The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a US$50 million grant to help the Government of Tajikistan strengthen the health sector, expand its social assistance program, ensure food security, and support MSMEs amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to press release issued by ADB, the grant will fund government measures aimed at mitigating the adverse health, social, and economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thousands of medical staff, low-income households, and small businesses in Tajikistan will benefit from government measures funded by ADB’s US$50 million grant.
The Asian Development Bank has approved a US$50 million grant to help the Government of Tajikistan mitigate the adverse economic and social impacts of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.
ADB’s COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) Program will support the government in scaling up the availability of medical supplies and establishing quarantine facilities in at least 14 hospitals nationwide. Salary increases will be provided for all frontline COVID-19 medical personnel, of which at least 80% are women.
ADB’s financing will also support the government in extending its targeted social assistance program to at least 207,000 poor households. Food security will be ensured through food price monitoring and controls, and provision of agricultural inputs for farmers to increase production. Subsidized lending and tax relief will be extended to affected micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
ADB’s first assistance to Tajikistan was in 1998 to support post-conflict reconstruction. Since then, ADB has reportedly mobilized over $1.8 billion for the country, including more than $1.3 billion in grants. The assistance has helped improve the country’s transport and energy infrastructure, support social development, expand agricultural production, and strengthen regional cooperation and trade.
