EU-funded infrastructure project fosters community spirit and resilience in Khorog, Tajikistan, during COVID-19
Identified, prioritised and selected by the local community, key infrastructure projects – such as water systems and schools – have been under construction in Khorog, the largest town in Eastern Tajikistan, since October of last year thanks to an EU-funded grant.
AKF, in partnership with the Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH), the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (MSDPSP) and the Government of Tajikistan, has been working alongside communities in a series of building projects designed to help stimulate the local economy and create jobs in the face of an economic downturn and the global pandemic.
Eastern Tajikistan, with its mountainous landscape and vulnerability to natural hazards, is home to some of the most marginalised communities in Central Asia. The need for critical infrastructure as well opportunities to improve socio-economic conditions are essential and in high demand. Determining what this infrastructure would be has been a matter of continual consultation between communities and the implementing partners involved. Local people having a say in the development of these facilities is essential to ensure that the work meets local needs and is sustainable.
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Institutional Activities in Tajikistan
Young People Gain Access to Financial Services in Tajikistan
Anora, age 20, lives in a small village in the Khatlon region of Tajikistan. In early 2019, she gathered with other participants of the village’s mahalla committee, a form of village-level governance, to establish a community-based savings group (CBSG).
Like many young women in the region, Anora lacks access to savings and credit, leaving her vulnerable to financial shocks like medical emergencies or natural disasters. The savings group addressed this gap by improving Anora’s and other members’ access to locally managed financial services.
Members of a community-based savings group in Tajikistan gather to increase their financial access and power.
In 2018, USAID and the Aga Khan Foundation launched Thrive Tajikistan, a five-year program to improve quality of life for people living along the Tajik-Afghan border. One of the program’s components establishes CBSGs that train women and men on basic financial literacy and cash management skills. CBSGs also provide an important social platform for discussing local issues. Across Tajikistan, AKF has helped to start 2,600 CBSGs over the past two decades, greatly improving young people’s ability to start their own enterprises. In Khatlon alone, AKF has helped communities create CBSGs that serve over 3,000 members, 80% of whom are women.
In 2019, Anora’s group paid out loans to members totaling $982 USD. This is a powerful resource in a place where only about one in three low-income households has a bank account.
More..
https://www.akfusa.org/our-stories/youn ... ajikistan/
Anora, age 20, lives in a small village in the Khatlon region of Tajikistan. In early 2019, she gathered with other participants of the village’s mahalla committee, a form of village-level governance, to establish a community-based savings group (CBSG).
Like many young women in the region, Anora lacks access to savings and credit, leaving her vulnerable to financial shocks like medical emergencies or natural disasters. The savings group addressed this gap by improving Anora’s and other members’ access to locally managed financial services.
Members of a community-based savings group in Tajikistan gather to increase their financial access and power.
In 2018, USAID and the Aga Khan Foundation launched Thrive Tajikistan, a five-year program to improve quality of life for people living along the Tajik-Afghan border. One of the program’s components establishes CBSGs that train women and men on basic financial literacy and cash management skills. CBSGs also provide an important social platform for discussing local issues. Across Tajikistan, AKF has helped to start 2,600 CBSGs over the past two decades, greatly improving young people’s ability to start their own enterprises. In Khatlon alone, AKF has helped communities create CBSGs that serve over 3,000 members, 80% of whom are women.
In 2019, Anora’s group paid out loans to members totaling $982 USD. This is a powerful resource in a place where only about one in three low-income households has a bank account.
More..
https://www.akfusa.org/our-stories/youn ... ajikistan/
Pamir Energy and the future of clean electricity in Central Asia
Daler Jumaev, General Director of Tajikistan’s Pamir Energy (part of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development), spoke at the World Hydropower Congress 2019 in Paris about bringing clean and affordable energy to Tajikistan and neighbouring Afghanistan.
It was 6:57pm on 9 September 2018. We turned on electricity for the township of Murghab. Within two minutes, a wave of celebration came from the streets as light bulbs flickered on for the first time. We watched and listened across the river, where the hydropower plant is located. It was magical. It was one of those moments when I felt like I could die in peace now.
For those of you who have not heard of Murghab, this is a district in the Far East of Tajikistan bordering China and the Kyrgyz Republic. It makes up 27% of Tajikistan’s surface area but only 0.2% of the population. It is mountainous, dry, and over 3,600 meters above sea level. It looks like the moon. People here subsist on cow and yak farming, and relied on dried dung to heat their homes in winter. There was no electricity to cook, to see at night, or study. And there’s no Netflix. It’s a tough place to live.
I am starting with this story because, in everything that we do, no matter how complicated or technical, it is critical to always remember why we are doing this and what matters most: the people we serve.
There are two main things our experience has taught us. First, small-scale hydropower operations are not to be underestimated, especially for rural and remote communities. Second, the private sector can play an integral role in all of this. We can be a facilitator, or the glue, for strong collaboration amongst development partners and the government. Through these partnerships, we can also address all aspects of energy systems – from generation to transmission to distribution – and ensure efficient, sustainable systems for everyone.
In 2002, Pamir Energy was formed with financial support from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development – our primary shareholder – as well as the World Bank, IFC, and SECO under a Concession Agreement with the Government of Tajikistan. We took over the management and operation of all energy assets in Badakhshoni Kuhi, which is the wider region where Murghab is located. As such, we are the first Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Central Asia.
The part of Eastern Tajikistan where we work in is harsh — socially, politically, economically, and also environmentally. Badakhshoni Kuhi borders China, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Afghanistan. We operate in high mountains with earthquakes, avalanches, mudslides, and bitterly cold winters. In this complex environment, we also could not have been successful without the continuing support and guidance of the Government of Tajikistan and the regional government in Badakhshoni Kuhi.
To set the stage: Badakhshoni Kuhi is the less developed region in Tajikistan, with 40% living below the poverty line. In Soviet times, over 70% of our energy was provided by diesel generators run entirely on imported fuel from Russia. After the fall of the Soviet Union, not a single diesel power plant was operating. In 2002, when Pamir Energy took over operations, only 13% of households were receiving electricity – and even then for just 12 hours a day, with frequent interruptions
Today, 17 years later, the situation has shifted dramatically.
Pamir Energy supplies reliable, clean, affordable electricity 24/7 to 96% of the population of Badakhshoni Kuhi in Eastern Tajikistan. We have reduced transmission losses from 39% in 2006 to 10% in 2018. We have implemented over 30 projects; fully rehabilitated most of the 11 hydropower plants, totalling a little more than 44 MW in generation capacity; and we have a 12th Hydro Power Plant (HPP) with generation capacity of 11MW on the way. Through efficiencies and smart technologies, we are able to operate the entire utility at an average weighted tariff of 3.25 US cents per kWh for the end users – which happens to be the lowest private tariff in the world.
All this refutes a number of stereotypes about small-scale hydropower. These are not just Band-Aids. Large-scale operations are not the only ones that will lead to sustainability. Our success proves that small-scale HPPs can provide reliable, clean, and affordable electricity over the long-term. Indeed, I would argue that small-scale is the best solution for our region, given the topography, the distribution of resources, and the remoteness.
Photos and more...
https://www.akdn.org/our-stories/pamir- ... ntral-asia
Daler Jumaev, General Director of Tajikistan’s Pamir Energy (part of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development), spoke at the World Hydropower Congress 2019 in Paris about bringing clean and affordable energy to Tajikistan and neighbouring Afghanistan.
It was 6:57pm on 9 September 2018. We turned on electricity for the township of Murghab. Within two minutes, a wave of celebration came from the streets as light bulbs flickered on for the first time. We watched and listened across the river, where the hydropower plant is located. It was magical. It was one of those moments when I felt like I could die in peace now.
For those of you who have not heard of Murghab, this is a district in the Far East of Tajikistan bordering China and the Kyrgyz Republic. It makes up 27% of Tajikistan’s surface area but only 0.2% of the population. It is mountainous, dry, and over 3,600 meters above sea level. It looks like the moon. People here subsist on cow and yak farming, and relied on dried dung to heat their homes in winter. There was no electricity to cook, to see at night, or study. And there’s no Netflix. It’s a tough place to live.
