DUSHANBE, June 19, 2009, Asia-Plus — A roundtable meeting to discuss issues related to sustainability of public associations in Tajikistan under conditions of the financial crisis will be held in Dushanbe tomorrow.
Staged by the Tajik Branch of Open Society Institute/Assistance Foundation (OSI/AF-Tajikistan) in the framework of its civil society program, the meeting is aiming to consider the current situation and develop recommendations on ensuring sustainability of public associations under conditions of the financial crisis.
Representatives of public associations from Dushanbe, Khujand, Kulob, Qurghon Teppa, Khorog and districts subordinate to the center (RRPs) as well as representatives of international organizations dealing with civil society development support issues have been invited to attend the meeting.
According to OSI/AF-Tajikistan, international expert expect the financial crisis to result in economic growth and human potential development decreasing, poverty level increasing and many development achievements being lost.
“Therefore, it is necessary to ensure protection of the most vulnerable sections of the population through improvement of targeted use of social goods and expansion of initiatives that could properly cover this category of people,” said the source, “Public associations could assist with that.”
It is supposed that financial sustainability of Tajik public associations that work mainly due to grants, private donations and donor support may deteriorate due to the crisis.
In Tajikistan, the total number of reregistered public associations has declined by one-third, from more than 3000 to some 2000, following the introduction in February 2008 of a new, more restrictive law on international and non-governmental organizations and public associations.
