funding is due to people’s increased participation in decision-making. It marks a new quality of state-citizen relations and reflects the local authorities’ trust in the effectiveness of CIDP’s work on the ground. CIDP community-based initiatives include small-scale drinking and irrigation water and gas supply systems, health posts, community pre-school facilities, community centers, youth clubs, sports facilities, women centres and others.

“The significant year on year increases in local contributions prove that CIDP has been focusing on the right issues and has won the trust of the communities and their representatives,” added Sascha Graumann. “We will now accelerate our efforts to mobilize additional donor resources to match the local contribution.”

The Crimea Integration and Development Programme is a partnership of the United Nations Development Programme with the Governments of Canada, Denmark, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. Drawing on the experience and knowledge of its partners, the programme is implementing an integrated strategy to assist the people and the Government of Crimea to address the development challenges they are facing today.              

For more information and interviews please contact: Elvina Mustafaeva, CIDP Communications Specialist, tel.: (+38-0652)-248002, ext. 123, e-mail: elvina@undp.crimea.ua