Foreign Operations Assistance: Tajikistan

United States Department of State
Office of the Coordinator of U.S. Assistance to Europe and Eurasia
Foreign Operations Assistance Fact Sheet, April 2012 *

TAJIKISTAN

United States Government (USG) assistance to Tajikistan seeks to help defense and law enforcement agencies counter transnational threats, improve local governance and transparency, increase food security and public health services, and reform the education system, particularly focusing on creating opportunities for youth to contribute to society.

Recent Successes by Areas of Focus:

Peace & Security

• USG assistance to Tajikistan’s security sector in FY 2011 focused on improving the capacities of law enforcement and defense structures to address the destabilizing effects of extremists and transnational criminal organizations. Engagement with the Republic of Tajikistan’s defense forces focused on professionalizing the military, developing a deployable peacekeeping battalion, and enhancing border security. The graduation of seven students from U.S. military courses was an important achievement, and new English language training materials will better prepare future candidates.
• USG programs completed construction of one Border Guard Detachment and one Border Guard Outpost along the Tajik-Afghan border and funded joint training for 70 Tajik and 70 Afghan border guards serving at official crossing points on the border.
• The USG also funded construction of a new Border Crossing Point facility at Kulma on the Tajik-Chinese border which has allowed for an increase in cross-border trade.
• Three Community Policing Partnership Teams and nine Community Policing Centers in three vulnerable districts have been established during the past year, enhancing trust between the police and the communities they serve and enabling local problem-solving to help prevent crime, improve safety, and enhance quality of life.
• The USG funded training of over 800 lawyers, prosecutors, and defense attorneys on protection of citizens’ rights and use of the adversarial court system. In addition, USG programs funded the training of 296 police officers in basic and advanced police techniques, defensive tactics, proper conduct of interrogations and interviews in compliance with human rights standards, and improved investigation techniques.

Governing Justly and Democratically

• BY OBJECTIVE	FY 2011 ACTUAL	FY 2012 ESTIMATE	FY 2013 REQUEST
  TOTAL ($000s)	$44,482	$45,021	$37,405
  Peace and Security	$11,858	$11,705	$9,780
  Governing Justly and Democratically	$5,655	$5,686	$4,745
  Investing in People	$11,349	$15,184	$11,480
  Economic Growth	$14,320	$11,146	$10,200
  Humanitarian Assistance	$1,300	$1,300	$1,200

  USG programs focus on promoting good governance at the local level. As a result of USG assistance, the national government is now committed to transferring communal services such as drinking water and waste management to local enterprises. Model programs resulted in improved payment for services and increased revenues, and are being replicated in seven new communities.
• USG programs continue to support the legal environment for civil society, strengthen the capacity of independent media to report on local issues, work with local civil society to promote youth leadership and participation in rural communities, and provide direct grant assistance to Tajik non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• USG programs work to prevent trafficking in persons (TIP), protect TIP victims, and prosecute traffickers. As a result of Tajik government efforts supported by our continued diplomacy and USG assistance, Tajikistan made progress in combating TIP and was upgraded to "Tier 2" in the State Department’s annual TIP report in 2011.

Investing in People

• BY ACCOUNT	FY 2011 ACTUAL	FY 2012 ESTIMATE	FY 2013 REQUEST
  TOTAL ($000s)	$44,482	$45,021	$37,405
  Assistance for Europe, Eurasia and Central Asia	$40,290	$38,751	$0
  Economic Support Fund	$0	$0	$19,125
  Foreign Military Financing	$750	$800	$1,500
  Global Health Programs - USAID	$1,248	$3,250	$7,500
  International Military Education and Training	$469	$570	$540
  International Narcotics Control and Law Enforcement	$0	$0	$7,255
  Nonproliferation, Antiterrorism, Demining and Related Programs	$1,725	$1,650	$1,485

  In FY 2011, USG programs helped 76,744 people gain access to a sustainable supply of safe drinking water. U.S. assistance provided direct outreach to 6,606 individuals most at risk for contracting tuberculosis, and outreach workers were trained to make referrals to TB facilities and follow-up with home-based treatment. USG efforts to support HIV/AIDS prevention activities were also successful in reaching 11,099 at risk persons and linking 3,732 clients to HIV testing through a voucher referral system. Maternal and child health activities greatly increased exclusive breastfeeding from 37 percent to 85 percent in target areas and improved mothers’ abilities to identify severe diarrhea in children from 20 percent to 81 percent these are critical interventions in reducing child morbidity and mortality.
• During FY 2011, progress was made in supporting the capacity of teachers. As a result of USG assistance, new teacher training materials, which focused on innovative and child-oriented methods, were approved by the president for nationwide roll-out.

Economic Growth

• USG programs in this area focus on providing food security. About 28-34 percent of the rural population (1.4-1.7 million people) is food insecure, and the growth of 39 percent of children under five is stunted. Agriculture provides the livelihood for over 60 percent of Tajikistan’s population, although only seven percent of the country’s land is arable.
• In FY 2011, farmers were assisted through legal aid centers operating across the country. Legal aid centers trained 30,000 rural residents on land use rights and provided one-on-one consultations to 12,000 people. The centers facilitated 260 purchase/sale land transactions and represented 89 clients in land dispute cases, with a 94 percent success rate.
• In 2011, USG programs demonstrated techniques to improve productivity with 204 large-scale producers in six value chains, including building the capacity of input supply companies, to carry on such activities beyond the life of the project, and contributing to over $2 million in increased farm revenue.

Humanitarian Assistance

• Humanitarian assistance helped vulnerable populations including the elderly, orphans and the disabled. USG resources leveraged significant contributions, valued at $35.45 million, from partner NGOs, distributing donated medicine, medical supplies, and non-medical assistance.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Coordinator's Office Annual Reports
U.S. Embassy Website
www.foreignassistance.gov

*This fact sheet does not reflect Peace Corps funding or centrally managed or regional Foreign Operations funding that is not specifically budgeted for Tajikistan.