I am starting with this story because, in everything that we do, no matter how complicated or technical, it is critical to always remember why we are doing this and what matters most: the people we serve.
There are two main things our experience has taught us. First, small-scale hydropower operations are not to be underestimated, especially for rural and remote communities. Second, the private sector can play an integral role in all of this. We can be a facilitator, or the glue, for strong collaboration amongst development partners and the government. Through these partnerships, we can also address all aspects of energy systems – from generation to transmission to distribution – and ensure efficient, sustainable systems for everyone.
In 2002, Pamir Energy was formed with financial support from the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development – our primary shareholder – as well as the World Bank, IFC, and SECO under a Concession Agreement with the Government of Tajikistan. We took over the management and operation of all energy assets in Badakhshoni Kuhi, which is the wider region where Murghab is located. As such, we are the first Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Central Asia.
The part of Eastern Tajikistan where we work in is harsh — socially, politically, economically, and also environmentally. Badakhshoni Kuhi borders China, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Afghanistan. We operate in high mountains with earthquakes, avalanches, mudslides, and bitterly cold winters. In this complex environment, we also could not have been successful without the continuing support and guidance of the Government of Tajikistan and the regional government in Badakhshoni Kuhi.
To set the stage: Badakhshoni Kuhi is the less developed region in Tajikistan, with 40% living below the poverty line. In Soviet times, over 70% of our energy was provided by diesel generators run entirely on imported fuel from Russia. After the fall of the Soviet Union, not a single diesel power plant was operating. In 2002, when Pamir Energy took over operations, only 13% of households were receiving electricity – and even then for just 12 hours a day, with frequent interruptions
Today, 17 years later, the situation has shifted dramatically.
Pamir Energy supplies reliable, clean, affordable electricity 24/7 to 96% of the population of Badakhshoni Kuhi in Eastern Tajikistan. We have reduced transmission losses from 39% in 2006 to 10% in 2018. We have implemented over 30 projects; fully rehabilitated most of the 11 hydropower plants, totalling a little more than 44 MW in generation capacity; and we have a 12th Hydro Power Plant (HPP) with generation capacity of 11MW on the way. Through efficiencies and smart technologies, we are able to operate the entire utility at an average weighted tariff of 3.25 US cents per kWh for the end users – which happens to be the lowest private tariff in the world.
All this refutes a number of stereotypes about small-scale hydropower. These are not just Band-Aids. Large-scale operations are not the only ones that will lead to sustainability. Our success proves that small-scale HPPs can provide reliable, clean, and affordable electricity over the long-term. Indeed, I would argue that small-scale is the best solution for our region, given the topography, the distribution of resources, and the remoteness.
Photos and more...
https://www.akdn.org/our-stories/pamir- ... ntral-asia
AKF launches COVID-19 project to address food security in Tajikistan
An emergency project aimed at reducing Tajikistan’s vulnerability to COVID-19-related food insecurity will benefit an estimated 11,985 people directly, including 5,865 women and girls, and about 80,395 indirectly.
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), with the support of the Government of Switzerland, has successfully launched the project in 12 districts of Khatlon region, Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, Sughd region and Rasht Valley of Tajikistan.
The project aims to address limited access to agricultural products, low water and land productivity, lack of high quality seeds and fertilisers – all of which can exacerbate food insecurity, malnutrition and vulnerability to the virus. The project focuses on increasing agriculture production and improving agriculture output through the provision of critical irrigation infrastructure and improved access to quality agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilisers. Improved irrigation systems and water access will not only increase agriculture production but also create new arable land leading to enhanced agriculture productivity and efficient use of natural resources.
Photos, map and more...
https://www.akf.org.uk/akf-launches-cov ... 25c8c5fc8d
An emergency project aimed at reducing Tajikistan’s vulnerability to COVID-19-related food insecurity will benefit an estimated 11,985 people directly, including 5,865 women and girls, and about 80,395 indirectly.
The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), with the support of the Government of Switzerland, has successfully launched the project in 12 districts of Khatlon region, Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast, Sughd region and Rasht Valley of Tajikistan.
The project aims to address limited access to agricultural products, low water and land productivity, lack of high quality seeds and fertilisers – all of which can exacerbate food insecurity, malnutrition and vulnerability to the virus. The project focuses on increasing agriculture production and improving agriculture output through the provision of critical irrigation infrastructure and improved access to quality agricultural inputs such as seeds and fertilisers. Improved irrigation systems and water access will not only increase agriculture production but also create new arable land leading to enhanced agriculture productivity and efficient use of natural resources.
Photos, map and more...
https://www.akf.org.uk/akf-launches-cov ... 25c8c5fc8d
PamirEnergy: Transforming lives through hydropower
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and a five-year civil war, Tajikistan’s electrical infrastructure was in need of significant investment. Among the most affected areas was the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), where economic and human development was stifled during the cold winter months as a result of a lack of electricity for heating and the consequent closure of schools, health centres and businesses.
Many of the region’s 220,000 residents resorted to wood fuel for their heating and cooking needs during the winter, resulting in the decimation of 70 percent of the region’s forests within a decade and a sharp increase in respiratory disorders due to smoke inhalation.
To address the situation, in 2002, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), in partnership with the Government of Tajikistan and the International Finance Corporation, formed PamirEnergy. Since then, the company has repaired the electrical infrastructure of GBAO, expanded hydroelectric capacity and transmitted surplus energy from Tajikistan to Afghanistan.
As a result of PamirEnergy’s efforts, electricity coverage has expanded from 13 percent of households receiving 12 hours of electricity per day in 2002 to 96 percent of households receiving 24/7 electricity in 2016.
Gallery at:
https://www.akdn.org/gallery/pamirenerg ... hydropower
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and a five-year civil war, Tajikistan’s electrical infrastructure was in need of significant investment. Among the most affected areas was the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), where economic and human development was stifled during the cold winter months as a result of a lack of electricity for heating and the consequent closure of schools, health centres and businesses.
Many of the region’s 220,000 residents resorted to wood fuel for their heating and cooking needs during the winter, resulting in the decimation of 70 percent of the region’s forests within a decade and a sharp increase in respiratory disorders due to smoke inhalation.
To address the situation, in 2002, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED), in partnership with the Government of Tajikistan and the International Finance Corporation, formed PamirEnergy. Since then, the company has repaired the electrical infrastructure of GBAO, expanded hydroelectric capacity and transmitted surplus energy from Tajikistan to Afghanistan.
As a result of PamirEnergy’s efforts, electricity coverage has expanded from 13 percent of households receiving 12 hours of electricity per day in 2002 to 96 percent of households receiving 24/7 electricity in 2016.
Gallery at:
https://www.akdn.org/gallery/pamirenerg ... hydropower
A bumper harvest in the Zarafshon valley – Tabassum's story
Pokhut is a small village located in Tajikistan’s Zarafshon valley. Many residents are farmers who grow potatoes, fodder and breed cattle for income and subsistence. A lack of arable land has left them with few options to diversify their incomes and develop their farms. Many do not have access to better seeds or fertilisers to get the best from the particular topographical conditions of the region. It is major barrier to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Tabassum Ashurova is a resident of Pokhut village, with two young children. Her husband works as a labourer in Russia. “In rural areas, our options for income are limited,” Tabassum explained. With guidance from the programme team and the support of her husband, she decided to use her small plot of land to create a fruit nursery. The aim was not only to provide a source of food, but also to sell the produce and high-quality saplings to other villagers looking to start their own nurseries.
AKF is supporting farmers across Tajikistan to plant fruit nurseries, which helps diversify their incomes
Apricot trees have been grown in the valley for many years, but the quality of the fruit and the consistency of the harvest varies from year to year. Tabassum described the situation:
“Some years the trees do not bear fruit due to the cold spring, and the fruit trees in our village are generally too old and are of poor quality. When there is no harvest, our family suffers from a lack of income and we are in debt… I have an old apricot orchard nearby which did not harvest for almost ten years.”
