Tajikistan

Tajikistan lies at the south-eastern corner of Central Asia, bordering Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, China and Afghanistan. It is the poorest of the post-Soviet countries and although poverty and unemployment levels are high, some improvements have been made in recent years.

Background

Population: 7 million
Poverty (people living below $2.15 per day): 64%
Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita: $402

Tajikistan gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. A year later civil war broke out, claiming around 60,000 lives and damaging the economy. However, since the peace agreement of 1997 the country has enjoyed relative stability.

With the assistance of donors, the Government of Tajikistan has developed a long term National Development Strategy (NDS) and medium term Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS). These hope to provide the Government with a coherent platform for development. To achieve these development goals, economic reform, greater transparency and improvements in government are needed, along with investment.

Tajikistan’s people were impoverished as a result of the civil war and the transition to a market economy. However, since 1999 the country has experienced steady economic growth, which has led to a decline in poverty (from 83% in 1999 to 64% in 2003).

In recent years labour migration has increased to other former Soviet republics, mainly Russia and Kazakhstan. It is estimated that remittances now account for over 40% of GDP. Remittances have helped to lift a large number of households out of poverty, especially in rural areas. However, Tajikistan still faces significant development challenges and is unlikely to meet all but one (Education) of the Millennium Development Goals.

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DFID activity in Tajikistan

Tajikistan is one of DFID’s focal countries in the 2004-2007 Regional Assistance Plan for Central Asia (1 mb). DFID has been present in Tajikistan since 2003 and is working with the Government and donors to support the eradication of poverty and promote sustainable development.

DFID has provided £6.3 million to Tajikistan during the period 2003 to 2007, with an allocation of £3.5 million for 2006-2007. Its programme has focused on the following areas:

• Raising living standards and integrating the Zarafshan Valley into the national economy through "Pro-poor" regional development (implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP));
• Developing the Micro and Small Enterprise Facility in Tajikistan (TMSEF) through the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD);
• The resolution of land and property disputes through Third Party Arbitration Courts (TPAC);
• Supporting the World Bank's National Social Investment Fund (NSIFT); and,
• Providing technical assistance to the Government's Poverty Reduction Strategy Process (PRSP) and Medium Term Budget Framework (MTEF).

In addition, DFID provides regional support to HIV/AIDS programmes in the country, a part of which is the promotion of harm reduction activities for high-risk groups. The programme will complement World Bank and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional HIV/AIDS projects by supporting the implementation of the Government’s own strategies.

DFID works through other donor agencies and supports the Government’s Poverty Reduction Strategy. Our programme focuses on the two core areas of governance and economic growth.

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Other donors in Tajikistan

International financial institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB) have provided substantial support to Tajikistan. Other donors include the European Union (EU), USAID, the Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency (SIDA), the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). The European Commission (EC) is planning to establish full delegation in Tajikistan in the next two years. International non-governmental organisations (NGOs) also operate in the country.

The Global Conflict Prevention Pool (GCPP), which was established in March 2001, funds initiatives to support peace in Central Asian countries, including Tajikistan.

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Links

• The European Commission in Tajikistan
• British Embassy in Dushanbe
• UNDP in Tajikistan
• UN Coordination Unit

Last updated: 13th April 2007