Tajikistan
SNAPSHOT
Date of independence: September 9, 1991
Capital: Dushanbe
Population: 7.3 million
GDP: over $400
USAID IN TAJIKISTAN
http://centralasia.usaid.gov
CONTACTS
Regional Mission Director
William Frej
USAID/Central Asia
41 Kazibek bi St
Almaty, Kazakhstan 050010
Tel: 7-327-250-79-12
Carolyn Bryan
Country Program Officer
USAID
109 "A" Ismoili Somoni Ave.
Dushanbe, Tajikistan 734019
Tel: 10-922-372-292-000
Bob Wallin
Central Asia Team Leader
Tel: 202-712-0141
Email: bowallin@usaid.gov
During the night of January 31, 2006, snow avalanches struck several villages in the mountainous district of Jirgital, destroying homes, killing 18 people, and hospitalizing several others. A Mercy Corps truck loaded with wheat flour and vegetable oil donated by USAID was in the first convoy to reach the affected area.
Hoyiev Sharif lost three children in the avalanche. He and his neighbors were deeply appreciative of the rapid and generous USAID response.
"I am grateful for the food we received," he said. "It will help as we try to put our lives back together."
Overview
Tajikistan is a small, landlocked country balancing considerable pressures in a changing region. U.S. assistance helps Tajikistan remain stable, secure, independent, and focused on economic growth and democratic reform, despite significant poverty and a large unemployment rate. A solid partner in the War on Terror, Tajikistan has provided logistical support to NATO operations in Afghanistan. Drug trafficking across its porous border with Afghanistan poses a threat to Tajikistan and regional stability, but the Government of Tajikistan demonstrates a strong commitment to U.S. counter-narcotics and counter-terrorism policies.
The USAID program in Tajikistan focuses on supporting economic growth, health and education sectors, and political reform and democratic institutions.
Programs
Economic Growth: Strengthening Tajikistan's Economy
USAID helps to reduce regulatory and administrative constraints for small and medium enterprise (SMEs) by facilitating informative and effective dialogue between the Government and the private sector, and providing technical support to SMEs, business associations, accounting training, business education, microfinance, and the agricultural sector. To bolster regional trade, USAID facilitates Tajikistan's accession to the World Trade Organization by focusing on reduction of trade barriers and expanded access to market information. Assistance to Parliament and the Ministry of Finance is targeted to budgetary and macroeconomic issues. USAID also provides support to the State Tax Committee in tax administration and to the National Bank in monetary policy and banking supervision.
Other program focus areas include commercial law reform, improving the land tenure legislation to allow for secure land use rights, and strengthening farmers' rights to use land. Farmers are helped to improve management of on-farm water and irrigation networks and increase agricultural production. USAID also supports creation of agricultural value chains and provides critical financing, support services, and training to farmers.
Further, USAID facilitates development of a regional electricity market and supports the Government of Tajikistan in reforming the country's electricity sector by helping to establish a transparent, competitive market; increasing electricity trade; and, introducing market-based solutions for transboundary water disputes.
Investing in People: Improving Access to Quality Health Care, Education
USAID assists Tajikistan in effecting health system reforms to ensure utilization of quality, client-oriented, cost-efficient primary health care services. Projects help to implement more effective health systems financing and evidence-based medicine. The Ministry of Health receives assistance in developing its National Tuberculosis (TB) Control Program and in improving human and systems capacity for TB treatment, prevention, and control. USAID assists in implementing HIV/AIDS grants from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria; and supports training of health professionals and officials in various aspects of HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and policy-making. USAID also supports drug use prevention, treatment and rehabilitation programs. USAID supports the implementation of the World Health Organization-recommended live birth definition and the Government of Tajikistan's efforts to combat avian influenza.
USAID also seeks to improve basic primary and secondary education through targeted activities which include training on teaching methods that stress critical thinking and active learning; capacity-building for administrators; and, education finance reform.
Governing Justly and Democratically: Promoting a More Active Citizenry
USAID provides training, assistance, and small grants to strengthen civil society, promote accountable local governance, and increase access to information. Broadcast media receive training, legal assistance, and production support, and NGOs obtain legal advice. An anti-trafficking program works on prevention activities and provides for the protection of victims. Professionals from various sectors receive opportunities for training in the U.S. Through funding to the Eurasia Foundation, USAID provides small grants to NGOs to strengthen private enterprise, civil society, public administration, and education.
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