DUSHANBE, December 23, 2009, Asia-Plus — The European Union has started funding 4 projects implemented by local and international non-governmental organizations, selected by a Call for Proposals launched in April 2009, under the “Non State Actors in Development” program, for a total amount of around EUR 750 000, according to the Delegation of the European Commission to Tajikistan.
The new thematic program “Non State Actors and Local Authorities in Development” was introduced in 2007. It aims to support small scale initiatives by civil society organizations (and local authorities) from the European Union and partner countries in the area of development. The overarching objective of this program is poverty reduction in the context of sustainable development, including the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals. The program is actor-oriented. It aims at strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations as a pre-condition for a more equitable, open and democratic society through support to their “own initiatives”.
These finalists of the NSA Call for Proposals have been selected to implement the following projects:
The two-year project “Promoting civil participation in the reform of residential building maintenance and management in urban areas”, will be implemented by the Consumers” Union of Tajikistan (CU) in five cities of Tajikistan – Dushanbe, Khujand, Chkalovsk, Kulob, and Qurghon Teppa. The project will assist in promoting the development and enforcement of effective and rational housing stock self-management in urban areas, through awareness raising and media campaigning, assistance in the de-monopolization of the housing service sector by promoting local legal acts, through trainings for housing management companies, etc., thus contributing to the development of effective management in residential blocks and to saving and restoration of existing housing in urban areas of Tajikistan.
The project “An Early Years Support Centre service in Dushanbe” will be implemented in Dushanbe by the British organization HealthProm in partnership with the Disabled Women”s League “Ishtirok”. The project will establish a new Early Years Support Centre (EYSC), which will enlarge the day care work at the Centre for children with disabilities and their families “Kishte” (created in 2006). The project has the overall objective of reducing the number of children at risk of poverty in Dushanbe. The EYSC will support vulnerable young children and families to reduce the risk of social exclusion and increase their capacity to thrive by training mothers to become financially active; providing crisis support and short term accommodation for women and children at risk; providing counseling and support to parents and awareness training for local administrators; and providing training for professionals in child care and early intervention.
The project “Economic development and welfare of disabled and their families in rural areas” implemented by local NGO “Munis” in the Hissar and Shahrinow districts, aims to improve living condition of vulnerable groups of citizens, especially women and disabled people.
The project intends to get better the social care for the target groups and increase their incomes, through developed system of caring for the well being of families headed by women bread-winners or having a disabled family member.
The project “Sustainable social-economic community development through decentralized natural resource management in Sughd” will be implemented in the districts: Asht, Ghonchi, Spitamen, Jabborrasoulov, Ayni of Sughd province, by the international NGO Christian Aid, in partnership with the Agency Support Development Process Nau (ASDP Nau). The project aims to promote sustainable socio-economic development of local communities through local administration reform and good management of natural resources (including renewable energy sources). This will be achieved by capacity development of Jamoats and Mahalla Committees in organizational effectiveness, inclusive development and alternative energy management; development of a sustainable local alternative energy management model and improving access to energy sources, as well as awareness raising campaigns and empowerment of local authorities on renewable energy challenges.
