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Tajikistan
>> Regional Overview >> Tajikistan Overview
Program Summary
Previous Years' Activities
2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997
Last updated: 05
Introduction
Tajikistan is a small, poor, mountainous country in Central Asia bordering Afghanistan, China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. Already the poorest of the republics when part of the Soviet Union, civil war and economic collapse since independence have reduced over 80% of the population to poverty. The country began to see a turn around following the 1997 peace accords that ended the five-year civil war. Presidential elections in November 1999 and Parliamentary elections in February 2000 established a somewhat stable government and improved security, and modest economic growth has returned since 1997. The United States has sought to foster stability and development in a country that is on the front line of some our most pressing concerns in the region: democracy, corruption, Islamic radicalism, narcotics trafficking and terrorism. Failure to assist Tajikistan to substantially overcome the many problems and pressures it faces, many from its neighbors, threatens to make Central Asia even more vulnerable to instability. USAID assistance in Tajikistan had initially focused on meeting urgent humanitarian and rehabilitation needs to directly support the peace process. USAID is now increasingly supporting the country's longer-term development needs, while still meeting humanitarian and food security needs. However, all of Tajikistan's needs are pressing and great while the U.S. and other donors' commitments are limited. Thus, it is uncertain whether Tajikistan will succeed in avoiding further armed strife and tragedy.
Development Challenge
Tajikistan is the poorest of the new Central Asian states and the only one in which underlying ethnic, regional and ideological strains led to open warfare and population displacements at the time of independence. The 1997 Peace Accord formally ended the civil war and set out a transition process that concluded with the Parliamentary elections in 2000. The new leadership faces the daunting challenge of building the country's political and economic systems while making the transition to a free market system. The task is made harder by the destruction and dislocation caused by the war, corruption, militancy, trafficking and the country's poverty. The lack of economic opportunities tempt greater numbers of Tajik citizens with corruption, the arms and narcotics trade and the appeal of political extremists.
The overall challenge is to build local and community capabilities and new knowledge and skills to develop the economy and governance, and to provide continuing assistance to relieve hardship and reinforce stability.
Economic growth in Tajikistan is constrained by an inadequate legal infrastructure that does not yet meet the needs of the emerging private sector. Absent clearer rules of the game and the elimination of scores of unofficial barriers to trade, the country cannot offer an environment that attracts the level of foreign and domestic investment needed to create jobs and generate growth. Among those entrepreneurs who do take the risk to invest, there is only a limited understanding of what it means to function in a free market environment.
Recognizing the need to support the transition to a market economy, the Government of Tajikistan aggressively implemented a macro-economic reform agenda negotiated with the IMF and World Bank, including a push to privatize state-owned enterprises. While good progress has been made, the Government still must address such tough issues as clarifying the regulatory regime, improving access to and predictability in the justice system, revamping the tax code, and overhauling the banking system.
USAID has supported the Government's reform effort through its Commercial Law program. This activity helped the Government redraft the first two parts of its civil code, and is currently helping with the third, which deals with intellectual property rights and patents. The program has compiled a computerized legal database that provides users ready access to Tajikistan's full body of laws and normative acts. The program has also established a new system of judicial examinations to select the country's judges.
One of the most pressing challenges is meeting the needs of the country's huge number of families who live in poverty. Many of these are households headed by women left widowed by the war (estimated to be 25,000) or abandoned by men who have left the country seeking work. Recent surveys find significant and worsening rates of malnutrition among these families. USAID supported a network of NGOs that is providing humanitarian and development assistance to vulnerable groups to improve household productivity and boost incomes. Many of these NGOs are also supported by USDA's Food for Progress program, which complements and is closely coordinated with USAID- funded programs. Among these activities are micro-credit lending programs that target women.
The condition of vulnerable households has been made worse by the serious deterioration of social services, especially for health and education. Inadequate and inefficient spending in these sectors has left schools and clinics in terrible condition, with few supplies or equipment and salaries of staff frequently unpaid for months. The health sector receives only 7% of the national budget (1% of GDP), and those resources generally support curative rather than preventive health services. Infectious disease -- tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and malaria -- are all worsening problems. However, the Government of Tajikistan is pursuing a health reform program that is very consistent with directions advocated by USAID. The World Health Organization, the World Bank (IBRD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and USAID are working together to support this reform effort.
