DUSHANBE, July 17, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- The European Commission (ECC) funded Project “Support to the Monitoring of the PRSP in Tajikistan” assists the Government of Tajikistan to strengthen and improve its development policies by implementing “Managing for Development Results” in relation with the PRS (Poverty Reduction Strategy) and more specifically in the two focal sectors of Health and Education, according to the Delegation of the European Commission in Tajikistan.

The PRS emphasizes the importance of a well-developed and extensive Monitoring and Evaluation system for assessing the impact of the Tajik Government''s poverty reduction strategies and resource allocations, along with a feedback mechanism for informed decision and policy making.

The EC Project assists the Government of Tajikistan through empowering target groups to more efficiently and effectively manage and monitor the PRS, in a results oriented fashion. This is likely to strengthen target groups’ capacity to achieve the objectives of the PRS. The contribution is significant since the project focuses on missing links in the PRS program cycle, piloting new methods for PRS management and monitoring and contributing to a new results-oriented management and monitoring culture in the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health. The project strengthened the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health capacities for PRS annual progress reporting, which is regarded as an example for future interventions targeting other line ministries. The project strengthens the technical and material base as for the M&E system in the Ministry of Economic Development

The project strengthens the technical and material base as for the M&E system in the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade (MEDT), Ministry of Education and Ministry of Health and related agencies.

T-equipment (computers, notebooks, scanners, printer, copiers and fax machines) was handed over on May 15 by Mrs Charlotte Adriaen, Chargé d''Affaires of the Delegation of the European Commission in Tajikistan to the MEDT to a value of 50.000 Euro to be delivered to Dushanbe, Kathlon, Sughd, GBAO, Jirgital and Hissor.  In the frame of the Project, a PRS web-page has been developed with access to National Development Strategy, PRS 2007 – 2009, Annual Progress Reports, relevant legislation/decrees, indicator matrixes and information on projects supporting the Tajik M&E system ( www.met.tj/index) ).  The PRS webpage forms a sound information basis for the ongoing elaboration of PRS 2010-2012.