Panj, Tajikistan, September 7, 2021 – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) and, through their joint Thrive Tajikistan: Partnership for Socio-Economic Development project, officially commissioned a new drinking water supply system and a latrine at School #20 in Safedoron village in Panj district of Khatlon province. This drinking water supply system will provide clean water to more than 2,700 people, and the school latrine will ensure modern sanitation services to more than 640 students and teachers, with separate spaces for males and females.
Safedoron’s residents have not had reliable water supply since the collapse of the Soviet Union. In 2019, a newly created Village Organization identified access to water and sanitation as their community’s top priority.
AKF and the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat, with support from USAID, responded to the needs of the community. In order to ensure the sustainability of this new physical infrastructure, Thrive also established a water user committee to oversee its operations and management. This project is also launching a community outreach campaign to increase awareness and encourage behavior change that will lead to improved sanitation and hygiene practices.
USAID is the world’s leading international development agency and a catalytic agent for development outcomes. For more information, visit the USAID/Tajikistan website: https://www.usaid.gov/central-asia-regional, https://www.usaid.gov/tajikistan, and Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/usembassy.dushanbe/
Thrive Tajikistan Project