DUSHANBE, July 8, 2009, Asia-Plus — In the framework of bilateral assistance to Tajikistan the European Commission will finance six new projects in the fields of health, agriculture and rural development in the amount of around €3.5 million under the program “Enhancing Individual Incomes and Improving Living Standards in Khatlon and Sughd Provinces, Tajikistan”, according to the Delegation of the European Commission in Tajikistan.
The program specifically aims to assist vulnerable communities in the target areas to broaden income generation opportunities, enhance disease prevention, improve food security, develop basic infrastructure, increase training opportunities and improve local governance. The projects will be implemented in the years 2009 – 2010 by six implementing partners, who will contribute around €870.000 in addition to the amount allocated by the European Commission.
Welthungerhilfe (Germany) with the new project aims to introduce the concept of participatory, integrated water resource management – focusing on both support to community based organizations and on environmental preservation of water resources. The total cost of the project is €572.234.
The Aga Khan Foundation with EC funding will support 25,000 rural households in 19 jamoats of Khovaling, Shuroobod and Muminobod districts to diversify agricultural production and off-farm employment opportunities through adding value to agricultural and livestock produce. Access to clean drinking water and sanitation will be improved for twelve villages through construction and rehabilitation of water supply and sanitation systems. The project will also facilitate the use of solar energy, wind power, and biogas. The project”s budget is €950.000.
CESVI (Italy) in partnership with two local extension service providers JOVID and Agricultural Information Network will implement “Enhancing rural incomes in Ghonchi and Spitamen Districts through the “Development of Small Agricultural Value Chains” project. The project”s budget is €586.606.
UN FAO in partnership with Tajik Veterinary Association and the State Veterinary Inspection Service will continue supporting the Tajik National Brucellosis Control Program (NBCP) under the third phase of the EC-funded program to prevent brucellosis in humans and strengthen control in sheep and goats. The project”s budget is €1.220.000.
AIDS Foundation East-West will work in Khujand, Chkalovsk, Qairoqqum, Panjakent, Qurghon Teppa, Vose, Hamadoni, Kulob to build capacity of local governmental and nongovernmental health and psycho-social service providers to reach and educate socially marginalized groups such as sex workers, injection drug users, and people living with HIV, as well as care-givers, on poverty-related diseases and to provide targeted, effective health messages and services. The project”s budget is EUR 663.483.
Globali Iniciatyva Psichiatrijoje (Lithuania) will support people with mental health problems to develop vocational skills and better integrate in the local communities by increasing the knowledge and providing adequate tools and training to at least five psychiatric institutions and non-governmental organizations in Sughd. The project”s budget is €354.413.
The EU Strategy for Central Asia aims to strengthen ties between the European Union and its Central Asian partners. It has doubled European Commission assistance to the region to €750 million for 2007-2013. Tajikistan gets the main share of bilateral assistance (€66 million for 2007-2010) in support to sector programs, technical assistance and grants. It focuses on social protection, health and private sector development, underpinned by public finance management. Projects aimed at enhancing living standards continue. Tajikistan also receives regional and thematic assistance in areas like border management and drug control (BOMCA/CADAP), education (TEMPUS, Erasmus Mundus), water / environment, human rights and democracy (EIDHR), non-State actors (NSA) and SME development (CA-Invest). The total value of EC assistance disbursed to Tajikistan since 1992 is over €500 million.
