TEHRAN, January 4, 2000 (UNIC) – A United Nations (UN) consultative workshop to introduce a joint UN poverty alleviation and employment initiative to local officials began Wednesday in Zahedan. The workshop, which is being hosted by the Governor-General of Sistan-Baluchestan, will convey community-based sustainable livelihood practices to local officials from the pilot communities including Bent and Shirabad. "This workshop will present alternative approaches to social development and explore linkages between communities and the central and local government's efforts in social and economic development," said United Nations Development Programme Deputy Resident Representative, Haoliang Xu. The two-day workshop is part of a UN project, in partnership with Government agencies, local authorities and civil society, to alleviate poverty and generate sustainable livelihoods in Sistan-Baluchistan – the province with the lowest Human Development Indicators in Iran. The two-year project will act as a pilot for cooperation between United Nations Agencies and the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and help create replicable models for improved access to health services, education, potable water, sanitation, self-organized micro-enterprise and credit, jobs and sustainable livelihoods opportunities.