As part of a wider programme designed to improve food security and livelihoods through better agricultural practices, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in Tajikistan is implementing the ‘Improving livelihoods and food security through sustainable natural resource management’ programme in close coordination with local authorities and with the financial support of the European Union. The programme operates based on the differing needs and socio-economic conditions of rural communities in the area – in this case Pokhut village has been targeted for developing fruit tree nurseries.
Saplings of hardy varieties are grafted from rootstocks using best agricultural practices
In 2017, programme staff met with Pokhut villagers and helped them form several producer groups that would address the quality of the fruit trees and establish an intensive orchard and nursery. Tabassum joined one of these producer groups – members and their families became shared owners of an orchard with 2,500 apple and 1,100 black plum seedlings. It is through this orchard that Tabassum was able to establish her own nursery on her plot of land and has been able to sell her seedlings to other farmers in the area.
“I am delighted when other farmers see our orchard and decide to buy similar varieties from my nursery”
The new orchard is less prone to spoilage thanks to the programme’s application of “agro-technical rules”, allowing for far greater yields – between 50-60,000kg each year, more than double the usual yield of 20-25,000kg every other year. Through the programme, the producer groups learned many techniques for improving yields, such as removing buds and flowers to help the tree save energy, and how to make compost from raw fertiliser, which results in fewer weeds that would drain vital nutrients from the trees.
With support from the project staff, some of the producer groups also met with scientists from Tajikistan’s Institute of Horticulture and Vegetable Growing who taught the members how to propagate the fruit trees by grafting or using rootstocks (part of the root from which another tree can be grown). The results speak for themselves, and Tabassum is pleased with the progress she has made:
“Now in my nursery I have 300 apple seedlings (3 varieties) 100 apricot samplings (4 varieties), and 2 varieties of black plum seedlings which are ready for sale…I am delighted when other farmers see our orchard and decide to buy similar varieties from my nursery.”
Tabassum is hopeful about her family’s prospects for the future. It is now a real possibility that her husband will not need to go to Russia for work. Between them, with the support and knowledge they have gained from the programme, they can expand the nursery and run the business more efficiently. This year, Tabassum has more than 400 saplings which she will prepare for the following year’s harvest and sell on. Her additional income, and that of the other families in the producer groups, has not only resulted in an immediate increase in her standard of living, but the knowledge and skills learned will last well beyond the life of the programme, even informing generations to come.
https://www.akf.org.uk/a-bumper-harvest ... 25c8c5fc8d
Photos at:
https://www.akf.org.uk/a-bumper-harvest ... 25c8c5fc8d
Pokhut is a small village located in Tajikistan’s Zarafshon valley. Many residents are farmers who grow potatoes, fodder and breed cattle for income and subsistence. A lack of arable land has left them with few options to diversify their incomes and develop their farms. Many do not have access to better seeds or fertilisers to get the best from the particular topographical conditions of the region. It is major barrier to breaking the cycle of poverty.
Tabassum Ashurova is a resident of Pokhut village, with two young children. Her husband works as a labourer in Russia. “In rural areas, our options for income are limited,” Tabassum explained. With guidance from the programme team and the support of her husband, she decided to use her small plot of land to create a fruit nursery. The aim was not only to provide a source of food, but also to sell the produce and high-quality saplings to other villagers looking to start their own nurseries.
AKF is supporting farmers across Tajikistan to plant fruit nurseries, which helps diversify their incomes
Apricot trees have been grown in the valley for many years, but the quality of the fruit and the consistency of the harvest varies from year to year. Tabassum described the situation:
“Some years the trees do not bear fruit due to the cold spring, and the fruit trees in our village are generally too old and are of poor quality. When there is no harvest, our family suffers from a lack of income and we are in debt… I have an old apricot orchard nearby which did not harvest for almost ten years.”
As part of a wider programme designed to improve food security and livelihoods through better agricultural practices, the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) in Tajikistan is implementing the ‘Improving livelihoods and food security through sustainable natural resource management’ programme in close coordination with local authorities and with the financial support of the European Union. The programme operates based on the differing needs and socio-economic conditions of rural communities in the area – in this case Pokhut village has been targeted for developing fruit tree nurseries.
Saplings of hardy varieties are grafted from rootstocks using best agricultural practices
In 2017, programme staff met with Pokhut villagers and helped them form several producer groups that would address the quality of the fruit trees and establish an intensive orchard and nursery. Tabassum joined one of these producer groups – members and their families became shared owners of an orchard with 2,500 apple and 1,100 black plum seedlings. It is through this orchard that Tabassum was able to establish her own nursery on her plot of land and has been able to sell her seedlings to other farmers in the area.
“I am delighted when other farmers see our orchard and decide to buy similar varieties from my nursery”
The new orchard is less prone to spoilage thanks to the programme’s application of “agro-technical rules”, allowing for far greater yields – between 50-60,000kg each year, more than double the usual yield of 20-25,000kg every other year. Through the programme, the producer groups learned many techniques for improving yields, such as removing buds and flowers to help the tree save energy, and how to make compost from raw fertiliser, which results in fewer weeds that would drain vital nutrients from the trees.
With support from the project staff, some of the producer groups also met with scientists from Tajikistan’s Institute of Horticulture and Vegetable Growing who taught the members how to propagate the fruit trees by grafting or using rootstocks (part of the root from which another tree can be grown). The results speak for themselves, and Tabassum is pleased with the progress she has made:
“Now in my nursery I have 300 apple seedlings (3 varieties) 100 apricot samplings (4 varieties), and 2 varieties of black plum seedlings which are ready for sale…I am delighted when other farmers see our orchard and decide to buy similar varieties from my nursery.”
Tabassum is hopeful about her family’s prospects for the future. It is now a real possibility that her husband will not need to go to Russia for work. Between them, with the support and knowledge they have gained from the programme, they can expand the nursery and run the business more efficiently. This year, Tabassum has more than 400 saplings which she will prepare for the following year’s harvest and sell on. Her additional income, and that of the other families in the producer groups, has not only resulted in an immediate increase in her standard of living, but the knowledge and skills learned will last well beyond the life of the programme, even informing generations to come.
https://www.akf.org.uk/a-bumper-harvest ... 25c8c5fc8d
Photos at:
https://www.akf.org.uk/a-bumper-harvest ... 25c8c5fc8d
Construction of one more Tajik-Afghan bridge across Panj River discussed in Dushanbe
Tajik minister reminds that the Aga Khan Foundation will build this bridge with attraction of investment from partners; photo / Transport Ministry.
Tajik Minister of Transport Azim Ibrohim on May 5 held a meeting to discuss issues related to the beginning of construction of a bridge across the Panj River that will connect the Kokul area in Khatlon’s Farkhor district and Ai-Khanoum village in Takhar province, northern Afghanistan, according to the press center of the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan.
Minister of Economy of Afghanistan Karima Hamed Faryabi, representatives of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), development partners of Tajikistan and senior representatives of Tajikistan’s Khatlon Province and Afghan Takhar Province reportedly participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
Speaking at the meeting Azim Ibrohim reminded that the Aga Khan Foundation will build this bridge with attraction of investment from partners.
An agreement between the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Tajikistan provides for construction of the 180-meter bridge. The project also provides construction of a 50 kilometer road from Vase district to Farkhor district.
The European Union will finance the project through Germany’s KFW Development Bank and the Pakistan Afghanistan Tajikistan Regional Integration Program (PATRIP) Foundation, which was set up in November 2011 by the German state-owned KfW Development Bank on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office.
To-date, six bridges across the Panj River connecting Tajikistan and Afghanistan have been built under support of the AKDN and one more Tajik-Afghan bridge has been built under financial support of the United States. The bridges have improved commerce and traffic within Central Asia.
https://asiaplustj.info/en/node/297399
Tajik minister reminds that the Aga Khan Foundation will build this bridge with attraction of investment from partners; photo / Transport Ministry.
