Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Central Asia Department of the World Bank and its partners on Thursday announced launch of the Central Asia Development Marketplace 2009 and invited farmers’ associations, NGOs, businesses, academia, local governments, foundations, and other interested groups from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan to submit proposals for innovative projects under the theme of “Efficient Water Use in Agriculture”.

The Central Asia Development Marketplace idea is based on the successful experience of the global Development Marketplace (DM), which was first tested by the World Bank in 1998. The DM is an opportunity for the social entrepreneurs around the world to develop and give voice to innovative ideas for addressing urgent development challenges. Evolved out of the DM concept, the Central Asia Development Marketplace is conceived as “mini market” for innovative ideas held at the regional level.

The theme of the Central Asia Development Marketplace 2009 is Efficient Water Use in Agriculture. The issue of water availability and use has been historically very sensitive and controversial in Central Asia. The Central Asia Development Marketplace 2009 through a competitive and transparent process will help identify and fund innovative initiatives and projects that would have positive impact on water use and management by farmers.

Proposals should be submitted no later than 10 April 2009. The proposals will be evaluated by the panel of assessors drawn from different parts of the development community who specialize on issue on water management. Selected finalists will be invited to present their ideas at the final event - Central Asia Development Marketplace 2009, which will be organized on 9-10 June 2009, where winners will be identified and awarded with grant funding.

The size of a Central Asia Development Marketplace award will not exceed US$25,000.