communities33 but some components are developed to directly address the needs of minorities. CIDP aims to expand possibilities for education in Ukrainian and Crimean Tatar languages.34 CIDP systematizes and disseminates the experience of existing bi-/ tri-lingual schools among school communities, District Departments of Education and the ARC Ministry of Education, which will be supported in the development of a programme of teaching in native languages on the basis of bi-/tri-lingual schools. Box 16. UNDP Ecuador Project on Achieving the MDGs for Afro-descendants Project: “Promotion of inclusive participation and support to public policies for the achievement of the MDGs by Afro-descendants in Ecuador” (December 2008 to November 2010; US$ 475.000 – Spain-UNDP Trust Fund “Towards an integrated and inclusive development in Latin America”). Background: The high incidence of inequity and exclusion in Ecuador constitutes a barrier to the enjoyment of human rights. The harshest effects of exclusion are felt in the provision of social services. Discriminatory practices against minority groups are also frequent in daily social interaction. Traditional ethnic-racial prejudices strengthen institutional discrimination. The Afro-descendant population faces a situation of poverty, vulnerability and marginalisation. Their precarious material conditions, and lower levels Initiatives to reduce poverty: The establishment of Business Promotion Centres and One-Stop-Shops with the support of CIDP has removed some of the barriers to small and medium enterprise (SME) development. These centres are member-based and maintained through membership contributions and service fees. With the Ministry of Economy, the Coordinating Committees for Entrepreneurship Development were reactivated further enhancing state – citizen dialogue. Agricultural cooperatives’ development is also supported. of educational attainment and literacy, have also become obstacles to their organizational, participatory and self-development efforts. Statistics and social indicators further demonstrate that Afro-descendants are in disadvantage, when compared to the national average and other ethnic groups, in relation to almost all MDGs indicators. Overall objective: To promote the inclusive participation of all Afro-descendants in Ecuador and to support public policies for the achievement of the MDGs by this population, with a special emphasis on the most vulnerable groups: children, young persons, women and the elderly. Specific objectives: To initiate public policy actions aimed at overcoming poverty among Afro-descendants, increasing political participation (especially among women), and reducing the impacts of discrimination and exclusion. Key outputs: (a) Active participation of Afro-descendants strengthened in the design and implementation of a national public policy As a result of UNDP/CIDP support, parents’ committees were established. They come together to improve school facilities, organize multi-cultural events, festivals, virtual museums of their village, newspapers, computer classes 33 As of today, only 10% of school students have an opportunity to learn in their native languages. During the last 15 years, 15 Crimean Tatar schools and 5 Ukrainian schools were established in Crimea representing 3% and 1% respectively of all schools whereas the share of Crimean Tatars among the ARC population is 12.1% and of Ukrainians 24.4%. Lack of schools with Crimean Tatar and Ukrainian language teaching has lead to the assimilation of Crimean Tatars and their poor knowledge of the Ukrainian language makes it more difficult for the Crimean Tatars to enter Ukrainian universities. Both factors represent obstacles for FDPs’ integration into society. 34 Chapter 5: Programming Opportunities and Relevant Strategies 87