Tajik Minister of Transport Azim Ibrohim on May 5 held a meeting to discuss issues related to the beginning of construction of a bridge across the Panj River that will connect the Kokul area in Khatlon’s Farkhor district and Ai-Khanoum village in Takhar province, northern Afghanistan, according to the press center of the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan.
Minister of Economy of Afghanistan Karima Hamed Faryabi, representatives of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), development partners of Tajikistan and senior representatives of Tajikistan’s Khatlon Province and Afghan Takhar Province reportedly participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
Speaking at the meeting Azim Ibrohim reminded that the Aga Khan Foundation will build this bridge with attraction of investment from partners.
An agreement between the Ministry of Transport of Tajikistan and the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Tajikistan provides for construction of the 180-meter bridge. The project also provides construction of a 50 kilometer road from Vase district to Farkhor district.
The European Union will finance the project through Germany’s KFW Development Bank and the Pakistan Afghanistan Tajikistan Regional Integration Program (PATRIP) Foundation, which was set up in November 2011 by the German state-owned KfW Development Bank on behalf of the German Federal Foreign Office.
To-date, six bridges across the Panj River connecting Tajikistan and Afghanistan have been built under support of the AKDN and one more Tajik-Afghan bridge has been built under financial support of the United States. The bridges have improved commerce and traffic within Central Asia.
https://asiaplustj.info/en/node/297399
AKF facilitates promotion of economic development and regional integration in Afghanistan and Tajikistan
SCORED project catalyzes regional economic development and integration in the border regions of Afghanistan and Tajikistan; photo / AKDN Tajikistan.
This week witnessed a significant step forward in cross-border cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Tajikistan under the Supporting Cooperation and Opportunities for Regional Economic Development (SCORED) project has organized a Project Steering Committee in order to bring the high-level Tajik and Afghan Government representatives and the representatives of European Union in Tajikistan and Afghanistan together to enhance the cross border regional cooperation, says press release issued by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Office in Tajikistan.
The commission was reportedly conducted with the participation of the Minister of Transport of Tajikistan – Mr. Azim Ibrohim, Chief Inspector of Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan – Mr. Timur Arabov, Head of the European Union Delegation to Tajikistan – Ambassador Marilyn Josefson, Resident Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Tajikistan – Mr. Qozidavlat Qoimdodov, Chief Executive Officer of AKF Tajikistan – Mr. Kishwar Abdulalishoev, representatives of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) and Khatlon Province and other distinguished government representatives from Tajik side and Minister of Economy of Afghanistan – Dr. Karima Hamed Faryabi, Takhar Province Governor – Mr. Al Haj Malawi Abdullah Qarluq, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan – Mr. Von Brandt, representative of EU Delegation to Afghanistan – Mr. Khudodod Mahmoud, Resident Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Afghanistan – Hirji Sheherazade, Chief Executive Officer of AKF Afghanistan – Dr. Najmuddin Najm and other esteemed government representatives from Afghan side.
In order to achieve the overall objective of promoting economic development and regional integration in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, AKF believes it is essential to work alongside the government structures at all levels to promote sustainable regional cooperation. AKF is organizing the Project Steering Committee each year in support of creating a platform for the Government and the donor for discussing regional cooperation and cross-border economic integration. Development of key infrastructure, particularly the cross-border bridge and road require discussions around security issues, smooth process of cross-border bridge and road construction and future development of cross-border economic intervention between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. In addition, Project Steering Committee facilitates interactions on the district level (between GBAO and Khatlon Province Tajikistan and Badakhshan, Takhar and Kunduz provinces Afghanistan) to identify potential opportunities for collaboration and to enhance regional economic intervention between two neighboring countries.
This SCORED project is financed in partnership with the European Union (EU) with the overall objective to catalyze regional economic development and integration in the border regions of Afghanistan and Tajikistan and specific objective being to facilitate an enabling environment for local business development, trade and production in the target areas. Access to financial and business services is to be improved in Tajikistan through both economic and infrastructure development, including the construction of cross-border rural infrastructure – cross border Bridge, road and Market.
The overall budget of the SCORED project is over €20 million (approximately 218,784,710.55 million somonis) and includes local business development support and the improvement of economic infrastructure. The cross-border bridge and road construction is financed by the European Commission through Pakistan Afghanistan Tajikistan Regional Integration Program (PATRIP) Foundation.
Established in 1967, the Aga Khan Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life, enhance self-reliance and promote pluralism in poor and marginalized communities of Africa and Asia. It is one of the world’s leading international development organizations.
AKF’s long-term, community-based approach addresses and benefits people of all faiths and backgrounds, especially women and girls. The Foundation supports people to become self-reliant and equal partners in their own development. Its activities enhance agriculture and food security, promote early childhood development and access to quality education, improve health and nutrition, advance economic inclusion, and strengthen civil society.
https://asiaplustj.info/en/node/297372? ... 25c8c5fc8d
SCORED project catalyzes regional economic development and integration in the border regions of Afghanistan and Tajikistan; photo / AKDN Tajikistan.
This week witnessed a significant step forward in cross-border cooperation between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) Tajikistan under the Supporting Cooperation and Opportunities for Regional Economic Development (SCORED) project has organized a Project Steering Committee in order to bring the high-level Tajik and Afghan Government representatives and the representatives of European Union in Tajikistan and Afghanistan together to enhance the cross border regional cooperation, says press release issued by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) Office in Tajikistan.
The commission was reportedly conducted with the participation of the Minister of Transport of Tajikistan – Mr. Azim Ibrohim, Chief Inspector of Customs Service under the Government of Tajikistan – Mr. Timur Arabov, Head of the European Union Delegation to Tajikistan – Ambassador Marilyn Josefson, Resident Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Tajikistan – Mr. Qozidavlat Qoimdodov, Chief Executive Officer of AKF Tajikistan – Mr. Kishwar Abdulalishoev, representatives of the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) and Khatlon Province and other distinguished government representatives from Tajik side and Minister of Economy of Afghanistan – Dr. Karima Hamed Faryabi, Takhar Province Governor – Mr. Al Haj Malawi Abdullah Qarluq, Ambassador of the European Union Delegation to Afghanistan – Mr. Von Brandt, representative of EU Delegation to Afghanistan – Mr. Khudodod Mahmoud, Resident Representative of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in Afghanistan – Hirji Sheherazade, Chief Executive Officer of AKF Afghanistan – Dr. Najmuddin Najm and other esteemed government representatives from Afghan side.
In order to achieve the overall objective of promoting economic development and regional integration in Afghanistan and Tajikistan, AKF believes it is essential to work alongside the government structures at all levels to promote sustainable regional cooperation. AKF is organizing the Project Steering Committee each year in support of creating a platform for the Government and the donor for discussing regional cooperation and cross-border economic integration. Development of key infrastructure, particularly the cross-border bridge and road require discussions around security issues, smooth process of cross-border bridge and road construction and future development of cross-border economic intervention between Tajikistan and Afghanistan. In addition, Project Steering Committee facilitates interactions on the district level (between GBAO and Khatlon Province Tajikistan and Badakhshan, Takhar and Kunduz provinces Afghanistan) to identify potential opportunities for collaboration and to enhance regional economic intervention between two neighboring countries.
This SCORED project is financed in partnership with the European Union (EU) with the overall objective to catalyze regional economic development and integration in the border regions of Afghanistan and Tajikistan and specific objective being to facilitate an enabling environment for local business development, trade and production in the target areas. Access to financial and business services is to be improved in Tajikistan through both economic and infrastructure development, including the construction of cross-border rural infrastructure – cross border Bridge, road and Market.
The overall budget of the SCORED project is over €20 million (approximately 218,784,710.55 million somonis) and includes local business development support and the improvement of economic infrastructure. The cross-border bridge and road construction is financed by the European Commission through Pakistan Afghanistan Tajikistan Regional Integration Program (PATRIP) Foundation.
Established in 1967, the Aga Khan Foundation seeks to improve the quality of life, enhance self-reliance and promote pluralism in poor and marginalized communities of Africa and Asia. It is one of the world’s leading international development organizations.
