DUSHANBE, April 23, 2010, Asia-Plus — On Thursday April 22, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan Ken Gross and Advisor to the President of Tajikistan on legal policy Khursandmurod Mirzoyev officially launched the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Local Development Initiative (LDI).
According to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, over the next three years, LDI will work with local governments in at least six districts in Tajikistan, improving service delivery and increasing citizen involvement with the local government at district and jamoat levels. The USG will spend 6.9 million dollars on the project.
The launch brought together local, national, and international partners involved in local governance reform in Tajikistan – including officials of the Presidential Administration, partners from local governments, members of Parliament, and representatives of Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Justice.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Gross commented that, “strengthened local governments are key to Tajikistan’s long-term prosperity. By working together at the local level, communities and their government officials can find sustainable solutions to many of their problems.” This importance is recognized by the Government of Tajikistan, and LDI will continue the work of USAID on housing and communal sector policies that will decentralize those services.
By the end of the program, local leaders and head of each selected district and jamoats will be trained on theory and best practices of local governance, and key roles and responsibilities of local deputies. Local government officials will be experienced in developing localized development strategies and service delivery plans through public participation. Starting October 2010, the Local Development Initiative will provide grants for local governments to finance small-scale infrastructure projects chosen by the local communities.
Local Development Initiative (LDI) is one of the many assistance projects the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) support in Tajikistan. Since 1992, the American people through the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe have provided about $900 million in programs that support Tajikistan’s democratic institutions, health care, education, and economic growth.
