Improved Nutrition and Health for Rural Families
The country of Tajikistan, despite constant improvements in recent years, suffers from the highest malnutrition rates in Central Asia. The Rasht Valley, where this project is implemented, is particularly hard hit by food insecurity due to its political and infrastructural isolation.
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Project NameEnhancement of Sustainable Nutrition Security and Hygiene and Care Practice for Women and Children in Rural Communities in Rasht Valley, Tajikistan
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Project Phase2019 to 2022
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FundingFederal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ)
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Thematic focusGender & Social Equity
Food & Nutrition
Climate & Disaster Resilience
This project was completed in 2022.
Various forms of food insecurity in the Rasht valley are caused by a lack of knowledge at household level about nutrient-rich food (cultivation and processing), care insufficient health and hygiene practices, and inadequate primary health care. In rural areas particularly young women and children are vulnerable to malnutrition, because they face increased multiple workload in terms of domestic, agricultural and family responsibilities due to a large number of men moving abroad in seek for work.
That is why Helvetas Germany works together with our Alliance2015 partner Welthungerhilfe and the local partner organization Fikodor to strengthen household-level capacities, health and hygiene practices, public health institutions and diversified agricultural practices with this project.
Through the establishment of nutrient-rich kitchen gardens in over 400 households and the distribution of seeds for herbs, vegetables and greenhouses as well as cooking presentations, training on crop planning and by providing selected health points with basic equipment, this project aims to contribute to an improved nutrition and health for rural families in Sangvor, Rashttal with a focus on children and women of reproductive age.
Apart from that, this project organizes women's self-help groups in the villages. Those who enjoy trust in the village are allowed to lead the groups and receive training in healthy nutrition and how to produce it, hygiene issues and how to prepare drinking water. One focus is on feeding babies and small children. Parallel to these measures, health centres and polyclinics are being strengthened at the local level. Thereby the focus on the development of local structures and capacities contributes to maximizing the planned impact even after the end of the project.
The project is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) as well as by own funds.