AKF’s long-term, community-based approach addresses and benefits people of all faiths and backgrounds, especially women and girls. The Foundation supports people to become self-reliant and equal partners in their own development. Its activities enhance agriculture and food security, promote early childhood development and access to quality education, improve health and nutrition, advance economic inclusion, and strengthen civil society.
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Appreciating every drop: clean water brings new life to a community in northern Tajikistan
Thanks to funding from the Government of Germany, AKF has worked with the community in Havzaki Poyon to develop new water supply systems that bring the promise of a healthier and happier future.
In the remote mountainous villages of northern Tajikistan, clean water can be hard to come by. In the sub-district of Khistevarz, which is home to more than 60,000 people, securing clean water is an expensive business that has taken its toll on people’s health and on their relationships with regional neighbours. However, with funding from the Government of Germany and support from the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), local communities recently celebrated the opening of two drinking water supply systems that not only bring clean water but also the promise of a healthier and more stable future.
For more than 20 years, the village of Havzaki Poyon in Khistervarz experienced a severe shortage of drinking water. During that time, the community had to buy water from neighbouring towns and store it in containers. Not only was this expensive but the drinking water would sit stagnant in containers for extended periods, creating numerous health risks. Transporting water this way was also the cause of tremendous hardships:
“Since many men in our community have to migrate for work, most of the difficulties are faced by women and children. I remember it was cold in winter; our hands trembled, and everyone carried water with buckets for long distances.”
Mrs. Azizova Mavjuda, Head of the Mahalla Committee in Havzaki Poyon
In some cases, even purchasing the water containers was a challenge. Khistervarz lies downstream from Kyrgyzstan and most nearby sources of drinking and irrigation water are located in Kyrgyz territory, meaning that tensions would often arise between Tajik and Kyrgyz communities who were both in need of clean water. The Tajiks often lost out.
The mountains of Tajikistan are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate breakdown, which is impacting the daily life of communities.
As part of its health and nutrition programme, AKF works with communities to access clean drinking water through sustainable and local supply systems. For many of the communities we work with in Central Asia this is of critical importance because of the fragile mountain environments they live in. In Tajikistan, climate change is impacting water availability, so constructing and rehabilitating water supply systems is increasingly vital.
Through a collaborative effort between AKF, the private sector, the local community and with funding from the Government of Germany, the village of Havzaki Poyon has developed two new sources of clean water: a gravity flow water supply system from the nearby Khoja Bokirgan Lake and a series of drinking water wells. The gravity flow system is more reliable and cost effective than a traditional pump system, as no external power is needed to maintain the flow.
As part of AKF’s community-led development approach, the local Mahalla (or village) Committee co-invested into the project ensuring local ownership and long-term sustainability of the infrastructure. The community is working with two local companies to ensure a sustainable supply of clean water long into the future.
The new water supply systems in Havzaki Poyon are two of many AKF supported systems throughout Tajikistan.
The new sources of water have had a huge impact on life in Havzaki Poyon. Over 2,000 people now have drinking water taps in their homes and pay an affordable price for the supply – around 90 TJS (Tajikistan somoni) per 30 cubic metres of water. For comparison, community members used to pay 750 TJS for the same amount of water in containers carried far from their homes. The money that each household is saving can now be invested elsewhere:
“Now, we use the money that we spent for purchasing water for the well-being of the family – medicines, and education of our children. Now our community has the source of life, joy and well-being. Those who suffered from the lack of water truly appreciate every drop of it.”
Mrs. Azizova Mavjuda, Head of the Mahalla Committee in Havzaki Poyon
Children in the village of Havzaki Poyon making the most the new water supply systems.
With thanks to the German Federal Foreign Office for its generous support of AKF’s programmes.
This article was written by Firuzai Muzaffar (Communications Officer, AKF Tajikistan) and Kerensa Keevill (Digital Content and Communications Officer, AKF UK), with support from Mehrafruz Jonmamadova (Manager of Resource Mobilisation and Communication, AKF Tajikistan).
https://www.akf.org.uk/appreciating-eve ... 25c8c5fc8d
Thanks to funding from the Government of Germany, AKF has worked with the community in Havzaki Poyon to develop new water supply systems that bring the promise of a healthier and happier future.
In the remote mountainous villages of northern Tajikistan, clean water can be hard to come by. In the sub-district of Khistevarz, which is home to more than 60,000 people, securing clean water is an expensive business that has taken its toll on people’s health and on their relationships with regional neighbours. However, with funding from the Government of Germany and support from the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), local communities recently celebrated the opening of two drinking water supply systems that not only bring clean water but also the promise of a healthier and more stable future.
For more than 20 years, the village of Havzaki Poyon in Khistervarz experienced a severe shortage of drinking water. During that time, the community had to buy water from neighbouring towns and store it in containers. Not only was this expensive but the drinking water would sit stagnant in containers for extended periods, creating numerous health risks. Transporting water this way was also the cause of tremendous hardships:
“Since many men in our community have to migrate for work, most of the difficulties are faced by women and children. I remember it was cold in winter; our hands trembled, and everyone carried water with buckets for long distances.”
Mrs. Azizova Mavjuda, Head of the Mahalla Committee in Havzaki Poyon
In some cases, even purchasing the water containers was a challenge. Khistervarz lies downstream from Kyrgyzstan and most nearby sources of drinking and irrigation water are located in Kyrgyz territory, meaning that tensions would often arise between Tajik and Kyrgyz communities who were both in need of clean water. The Tajiks often lost out.
The mountains of Tajikistan are becoming increasingly vulnerable to the effects of climate breakdown, which is impacting the daily life of communities.
As part of its health and nutrition programme, AKF works with communities to access clean drinking water through sustainable and local supply systems. For many of the communities we work with in Central Asia this is of critical importance because of the fragile mountain environments they live in. In Tajikistan, climate change is impacting water availability, so constructing and rehabilitating water supply systems is increasingly vital.
Through a collaborative effort between AKF, the private sector, the local community and with funding from the Government of Germany, the village of Havzaki Poyon has developed two new sources of clean water: a gravity flow water supply system from the nearby Khoja Bokirgan Lake and a series of drinking water wells. The gravity flow system is more reliable and cost effective than a traditional pump system, as no external power is needed to maintain the flow.
As part of AKF’s community-led development approach, the local Mahalla (or village) Committee co-invested into the project ensuring local ownership and long-term sustainability of the infrastructure. The community is working with two local companies to ensure a sustainable supply of clean water long into the future.
The new water supply systems in Havzaki Poyon are two of many AKF supported systems throughout Tajikistan.
The new sources of water have had a huge impact on life in Havzaki Poyon. Over 2,000 people now have drinking water taps in their homes and pay an affordable price for the supply – around 90 TJS (Tajikistan somoni) per 30 cubic metres of water. For comparison, community members used to pay 750 TJS for the same amount of water in containers carried far from their homes. The money that each household is saving can now be invested elsewhere:
“Now, we use the money that we spent for purchasing water for the well-being of the family – medicines, and education of our children. Now our community has the source of life, joy and well-being. Those who suffered from the lack of water truly appreciate every drop of it.”
Mrs. Azizova Mavjuda, Head of the Mahalla Committee in Havzaki Poyon
Children in the village of Havzaki Poyon making the most the new water supply systems.
With thanks to the German Federal Foreign Office for its generous support of AKF’s programmes.
This article was written by Firuzai Muzaffar (Communications Officer, AKF Tajikistan) and Kerensa Keevill (Digital Content and Communications Officer, AKF UK), with support from Mehrafruz Jonmamadova (Manager of Resource Mobilisation and Communication, AKF Tajikistan).
https://www.akf.org.uk/appreciating-eve ... 25c8c5fc8d
Talika Mubarak of Mawlana Hazar Imam, 17 January 2022
In Russian : https://the.ismaili/tajikistan/talika-m ... 2022-tajik
17th January 2022
My dear President and Members,
The recent events in Gorno-Badakshan are of deep concern to me and come at a time of increased fragility in the region. I wish you to inform my Jamat, as I have indicated in the past, that it is of utmost importance to understand that the disturbances are not directed at the Jamat nor at the general population of Eastern Tajikistan. It is therefore critical that my Jamat remains calm and acts in a peaceful manner as the government addresses the situation through its appropriate agencies.
