The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has generously contributed US$7 million to the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) to bolster assistance for vulnerable households facing rising food insecurity in Tajikistan, says press release issued by the US Embassy in Dushanbe on March 12.

The funding will enable WFP to support vulnerable communities to better meet their food needs and strengthen the government’s capacity to address the impacts of ongoing price hikes.  Over the next two years, this initiative will benefit around 15,000 households by transferring cash in exchange for work in building productive and protective assets.  These assets will further enhance the resilience of more than 24,000 households, supporting a total of 120,000 people.

“We are proud to partner with the World Food Programme to support vulnerable households that are at risk of falling deeper into poverty as a result of the global price shocks for food and fertilizer felt after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” stated Manuel Micaller, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan.

“We thank the U.S. Government for its commitment to fighting food insecurity in Tajikistan. As communities continue to be affected by ongoing global crises and high food prices, this contribution will help to address the most food-insecure people’s immediate food needs with cash, while improving their long-term food security and resilience. We are working directly with smallholder farmers, especially those led by women and youth on the ground to enable them to maintain their livelihoods,” said Adham Musallam, WFP Representative and Country Director in Tajikistan.

According to 2023 FAO/WFP Crop and Food Security Assessment Mission (CFSAM) to Tajikistan, about 1.56 million people were facing acute food insecurity, nearly 50,000 of whom were severely food insecure.  However, there has been an improvement from last year, with a reduction in those acutely food insecure from 20 percent to 16 percent, showing stabilization since early 2023.  WFP is closely monitoring the household-level food security and market situation, as well as mobilizing funds to support food-insecure families in the country.

USAID is the world’s premier international development agency and a lead actor driving development results.  

WFP is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters, and the impact of climate change.