The road to democracy in Tajikistan has been slow but steady. The peace agreement offered a positive example of national reconciliation and has brought most of the political actors into the political process, despite less than open elections last year. Tajikistan is the only country in Central Asia in which the Islamic opposition is peacefully participating in the political process and has seats in the parliament. While the country has far to go in establishing a democratic order, the new parliament, targeted for USAID assistance, is finding its voice. It is working closely with U.S. NGOs to establish internal procedures and draft legislation. It is also actively involving the country's emerging NGO sector in the drafting of legislation to govern private voluntary initiatives and organizations. The political opposition has room for maneuver, something rarely enjoyed in neighboring countries, and the media is surprisingly open. Political parties are still learning the role to be played in a democratic system, whether in government or in opposition, and political party development remains a key focus of USAID efforts in Tajikistan. Civil society development is also a USAID priority. USAID works closely with Tajik NGOs, media outlets, and schools to promote a better understanding of the citizen's role in a democracy and encouraging pluralism and tolerance.
Some short-term training in economic restructuring, democratization, and health are a major part of the USAID program in Tajikistan. Last year, USAID provided short-term training to over 3,000 reform-minded government leaders and professionals; over 40% of participants were women. USAID also takes advantage of the Global Bureau inter-agency agreement with the Center for Disease Control to fight the spread of infectious diseases. The Farmer-to-Farmer program financed through P.L. 480 and managed by the Office of Private and Voluntary Cooperation in the Bureau for Humanitarian Response sends volunteers to Tajikistan.
In the fall of 1998, the U.S. Ambassador and all U.S. employees from Dushanbe were relocated to Almaty, Kazakhstan, due to security concerns. Programs must be managed and monitored with limited visits by USAID staff and contractors, supported by a resident local staff in Dushanbe.
Other Donors
While the United States had taken the lead in responding to the humanitarian crises, the International Monetary Fund and the IBRD provided substantial resources to support macroeconomic stability and reform. The IBRD currently is also financing a $10 million Poverty Alleviation Project. The ADB has recently committed to several large loan-funded activities in health, power generation and roads. The European Union (EU), through ECHO, has been a significant supporter of relief and rehabilitation activities. The EU's development directorates are expected to begin funding this year. The United Nations High Commission of Refugees (UNHCR) provides significant assistance to regions hosting refugees, and the United Nations Development Program underwrites the management costs of the UNOPS program in Tajikistan. Turkey, Russia and Iran have also assisted Tajikistan. Large numbers of private voluntary organizations, including several from the United States, are active and effectively managing their programs.
FY 2002 Program
USAID will continue a broad effort to improve democracy and governance, with an emphasis on civic education, support to parliamentarians, information and media, and rule of law. A USAID-funded civic education textbook should be ready for use in pilot schools by this year. Legal reform and development of a legal profession are critical efforts. Building indigenous NGO and media and information capabilities will contribute to fostering civil society. USAID will broaden its support to media under a newly designed media support activity. Efforts to build a market economy will include a newly launched business training initiative as well as support to local universities to strengthen their business and economic education. USAID will expand existing micro-credit activities implemented through NGO partners.
In the health sector, USAID will expand work with counterparts from Tajikistan's Ministry of Health to introduce the successful family practice model from Kyrgyzstan. Efforts to address infectious disease, including TB and malaria, will be intensified.
In water and energy management, technical and material support will support improved snowmelt monitoring as part of a regional water management effort.
Finally, USAID will continue strong support for U.S. PVOs working to address community level development needs, while at the same time providing an institutional safety net in the event drought, civil strife or refugees demand a humanitarian response.
Activity Data Sheets
- 119-0131 Improved Environment for the Growth of Small and Medium Enterprises
- 119-0161 Improved Management of Critical Natural Resources, including Energy
- 119-0211 Strengthened Democratic Culture among Citizens and Targeted Institutions
- 119-031 Reduced Human Suffering and Impact of Crisis
- 119-032 Increased Utilization of Quality Primary Health Care for Select Populations
- 119-042 Cross-Cutting Programs
Country Background Information Resources
CIA Factbook
Library of CongressNational Geographic Country Maps
State Dept. Country Information
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