I have always advised my Jamat to remain true to our tradition of respecting the law of the land in which they live. My Jamat globally, including in Tajikistan, has a tradition of responsible conduct at all times, particularly in facing crises, and I wish that my spiritual children of Tajikistan should continue in this tradition and also support the authorities in restoring peace and order.
I reiterate my farman to my Jamat to reject any form of violence, disorder, illegal activity, or other actions which are contrary to the laws of the land. I especially advise members of my Tajik Jamat, wherever they live, not to engage in any activities that might impede the restoration of peace and good order.
My Jamat should avoid relying on rumours and speculation and they should not spread information through any channels including on social media which may be interpreted erroneously, as that can create confusion and result in damaging consequences. My Jamat should comfortably rely on information provided by the Jamati institutions.
It is of utmost importance that the Jamat should remain united, including with those amongst whom you live and, at all times, support each other in improving the quality of your lives. The AKDN agencies have been active in Tajikistan for several decades and I have directed that their activities must continue during this time of fragility.
I will continue to watch the present developments, as I do at all times, and will send further guidance and direction as required.
I send to all my beloved spiritual children of Tajikistan my best loving blessings for mushkil-asan, and for safety and security.
Yours affectionately,
Aga Khan
https://the.ismaili/tajikistan/talika-m ... nuary-2022
Talika Mubarak of Mawlana Hazar Imam, 19 May 2022
THE ISMAILI | TAJIKISTAN
Talika Mubarak of Mawlana Hazar Imam, 19 May 2022
Tочики https://the.ismaili/tajikistan/talika-m ... 2022-tajik
18th May 2022
My dear President and Members,
I am deeply concerned by the recent renewal of unrest in Gorno-Badakshan.
My guidance to my Jamat is to live within the laws of the land. Do not engage in violence. It is of utmost importance that my spiritual children always uphold our Jamat’s tradition to live in peace and harmony alongside all their fellow citizens.
At this time, my spiritual children of Gorno-Badakshan, in particular the youth, should not divert from the fundamental requirement to maintain peace and to be law-abiding citizens and contribute actively to the development of your country. My spiritual children must resolve differences with wisdom through peaceful dialogue in the spirit of mutual respect and understanding. This is a matter to which I attach the greatest importance.
As Imam-of-the-Time, it is my farman to my Tajik Jamat, including those in the diaspora, to remain calm, abide by the laws of the land, and reject any form of violence, disorder, illegal activity or other actions that may jeopardise its wellbeing.
I send to all my beloved spiritual children of Tajikistan my best loving blessings for mushkil-asan, and for safety and security. I will send further guidance through the Jamati institutions, as and when the need arises in the future.
Yours affectionately,
Aga Khan
https://the.ismaili/tajikistan/talika-m ... 9-may-2022
AKDN makes case for climate-smart water initiatives in Tajikistan
AKDN makes case for climate-smart water initiatives in Tajikistan
At the recent International Conference on Water for Sustainable Development in Dushanbe, AKDN and its partners advocated for the future of water security
Reaffirming and recognising its commitment to the role of water as being essential for resilience and sustainable development, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) participated in the Second High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028.
Taking place from 6-9 June 2022 in Dushanbe, the conference included a high-level delegation from the Government of Tajikistan, including Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Qohir Rasulzoda, championing Tajikistan’s commitment towards their National Development Strategy on water management. This hybrid conference also welcomed international delegates including high-level representatives of the UN member states, UN agencies, international and regional organisations, international financial institutions, businesses, NGOs, civil society, academia, and media.
The Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, expressed that the conclusions from this conference will significantly contribute towards the United Nations Water Conference in 2023, which will be held under the co-chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
AKDN also co-hosted a side event with the Swiss Development Cooperation which brought together academic experts, development practitioners, and policy makers to focus on the consequences of climate change on vulnerable water sources and the impacts this has on people and their livelihoods in Central Asia.
AKDN side-event panel at the Dushanbe water conference in partnership with the Swiss Development Cooperation.
“We have no choice and must improve our current practices of water use, explore, and apply appropriate adaptation measures today to be ready for different scenarios of water availability in future.”
Kishwar Abdulalishoev, CEO, AKF Tajikistan
AKDN representatives at the water conference exhibition stand, alongside innovative robot "Sino".
Qozidavlat Qoimdodov, the AKDN Resident Representative to Tajikistan emphasised the role of Tajikistan organising the conference: “As an initiator of tackling the problems related to climate change, Tajikistan was highly commended by the participants of the Dushanbe Water Conference and was considered a lead country in this direction.”
Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Daler Jumaev, advocated the unwavering commitment towards the preservation of glaciers – a lifeline not only for communities in Tajikistan but also for downstream communities and all of Central Asia. Highlighting the importance of effective water management in mountainous communities in Central Asia, Kishwar Abdulalishoev, the Chief Executive Officer AKF Tajikistan noted: “the demand for water due to growing populations, irrigation needs, and the impacts of climate change are increasing the pressure on existing water availability. We have no choice and must improve our current practices of water use, explore, and apply appropriate adaptation measures today to be ready for different scenarios of water availability in future.”
Waterways running through the Pamir mountains in Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast
To complement the side event, AKDN hosted an environmentally friendly exhibition, showcasing their projects on effective water management within Tajikistan, and wider South and Central Asian countries. The exhibition was visited by close to 800 delegates including foreign ambassadors, UN representatives, heads of international development agencies and entrepreneurs.
Delegates including foreign ambassadors, UN representatives, and heads of international development agencies visiting the exhibition at the conference.
Underscoring the contributions of AKDN in hydro-energy sector, William Hall, the Director General Development Office for USAID in Tajikistan stated, “The exhibition at the water conference provided a clear presentation of what AKDN is doing to increase access to electricity in one of the most remote areas in the world. By providing reliable and affordable energy to historically underserved populations, AKDN is magnifying the impact of all of USAID’s development interventions.”
AKDN's exhibition at the water conference, showcasing effective water management projects in Tajikistan.
After visiting the exhibition, Salome Steib, Director of the Swiss Cooperation said: “Switzerland has been supporting Tajikistan for 30 years through different organisations and AKDN is one of them. Our long-standing cooperation with the AKDN is focused on enhancing the quality of life for Tajik population. AKDN’s booth at the Second High Level Water Conference is an excellent illustration of their programme activities on water supply and sanitation, climate change in Tajikistan and Central Asia region. The presentation of the activities using digital technologies such as QR code to access the online information and a funny robot “Sino” is highly innovative and environmentally friendly.”
Overall, AKDN’s participation in the Dushanbe Water Conference demonstrates its strong commitment to scale cross sectorial, climate-smart water initiatives that can empower communities to withstand the effects of climate change and increase their climate resilience.
A young girl fills up a bucket of water in Bartang Valley, Tajikistan.
https://www.akf.org.uk/akdn-makes-case- ... ajikistan/
At the recent International Conference on Water for Sustainable Development in Dushanbe, AKDN and its partners advocated for the future of water security
Reaffirming and recognising its commitment to the role of water as being essential for resilience and sustainable development, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) participated in the Second High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development”, 2018-2028.
Taking place from 6-9 June 2022 in Dushanbe, the conference included a high-level delegation from the Government of Tajikistan, including Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Qohir Rasulzoda, championing Tajikistan’s commitment towards their National Development Strategy on water management. This hybrid conference also welcomed international delegates including high-level representatives of the UN member states, UN agencies, international and regional organisations, international financial institutions, businesses, NGOs, civil society, academia, and media.
The Founder of Peace and National Unity, Leader of the Nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan Emomali Rahmon, expressed that the conclusions from this conference will significantly contribute towards the United Nations Water Conference in 2023, which will be held under the co-chairmanship of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
AKDN also co-hosted a side event with the Swiss Development Cooperation which brought together academic experts, development practitioners, and policy makers to focus on the consequences of climate change on vulnerable water sources and the impacts this has on people and their livelihoods in Central Asia.
