Integrated Rural Development Project
Tajikistan is a low-income country and is one of the poorest of the former Soviet republics. More than 70 percent of the population live in rural areas and are dependent on agriculture. The topographical features, especially the mountainous landscape, pose a challenge for increasing and intensifying agricultural production. In addition, Tajikistan's geographical location makes the country particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The Integrated Rural Development project aims to strengthen the framework conditions in the water sector and improve the capacities of relevant actors at national, regional and local level to create development plans focusing on Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM).
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Project NameTowards Rural Inclusive Growth and Economic Resilience (TRIGGER)
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Project Phase2023 to 2025
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FundingThis project is financed by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)
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Thematic focusWASH Services
The project "Towards Rural Inclusive Growth and Economic Resilience (TRIGGER)" is a joint project of Helvetas Germany and GFA Consulting Group and aligns with the broader Water Sector Reform Program 2016–2025 in Tajikistan and the national government's commitment to implementing the Agenda 2030 and the Paris Agreement. The project aims to support the Tajikistan government's reform program for the water sector by improving the integrated management of water resources, increasing agricultural production and enhancing economic resilience in the Zarafshon and Vakhsh catchment areas.
TRIGGER will focus on five key components:
1. Improving the Business Environment and Policy Dialogue: Facilitating communication between private and public stakeholders to promote principles of agrarian reform, green economy, and sustainable agriculture.
2. Increasing Agricultural Value Chain Productivity: Enhancing technical and entrepreneurial skills among smallholder farmers, with a focus on youth and women, to boost productivity.
3. Promoting Access to Export Markets: Facilitating increased exports, regional and international cooperation, and employment opportunities.
4. Supporting Entrepreneurship and Business Start-ups: Enhancing support services available to young entrepreneurs, particularly women, to foster entrepreneurship.
5. Enhancing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): Improving water use efficiency and management in the Zarafshon and Vakhsh basins through policy strengthening, capacity building, and technology adoption.
By implementing these measures, the project aims to reduce poverty and promote employment opportunities in Tajikistan, especially for young people and women. The main objective is to improve the policy and legal framework for sustainable and resilient water resource management in order to increase the productivity and competitiveness of the agricultural sector. It supports the government at various levels in the implementation of water-related measures, focusing on the Zarafshon and Vakhsh catchment areas, with an emphasis on water resource management, capacity building and the introduction of water-saving technologies such as drip irrigation and siphon irrigation to optimise water management in agriculture.
Furthermore, the project collaborates with River Basin Organizations (RBOs) and River Basin Councils (RBCs) to establish effective multi-level procedures for the formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of River Basin Management Plans (RBMPs). It provides assistance to the Ministry of Energy and Water Resources in implementing water management reforms and advocates for coordinated efforts between the water and agriculture sectors. Moreover, the project promotes climate-sensitive management of river basins with inclusive stakeholder involvement.
This project is funded by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ)
