DUSHANBE, June 24, 2011, Asia-Plus -- Housing and communal service reform is the focus of a new interagency working group launched in June 23 through the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Local Development Initiative (LDI), the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe reports.

The working group is part of Tajikistan’s “Housing and Communal Services for 2025” program.

Alimurod Taghoimurodov, Director General of the Tajik State Unitary Enterprise “Khojagii Manziliu Kommunali”, Kevin Dean, Deputy Director USAID Tajikistan Country Office, representatives from Tajik government ministries and agencies, and governments of Gorno Badakhshan, Sughd, and Khatlon provinces participated in the establishment of the working group.

“Housing and communal services reform has great significance for Tajikistan.  Through creation of economic, legal, and organizational conditions, decentralization of services, and development of competition, it is possible to achieve a reliable, functioning support system for the population, as well as to improve the quality and availability of service delivery to each consumer,” said Kevin Dean during his speech at the meeting.

USAID’s LDI project provides support to the housing and communal services working group through the organization and planning of its work, identification of legislative acts necessary for sector reform, providing information and supporting materials, and providing trainings including regional and international study tours.

Housing and communal services are a priority for USAID in Tajikistan. Recent projects in this area include developing the law “On the maintenance of apartment buildings and house owners associations” and a large scale survey on the status of drinking water supply and sanitation in more than 2,000 populated areas of Tajikistan.

The USAID’s Local Development Initiative project is one of the many assistance projects supported by the American people through USAID.  Since 1992, the Embassy in Dushanbe has provided approximately $984 million in programs that support Tajikistan’s security, democratic institutions, social sector, and economic growth.