The priority tasks of the Republican Center for Development of Living Conditions of the Population of the Republic of Uzbekistan “Taraqqiyot” are:

• improvement of rural infrastructure
• innovative design using software
• construction of drinking water supply systems
• technical monitoring of construction works
• purchase and use of high-quality materials
• training of personnel in the operation of water supply systems
• training of personnel in the design of water supply systems
• socio-economic support for women
• creation of new jobs
• conducting trainings on financial management
• conducting trainings on management (personnel management)
• development of tariff plans for drinking water
• preparation of design documentation and further technical support and service

The Population Support and Development Center (PSD) "Taraqqiyot" was created on the basis of the platform of the Water Supply and Sanitation Project for Rural Areas of the Fergana Valley of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The project was implemented from 2004 to 2019. The project was funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation of the Swiss Confederation and was implemented by the "International Secretariat for Water" Canada. During this period, 32 systems were built, more than 160,000 people in rural areas received access to clean drinking water along with improved sanitation and hygiene conditions.

PSD "Taraqqiyot" was created with the aim of continuing the activities of the previous infrastructure project, while simultaneously implementing other socially significant projects for beneficiaries, especially in rural areas, where there are problems in the social life of society.

This project was aimed at changing or solving outdated or non-working forms of life in society since the post-Soviet era. And also eliminating the stereotype of dependency, when people are used to receiving everything from the state free of charge without any self-effort.

Had a positive impact on the life of an individual, a group of people or the community as a whole. The initiative was aimed at the target audience, as well as at individuals in society. The project was designed for communities that clearly demonstrated initiative and self-will to participate in the project implementation process. Communities that included individual groups of people, low-income families, people with disabilities, suffering from various diseases, pensioners, youth, etc. During the implementation of the project, connections were established with government agencies and this approach is already being considered at the government level for application within the framework of the state program.

The project included the following criteria and parameters for implementation.

• Social Cohesion Parameters: This is the receipt of support of at least 85% of drinking water users, especially adults, perceived as a fair and beneficial solution for all segments of the population, regardless of age, gender, nationality and other affiliations.
• Normative and legal aspects: The Drinking Water Organization (DWO) is registered as a non-profit non-governmental organization NGO as a provider of public services, including all water consumers who make monthly payments for water on an equal basis
• Financial aspects: Implementation of NGO activities based on financial transparency in bank accounts, as well as open transparent access to data for all members of the association.
• Economically feasible: The established tariff for drinking water covers not only operating costs, but also the initial capital invested in the construction of these infrastructure systems with the subsequent possibility of replacing systems and equipment or reinvesting.
• Hygiene: Improving sanitation and hygiene conditions in close cooperation with local health and public education institutions by raising awareness among children and introducing hygiene practices among adults.
• Technical support: Designated and trained local plumbers handle technical tasks during the operation of these systems.
• Institutionally fixed form in the context of “provision of services to the population”, supported by an appropriate legal framework, in accordance with the requirements of both men and women. Since in the form of ownership of these systems, the role of the various entities (Mahallas, District Hakimiyats, Vodokanals), regulatory bodies and mechanisms is still clearly defined, therefore it is necessary to make a certain contribution to the creation of this “local institutional framework” through dialogue “at the district and regional level”, subsequently for clarification of the forms of ownership, etc.

Criteria for a successful socially significant infrastructure project:

• Social significance of the project: This project was aimed at significant social changes in the community. Mainly at changing the community's thinking and eliminating the concept of dependency. The main goal is to actively support and develop civil society through their active participation in the implementation of social infrastructure projects to improve the living conditions of Uzbekistan.
• Effectiveness: The project was designed for a transparent and achievable social result, which was achieved within a reasonable certain time frame. Changing a person's attitude to society requires a certain individual approach by eliminating the barrier that usually exists between people of different levels of interests and positions. Over the next 15 years, a significant part of society, especially in rural areas, changed their approach to project management and clearly expressed their desire to actively participate in them. Further, the created decentralized organization of local self-government has the ability to successfully manage infrastructure projects on the ground.
• Sustainability: A key factor in a successful social project is also considered to be the possibility of the project's existence after the end of its funding period. In this context, the sustainability of this project was secured by the use of a solid technical component, i.e. the construction of drinking water supply systems for the rural population. This sustainability mechanism was secured by the infrastructure that allowed creating conditions for the operation of these water systems and the subsequent involvement of human resources to create new jobs.
• Scalability: the possibility of using the idea or the product itself in other geographic areas or social groups. In this case, it is necessary to develop a mechanism for training new specialists in the approach used and create a feedback system to monitor the work performed according to the parameters and requirements specified in the manual.
• Transparency: A social project should be open to all participants and beneficiaries, as well as to those who want to implement the project independently with their own resources and funds. Openness makes it easy to implement a social project, because openness instills confidence in any actions of working with the public. Social and financial accountability creates favorable conditions for working with the population directly, especially when the beneficiaries have their own specific partial financial contribution to the implementation of the project.
• Development and support of local self-government bodies: The Drinking Water Organizations in rural areas created within the framework of the project were officially registered as non-profit non-governmental organizations. These organizations are members of the Resource Center of the Center for Social and Technical Development "Taraqqiyot". Members of the Resource Center have the opportunity to receive advisory services of a social and technical nature in matters of local infrastructure development. Many of them have already successfully managed to win and receive these funds for the implementation of social infrastructure projects at the local level. The Center for Social and Technical Development "Taraqqiyot" is the main base for the exchange of information, interaction of NGOs with government agencies and the media.
• Civil society. Projects aimed at the development of civil society institutions and public self-government are being implemented. Small grants are allocated for the implementation of small projects, in which the Resource Center plays an important role, especially in the field of providing advisory services for the preparation of documents for submission to donors as an applicant. Most of them have already been honored to win small grants and have implemented a number of social projects for the development of civil society, as well as grants aimed at supporting vulnerable groups of the population. Along with this, infrastructure projects have also been implemented.
• Improving the quality and living conditions of the population. Projects aimed at improving the quality of life of people in society, vulnerable groups of the population through social adaptation. Creation and organization of training courses to improve cooking skills, sewing, agro-innovation, hairdressing, etc.
• Education and enlightenment. Projects in the field of education, enlightenment, science, development of additional education, scientific and technical creativity. Involvement of young people in the information technology process mainly in the direction of techno-innovation. Also, involvement of adults in matters of personnel training and management of organizations.
• Family health and medicine. Projects in the field of health care, prevention and health protection, promotion of a healthy lifestyle. Issues of preventing diseases such as hepatitis, diarrhea through a cascade methodology of training and promotion of hygiene and sanitation. Projects aimed at preventing social support for motherhood and reproductive health.

Financing and Public Private Partnership.

In Uzbekistan, an example of such financing is the grant program of the Public Fund under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. In the implementation of projects, the State allocates grant funds to support public organizations implementing social projects. Taking into account further operation, issues regarding the management of these projects at the local level are considered. Projects aimed at water supply are a clear example of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) program, where a mechanism for managing infrastructure projects and their further sustainable operation is created through joint financing.

The tools of social design are goal setting, planning, decision-making procedures, action adjustments, development of new systems for evaluating results and general prospects for social development. Social design as one of the areas of human knowledge is based on the use of various methods of data collection, information processing, analysis, generating a cognitive effect for the community or beneficiaries.

The implementation of such social infrastructure projects is not so simple. In this regard, it is fundamentally difficult to create an ideal social infrastructure project or development concept “in one go” that will be optimal for a given specific situation.

The basis of various types of prospective activities of social projects should be such skills as “thinking strategy”, “planning”, “foresight”, “forecasting”, “modeling”, which are directly related to the implementation of ideas based on value foundations and human relations.