AKDN side-event panel at the Dushanbe water conference in partnership with the Swiss Development Cooperation.
“We have no choice and must improve our current practices of water use, explore, and apply appropriate adaptation measures today to be ready for different scenarios of water availability in future.”
Kishwar Abdulalishoev, CEO, AKF Tajikistan
AKDN representatives at the water conference exhibition stand, alongside innovative robot "Sino".
Qozidavlat Qoimdodov, the AKDN Resident Representative to Tajikistan emphasised the role of Tajikistan organising the conference: “As an initiator of tackling the problems related to climate change, Tajikistan was highly commended by the participants of the Dushanbe Water Conference and was considered a lead country in this direction.”
Tajikistan’s Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Daler Jumaev, advocated the unwavering commitment towards the preservation of glaciers – a lifeline not only for communities in Tajikistan but also for downstream communities and all of Central Asia. Highlighting the importance of effective water management in mountainous communities in Central Asia, Kishwar Abdulalishoev, the Chief Executive Officer AKF Tajikistan noted: “the demand for water due to growing populations, irrigation needs, and the impacts of climate change are increasing the pressure on existing water availability. We have no choice and must improve our current practices of water use, explore, and apply appropriate adaptation measures today to be ready for different scenarios of water availability in future.”
Waterways running through the Pamir mountains in Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast
To complement the side event, AKDN hosted an environmentally friendly exhibition, showcasing their projects on effective water management within Tajikistan, and wider South and Central Asian countries. The exhibition was visited by close to 800 delegates including foreign ambassadors, UN representatives, heads of international development agencies and entrepreneurs.
Delegates including foreign ambassadors, UN representatives, and heads of international development agencies visiting the exhibition at the conference.
Underscoring the contributions of AKDN in hydro-energy sector, William Hall, the Director General Development Office for USAID in Tajikistan stated, “The exhibition at the water conference provided a clear presentation of what AKDN is doing to increase access to electricity in one of the most remote areas in the world. By providing reliable and affordable energy to historically underserved populations, AKDN is magnifying the impact of all of USAID’s development interventions.”
AKDN's exhibition at the water conference, showcasing effective water management projects in Tajikistan.
After visiting the exhibition, Salome Steib, Director of the Swiss Cooperation said: “Switzerland has been supporting Tajikistan for 30 years through different organisations and AKDN is one of them. Our long-standing cooperation with the AKDN is focused on enhancing the quality of life for Tajik population. AKDN’s booth at the Second High Level Water Conference is an excellent illustration of their programme activities on water supply and sanitation, climate change in Tajikistan and Central Asia region. The presentation of the activities using digital technologies such as QR code to access the online information and a funny robot “Sino” is highly innovative and environmentally friendly.”
Overall, AKDN’s participation in the Dushanbe Water Conference demonstrates its strong commitment to scale cross sectorial, climate-smart water initiatives that can empower communities to withstand the effects of climate change and increase their climate resilience.
A young girl fills up a bucket of water in Bartang Valley, Tajikistan.
https://www.akf.org.uk/akdn-makes-case- ... ajikistan/
Tajikistan: Authorities intensify war on Ismailis, other Muslims
https://eurasianet.org/tajikistan-autho ... er-muslims
Tajikistan: Authorities intensify war on Ismailis, other Muslims
The only figure that the regime deems worthy of open adulation is President Emomali Rahmon.
Sep 9, 2022
Authorities in Tajikistan have within the space of a week forced the closure of two important religious institutions in the capital: a tariqa, or school, used by adherents of the Ismaili Shia faith and a bookshop trading in Islamic literature.
The broadside against the Ismailis, a splinter group of the Shia Muslim faith, fits within a broader pattern of repression of Pamiris, a roughly 230,000-strong minority whose historic homeland in what is known as the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, have been subjected to a sustained security sweeps over recent months.
The Ismaili Tariqa and Religious Education Board was registered in 2012 at the same time as the opening of the first Ismaili Center in Dushanbe. The location was used by followers of Ismaili Shiism for both secular and religious education.
Sources at the center have told Eurasianet that they have been under pressure from the authorities since May to suspend their educational activities. It has been several weeks since the doors of the premises have been closed to the public.
The Ismaili Center, which houses, among other things, a jamatkhana, a place where followers of the faith gather to pray, remains open, although its future also looks bleak in light of the evolving situation.
The state’s religious affairs committee has made no public statement on the closure of the Ismaili Tariqa and Religious Education Board. Three years ago, however, the committee sent a letter to the organization expressing discomfiture at the fact that the portrait of the Ismaili faith leader, the Agha Khan, had been hung above that of the president, Emomali Rahmon.
In the eyes of the government of Tajikistan, no figure holds a more hallowed status than Rahmon.
Official intolerance toward religion extends further than just the Ismailis, however. The government has taken a hostile stance against Islamic education in general. A decade ago, all the country’s madrasas were shuttered under the pretext that the Education Ministry was drawing up a sanctioned religious curriculum. The doors of the country’s six madrasas never reopened, however.
This past week, the authorities forced the closure of the only bookstore in Dushanbe dealing in religious literature. A spokesman for the state religious committee said the closure was temporary, pending an inspection of the store’s catalogue.
All this has happened despite the fact that around 95 percent of Tajikistan’s population self-describes as Muslim.
The only remaining places for pursuing studies in religious matters is the Islamic Institute in Dushanbe, which lies close to the now-shuttered bookshop. Ninth-grade schoolchildren are also required to complete a History of Religion unit.
The clampdown on religion is even more extensive than that.
Children under the age of 18 are forbidden from visiting the mosque. People under 35 are ineligible to apply to perform the hajj to Mecca. Prayer is not allowed in government institutions and members of the public are in effect prohibited from entering government buildings while wearing a hijab or beards grown as a symbol of Islamic piety. There are no courses available for the study of Arabic. Young people pursuing religious studies have been forcibly repatriated over the past several years.
The only legally operating imams are appointed by the religious affairs committee, from whom they draw a salary. Their sermons are prepared in advance by the committee. Countless mosques have been closed. Little prayer rooms dotted around the country have often been dismantled.
This is all a boon to recruiters of underground groups professing radical forms of Islam. The most notorious of these, the Islamic State, has made the fact of the Rahmon regime’s repression of blameless Muslims a core pillar of its recruiting rhetoric.
Tajikistan: Authorities intensify war on Ismailis, other Muslims
The only figure that the regime deems worthy of open adulation is President Emomali Rahmon.
Sep 9, 2022
Authorities in Tajikistan have within the space of a week forced the closure of two important religious institutions in the capital: a tariqa, or school, used by adherents of the Ismaili Shia faith and a bookshop trading in Islamic literature.
The broadside against the Ismailis, a splinter group of the Shia Muslim faith, fits within a broader pattern of repression of Pamiris, a roughly 230,000-strong minority whose historic homeland in what is known as the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region, have been subjected to a sustained security sweeps over recent months.
The Ismaili Tariqa and Religious Education Board was registered in 2012 at the same time as the opening of the first Ismaili Center in Dushanbe. The location was used by followers of Ismaili Shiism for both secular and religious education.
Sources at the center have told Eurasianet that they have been under pressure from the authorities since May to suspend their educational activities. It has been several weeks since the doors of the premises have been closed to the public.
The Ismaili Center, which houses, among other things, a jamatkhana, a place where followers of the faith gather to pray, remains open, although its future also looks bleak in light of the evolving situation.
The state’s religious affairs committee has made no public statement on the closure of the Ismaili Tariqa and Religious Education Board. Three years ago, however, the committee sent a letter to the organization expressing discomfiture at the fact that the portrait of the Ismaili faith leader, the Agha Khan, had been hung above that of the president, Emomali Rahmon.
In the eyes of the government of Tajikistan, no figure holds a more hallowed status than Rahmon.
Official intolerance toward religion extends further than just the Ismailis, however. The government has taken a hostile stance against Islamic education in general. A decade ago, all the country’s madrasas were shuttered under the pretext that the Education Ministry was drawing up a sanctioned religious curriculum. The doors of the country’s six madrasas never reopened, however.
