The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in Tajikistan held the second meeting of the Steering Committee for the Improving Community Resilience through the Sustainable Livelihoods in the Rasht Valley (ICR) project in Dushanbe on April 4.
According to the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Office in Tajikistan, the meeting was conducted in collaboration with the Governments of Switzerland and Tajikistan.
The Rasht Valley in Tajikistan’s upper central region is very vulnerable to socioeconomic and environmental factors. Critical issues in Rasht include inadequate water and sanitation services, ineffective agriculture, low resilience to climate change and disasters, and limited livelihood opportunities for women and youth,
The project aims to strengthen climate-vulnerable Rasht Valley rural residents’ livelihoods. Community members will have equal access to water, sanitation, and childcare. The population, especially women, will generate money and manage, regenerate, and safeguard their natural resources while reducing disaster risk.
The meeting reportedly brought together representatives from local and national government bodies, representatives from the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) partner organizations, projects operating in the Rasht Valley, and various community-based organizations.
Discussions focused on pivotal aspects such as effective planning, budgeting, implementation, and sustainability of project activities. Emphasis was placed on the achieved results, baseline assessments, and key recommendations.
The recommendations and insights generated during the steering committee meeting will serve as strategic guidance for the ICR project and its collaborating organizations, fostering enhanced coordination and impactful implementation.
Within its Cooperation program for Central Asia (2022-2025), the Government of Switzerland will focus on supporting economic, social and democratic development, promoting an integrated and regional approach in the complex field of transboundary water management, strengthening economic ties and promoting good governance.
The Aga Khan Foundation is a leading global development organization working to tackle the root causes of poverty. For more than 50 years, AKF have helped create strong community institutions that support sustainable, locally driven initiatives to improve the lives of millions of people. Working alongside marginalized communities in Africa, Asia and the Middle East, AKF’s initiatives aim to bring about transformative and long-lasting improvements to quality of life.
