The U.S. Government has officially launched its latest drinking water system and school latrine in Qubodiyon district of Khatlon province.
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Resident Office in Tajikistan says this new infrastructure was put in place by Thrive Tajikistan, a joint project between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF).
Since 1997, the U.S. Government has invested US$20 million to provide safe drinking water to over 235,000 people across Tajikistan. To date, Thrive Tajikistan has reportedly constructed five drinking water supply systems and five school latrines in Qubodiyon, Hamadoni, Panj, Farkhor, and Roshtqala districts, led by the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) that provided 12,671 people access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation and hygiene services to 3,469 people. Overall, the program will construct 15 water supply systems that serve more than 41,000 people and 15 school latrines for more than 4,500 schoolchildren and teachers.
Through the joint efforts of AKF, AKAH, USAID, the district government, and the local community, the new system will bring clean water to around 586 households (4,115 people) in Navobod village. A modern sanitation facility with separate spaces for males and females was also constructed. The school latrine facility will provide improved sanitation to over 1,000 schoolchildren and teachers.
ИЗОБРАЖЕНИЕ
At the opening ceremony of the new facilities, the Qubodiyon district chairman, Mr. Badriddin Sadriddinzoda mentioned that access to drinking water has a positive impact on every aspect of people’s lives. He said that “The residents and other water consumers should ensure the efficient use of the drinking water and the sustainability of the facility.”
To ensure sustainability of the system, USAID and AKF launched community outreach campaigns to discuss the importance of paying for services and to encourage better sanitation and hygiene practices. To ensure the system will be maintained, households, as well as public and private institutions, have agreed to pay a modest water tariff, and AKF has worked closely with the State Unitary Enterprise, Khojagii Manziliyu Komunal (KMK – the state holding company for public utilities) to improve their capacity to operate and maintain the system.
ИЗОБРАЖЕНИЕ
Mr. Peter Riley, Mission Director for USAID in Tajikistan, stressed the importance of the project, “Providing clean and safe drinking water to each household in Navobod will greatly improve the health of the community. Without the local government’s support, the community’s commitment, and donor’s generous assistance, we could not have achieved such a result. We hope the community will now ensure the proper use, operations, and maintenance of the facilities for generations to come.”
ИЗОБРАЖЕНИЕ
USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results. Since 1993, USAID has partnered with the Government of Tajikistan to strengthen good governance, boost economic growth, improve education, health, food security and bolster regional economic connectivity.
AKF partners with communities, nonprofits, businesses, governments, and local leaders to make long-term investments, build permanent institutions, and cultivate an active civil society. Its work focuses on improving quality of life and breaking the cycle of poverty. For 50 years, AKF has worked for the common good of all citizens, mainly in Asia and Africa, regardless of gender, origin or religion. The AKF is a member of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), one of the world’s leading poverty solutions networks, established by His Highness the Aga Khan. The AKDN helps improve the quality of life for tens of millions of people annually in 30 countries. The AKDN’s integrated multi-sector approach to development is grounded in decades of experience, learning, and evaluation.
AKAH, which merges the capabilities of Focus Humanitarian Assistance, the Aga Khan Planning and Building Services, and the Aga Khan Development Network’s Disaster Risk Management Initiative, focuses on preparing for both sudden and slow-onset disasters. The AKAH works to ensure that poor people live in physical settings that are as safe as possible from the effects of natural disasters; that residents who do live in high-risk areas are able to cope with disasters in terms of preparedness and response; and that these settings provide access to social and financial services that lead to greater opportunity and a better quality of life. Initially, priority areas of AKAH will include Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and India.