This past week, the authorities forced the closure of the only bookstore in Dushanbe dealing in religious literature. A spokesman for the state religious committee said the closure was temporary, pending an inspection of the store’s catalogue.
All this has happened despite the fact that around 95 percent of Tajikistan’s population self-describes as Muslim.
The only remaining places for pursuing studies in religious matters is the Islamic Institute in Dushanbe, which lies close to the now-shuttered bookshop. Ninth-grade schoolchildren are also required to complete a History of Religion unit.
The clampdown on religion is even more extensive than that.
Children under the age of 18 are forbidden from visiting the mosque. People under 35 are ineligible to apply to perform the hajj to Mecca. Prayer is not allowed in government institutions and members of the public are in effect prohibited from entering government buildings while wearing a hijab or beards grown as a symbol of Islamic piety. There are no courses available for the study of Arabic. Young people pursuing religious studies have been forcibly repatriated over the past several years.
The only legally operating imams are appointed by the religious affairs committee, from whom they draw a salary. Their sermons are prepared in advance by the committee. Countless mosques have been closed. Little prayer rooms dotted around the country have often been dismantled.
This is all a boon to recruiters of underground groups professing radical forms of Islam. The most notorious of these, the Islamic State, has made the fact of the Rahmon regime’s repression of blameless Muslims a core pillar of its recruiting rhetoric.
Fresh fruit and veg on the Roof of the World: the greenhouses tackling food insecurity in Tajikistan
In Tajikistan’s remote mountainous region of GBAO, AKF is supporting families to grow fresh fruit and vegetables on their doorstep
Located in eastern Tajikistan on the border with Afghanistan, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) sits at an altitude of 2,300 to 4,000m above sea level. Its dry, continental climate and annual rainfall of 250 to 300mm means that the growing season for fresh fruits and vegetables is limited to just four to six months. This brings considerable health and food security challenges for communities living in this mountainous region.
Since 2018, the Aga Khan Foundation has been running the Mountain Food and Nutrition Security Project, as part of its Central Asia Poverty (CAP) programme. The project tackles poverty and combats food insecurity through various approaches, including land development, production support and technical support for revolving funds for agricultural inputs. It is also helping fund the construction of greenhouses for the lowest income households with children under five years old and pregnant mothers.
GBAO is starkly beautiful but very dry | Photo: Christopher Wilton-Steer
In the extreme climate conditions of GBAO, these greenhouses are having a huge impact on the lives of families, enabling access to fresh and nutritious vegetables, as well as creating opportunities to can and sell their produce for additional income.
From 2018 to 2021, more than 80 greenhouses were built in GBAO and another 71 will be built by the end of 2022. The polycarbonate greenhouses are between 25m² and 30m² and designed to serve a household for up to ten years. Most families are growing cucumbers, tomatoes and greens – fresh produce they would have otherwise not had access to.
Inside the greenhouses | Photos: Tojigul Raimshoeva
Alinazarov Maruf and Muslima are young parents from the extremely remote Sejd sub-district of Roshtqala district. Maruf works a seasonal job at a local school, yet his wage is not enough to cover the expenses of his growing young family. In early 2021, the family had the opportunity to build a greenhouse in their garden.
“We are very proud that we were the first family in our village to have a greenhouse. We knew that our life would change in all dimensions”, says Muslima. “The greenhouse is like a blessing; we gather the harvest every day and in the morning the crop is fruitful again.”
“The greenhouse is like a blessing; we gather the harvest every day and in the morning the crop is fruitful again.”
Muslima – greenhouse owner in Roshtqala district
By July, Maruf and Muslima’s crop was ready to harvest; in fifteen days, they collected 32kg of cucumbers from their greenhouse, out of which they sold 22kg, and kept 10kg to eat at home. With the income Maruf and Muslima bought other products and goods for their household needs.
Muslima and her daughter enjoying a fresh crop of tomatoes | Photo: Tojigul Raimshoeva
On the 14th day of harvest, they collected their first tomato. “We’ve never had the opportunity to buy or eat fresh vegetables due to the high market prices,” says Muslima, “Now that we have a greenhouse, we’ll not only have access to fresh vegetables, but also be able to save up enough money to buy more tools so that we can become self-sufficient.”
This year, AKF began piloting the Nutrition and Agriculture Food Security project to understand how greenhouses like these in GBAO contribute to nutrition so that we can enhance their impact on families like this one. Maruf wants to see more greenhouses built in Roshtqala and its neighbouring districts, so that families like his cannot only benefit from nutritious, healthy food, but also improve their quality of life and help lift themselves out of poverty.
This article was written by Tojigul Raimshoeva, Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant for the CAP programme in Tajikistan.
https://www.akf.org.uk/fresh-fruit-and- ... 25c8c5fc8d
Located in eastern Tajikistan on the border with Afghanistan, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) sits at an altitude of 2,300 to 4,000m above sea level. Its dry, continental climate and annual rainfall of 250 to 300mm means that the growing season for fresh fruits and vegetables is limited to just four to six months. This brings considerable health and food security challenges for communities living in this mountainous region.
Since 2018, the Aga Khan Foundation has been running the Mountain Food and Nutrition Security Project, as part of its Central Asia Poverty (CAP) programme. The project tackles poverty and combats food insecurity through various approaches, including land development, production support and technical support for revolving funds for agricultural inputs. It is also helping fund the construction of greenhouses for the lowest income households with children under five years old and pregnant mothers.
GBAO is starkly beautiful but very dry | Photo: Christopher Wilton-Steer
In the extreme climate conditions of GBAO, these greenhouses are having a huge impact on the lives of families, enabling access to fresh and nutritious vegetables, as well as creating opportunities to can and sell their produce for additional income.
From 2018 to 2021, more than 80 greenhouses were built in GBAO and another 71 will be built by the end of 2022. The polycarbonate greenhouses are between 25m² and 30m² and designed to serve a household for up to ten years. Most families are growing cucumbers, tomatoes and greens – fresh produce they would have otherwise not had access to.
Inside the greenhouses | Photos: Tojigul Raimshoeva
Alinazarov Maruf and Muslima are young parents from the extremely remote Sejd sub-district of Roshtqala district. Maruf works a seasonal job at a local school, yet his wage is not enough to cover the expenses of his growing young family. In early 2021, the family had the opportunity to build a greenhouse in their garden.
“We are very proud that we were the first family in our village to have a greenhouse. We knew that our life would change in all dimensions”, says Muslima. “The greenhouse is like a blessing; we gather the harvest every day and in the morning the crop is fruitful again.”
“The greenhouse is like a blessing; we gather the harvest every day and in the morning the crop is fruitful again.”
Muslima – greenhouse owner in Roshtqala district
By July, Maruf and Muslima’s crop was ready to harvest; in fifteen days, they collected 32kg of cucumbers from their greenhouse, out of which they sold 22kg, and kept 10kg to eat at home. With the income Maruf and Muslima bought other products and goods for their household needs.
Muslima and her daughter enjoying a fresh crop of tomatoes | Photo: Tojigul Raimshoeva
On the 14th day of harvest, they collected their first tomato. “We’ve never had the opportunity to buy or eat fresh vegetables due to the high market prices,” says Muslima, “Now that we have a greenhouse, we’ll not only have access to fresh vegetables, but also be able to save up enough money to buy more tools so that we can become self-sufficient.”
This year, AKF began piloting the Nutrition and Agriculture Food Security project to understand how greenhouses like these in GBAO contribute to nutrition so that we can enhance their impact on families like this one. Maruf wants to see more greenhouses built in Roshtqala and its neighbouring districts, so that families like his cannot only benefit from nutritious, healthy food, but also improve their quality of life and help lift themselves out of poverty.
This article was written by Tojigul Raimshoeva, Monitoring and Evaluation Assistant for the CAP programme in Tajikistan.
https://www.akf.org.uk/fresh-fruit-and- ... 25c8c5fc8d