DUSHANBE, October 5, 2009, Asia-Plus — A forum formally titled “Labor Migration in Central Asia: Problems and Ways to Solve Them” will take place in Dushanbe on October 8-9.
Organized by the CAMP (Central Asian Mountain Partnership) agency in Tajikistan in cooperation with the Alliance of Central Asian Mountain Communities, the event aims to consider issues related to development of policy and legal recommendations, extension of rights and opportunities of minors, women and elderly people involved in labor migrations.
According to the CAMP agency in Dushanbe, officials from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan as well as representatives of international organizations and public associations, research institutions, rural communities and media have been invited to attend the forum.
CAMP is a regional network for promoting development in Central Asian mountain regions The CAMP program was initiated in 2000 by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC). Its implementation was entrusted to the Center for Development and Environment (CDE). In each of the three Central Asian countries Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan a CAMP agency was developed to implement small, innovative projects in cooperation with local partners. CAMP’s goal is to promote development in the mountain regions of Central Asia based on a more sustainable use of natural resources and improved living conditions for the populations. CAMP activities are grouped into four fields: sustainable use of natural resources (water, soil, vegetation); product development and marketing; livelihood and village development; and stakeholder dialogue.
In 2002, CAMP and CDE began to design an exit strategy that would ensure the continuation of CAMP beyond the end of SDC funding. This was considered an important step to guarantee that investments in team-building as well as organizational and capacity development will continue to yield sustainable benefits after the final phase.
CAMP program”s final phase (2007 to 2008) was used for capitalizing on results from previous phases and disseminating them, as well as providing further training, both in technical matters and in management, to CAMP staff members. Backstopping was provided by CDE.
As of 2009, CAMP agencies act as self-reliant service providers and consultants.
The Alliance of Central Asian Mountain Communities was founded in the Tajik capital Dushanbe in June 2003 on the model of the “Alliance in the Alps” network of municipalities. Like its sister organization in the Alps, this Central Asian community network is active in the field of sustainable development in mountain communities and knowledge-sharing at the community level. With a program of mutual visits, excursions and information-sharing, the organization has become a platform for good practice and successful projects.
