The Annual Steering Committee of the EU-funded project, Integrated Natural Resources Management in Zarafshon Valley for Equitable and Sustainable Development» (INVEST), was held in Khujand, the capital of Sughd province on September 26.

According to the European Union (EU) Delegation to Tajikistan, the meeting was co-chaired by Mr. Rajabboy Ahmadzoda, Governor of Sughd Province and Mr. Raimundas Karoblis, Ambassador of the European Union to Tajikistan with participation of the representatives of national and regional level state agencies as well as Rural Development Program (RDP) II partners.  

The meeting was reportedly dedicated to presentation and discussion of the project progress achieved until the end of Year 2 and plans for Year 3 throughout four components that are sustainable agriculture, integrated natural resources management, nutrition and drinking water, sanitation and hygiene and align with National strategies and contributes to national and local plans and priorities.

The project reported the key achievements towards approved plan and Road Map that are:

 

  • improved irrigation systems for 5,466 ha of land including construction of irrigation for 68 ha of new land;
  • restoration of more than 280 ha of forest and pastureland and construction of 3 pasture related infrastructure that are handed over to communities;
  • delivering 60 tons of good quality potato seeds which resulted in increased potato harvest to at least two times;
  • 252 of farmers got access to improved agro machineries; 96 of farming households got access to small and medium scale greenhouses;
  • 1,848 of farmers got access to improved storage facilities; food safety center and vet laboratories were provided with equipment which enabled the improved services;
  • 348 health personnel and 360 community nutrition volunteers received technical trainings on nutrition and hygiene promotion amongst the communities. More than 35,000 of community members benefited from improved nutrition related behavioral change campaign;
  • construction of drinking water supply systems for 1,086 households in Kuhistoni Mastchoh and Panjakent districts initiated and project plans to expand this to overall 4,452 households by July 2027;

 

The project steering committee members and participants appreciated the project progress and approved the work plan for Year 3 of the project that will expand the reported results.

Mr. Raimundas Karoblis, Ambassador of the European Union to Tajikistan noted: “The EU-funded Rural Development Program, successfully carried out by our partners, is enhancing rural livelihoods in Tajikistan by promoting climate-resilient community development and sustainable agriculture. We expect the project results will be beneficial to people of Tajikistan throughout the areas of implementation.

The integrated management of water resources will remain a key topic for the sustainable development of Tajikistan, as well as the stability and development of the entire region. In this respect, we appreciate the progresses accomplished by the Government of Tajikistan in undertaking ambitious reform in terms of natural resource management.”

Mr. Abdukholiq Kholiqzoda, Mayor of Panjakent underlined: “We know that the budget of this project is

EUR 16.6 million, but the most important thing is that the project gives impetus to the rural development through the cooperation and contribution of the state, society and entrepreneurs, and its impact on the economy will be not less than EUR 40 million in the end.”

The project is being successfully implemented thanks to close cooperation and support of the Government of Tajikistan (GoT) at national, oblast and districts level through the effective coordination mechanism.  The partners agreed to make the next joint visit to the Zarafshon Valley in coming days to see the results of the project in the field.

The Integrated Natural Resources Management in Zarafshon Valley for Equitable and Sustainable Development is a five-year project of the Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) consortium funded by the European Union within the Rural Development Program II.  The project budget is EUR 16.6 million on which EUR 15 million is EU RDP II fund and EUR 1.6 million is contribution of AKF and consortium members MSDSP, NCC Sarob, AKHS and AKAH.

The aim of the project is to enhance livelihood, food and nutrition security, and community resilience in Zarafshon Valley through strengthened sustainable management and protection of natural resources.  The project started on 1 August 2022 with a completion date 31 July 2027.