Akf Activities in Tajikistan

AKF ACTIVITIES IN TAJIKISTAN

The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) has been active in Tajikistan since 1992, when, with the support of the international donor community, a response was mounted to imminent food shortages in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union and its centrally planned economy. In parallel with this emergency programme, a rural development programme – using the model of the Aga Khan Rural Support Programme in Northern Pakistan – was initiated with a view to increasing the level of local self-sufficiency in staple foods (only some 15% in 1992). The rural development programme em- phasised agricultural reform through privatisation of land use, introduction of high-quality seed and training in improved farming techniques In 1997 AKF started a rural development programme in the Rasht Valley with a view to (including application of fertiliser). In 1997 a similar programme was increasing the level of local self-sufficiency in 1 started in the Rasht Valley (now in seven districts: Darband, Garm, staple foods. Tajikabad, Djirgital, Tavildara, Faizabad and Rogun). The programme is currently being extended to the Shurabad district of Khatlon Oblast.

Programmes for reform in the social sector were introduced in 1994, aim- ing to assist the regional government to cope more efficiently with re- duced resources while at the same time benefiting from new approaches in education and healthcare provision and related training.

An Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) office was opened in Dushanbe in October 1994 and in Khorog in June 1995. An AKF office was opened in the Rasht Valley in November 1997.

At the same time as addressing emergency and short-term needs, AKF activities have been designed with the long-term in view. In addition, both Gorno-Badakhshan and the Rasht Valley, as impoverished remote high mountain areas, offer opportunities for learning lessons of relevance to (and for applying solutions from) other AKDN programmes in similar environments – moreover, the experience in privatisation of farming and in social sector reform can be of relevance for other Central Asian econo- An Aga Khan Development Network office was mies in transition. opened in in Dushanbe in October 1994.

Humanitarian Programme

In 1992, as a result of the break-up of the centrally planned Soviet economic system, serious food and energy shortages began to be felt in Gorno-Badakhshan. This isolated mountainous region of Tajikistan, the

1Formerly known as the Garm Region

1 majority of which is above 3,000 metres, was at that time – largely due to the inefficient state farm system – producing only 15% of its basic food requirements. The balance, and all of its energy requirements, were brought in by the central government at highly subsidised prices during Soviet times; as from 1992, these deliveries virtually stopped. In the winter months road communications between Gorno-Badakhshan and the capital Dushanbe are cut off by snow on the high passes2 and the only lifeline is across the high semi-desert Pamir plateau from Osh. This road (728 km to the regional capital Khorog), because of the semi-desert conditions, has relatively little precipitation and is kept open almost continuously.

MSDSP trucks carry supplies. Since early In response to appeals by local leaders, the AKF Board decided in late 1993, AKF has delivered more than 185,000 1992 to mount a major relief operation, to be followed by an agricultural tons of goods - of which 135,000 tons of food development programme. Since early 1993, AKF has delivered more than - to Gorno-Badakhshan. 185,000 tons of goods – of which 135,000 tons of food – to Gorno- Badakhshan. The volume of deliveries is now declining as a result of the improvement in agricultural production under the agricultural reform programme (see below) – but a substantial volume of goods (more than 25,000 tons to date) is now transported from Osh for the AKDN programme in Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan.

Donors to the humanitarian programme in GBAO include the governments of USA, Germany, UK, Switzerland, Canada, and Japan; the European Un- ion; the UN High Commissioner for Refugees; the Canton of Geneva; AKF Canada; and several NGOs, including OXFAM, Dutch Interchurch Aid and the Netherlands Organisation for International Development Co-operation (NOVIB).

RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

A local NGO was set up by AKF in Moscow and in Khorog in 1993. Its primary activities were initially to a) undertake procurement, logistics and monitoring for the humanitarian programme and b) implement an agricultural reform pro- Village Organisation members inspect a gramme. An office was set up in Osh (Kyrgyz Republic) in 1994 to monitor – threshing machine. The Village Organisation and, today, to implement – the logistics required for AKDN programmes in Programme is aimed at increasing the self- Gorno-Badakhshan and Badakhshan Province in Afghanistan. reliance of local communities, including village credit programmes, women’s activities and social and productive infrastructure Now known as the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme projects. (MSDSP), it implements, in addition to the humanitarian and agricultural reform programmes, activities aimed at increasing the self-reliance of local communities (Village Organisation Programme), including village credit programmes, women’s activities and social and productive infrastructure projects.

2During the civil war, the Dushanbe road was closed during the summer months also and was the scene of much armed conflict, especially in the area of Tavildara (see Map 3).

2 The German government has been the primary source of funds for the GBAO agricultural reform programme (Bundesministerium für Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit through the Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit), and is also supporting a micro-nutrient and nutritional surveillance programme as part of an “integrated food security strategy”; other funds have come from the US and Swiss governments and the European Commission. The Swiss government and the Netherlands Organisation for International Development Co-operation (NOVIB), are the primary sources of funds for the Village Organisation Programme. Funding for programmes in the Rasht Valley has been provided by USAID, the Tajikistan Social Investment Fund/World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Since 1993, almost all state farm land has been placed under private management, Agricultural Reform and Food Security totalling more than 11,000 hectares.

In late 1993, AKF and MSDSP obtained a landmark decision from the local government in Gorno-Badakhshan that unused or under-utilised state farm land could be distributed to villagers who wished to become private farmers. MSDSP began a series of village-level dialogues throughout Gorno- Badakhshan to encourage private farming. Private farmers were assisted, on credit, with improved seeds and fertiliser and received technical assistance from trained MSDSP staff. A channel building programme was initiated to extend the area of arable land available to private farmers.

Since then, almost all state farm land has been placed under private management in agreement with the local government. Total land under private management is now more than 11,000 hectares. Yields of potatoes and wheat per hectare more than doubled. In 2000, however, Central Village Organisation members participate in a Asia was severely affected by a drought, which had an unfavourable MSDSP channel building programme to impact on agricultural production in the region. Both the GBAO and the extend the area of arable land available to Rasht Valley regions were adversely affected and, as a result, the produc- private farmers. tivity of staples in many areas declined. Gross production in 2000 of cereals and potatoes (in a wheat flour equivalent) totalled 20,310 tons, which was less than the comparable figure for 1999 by 3,340 tons. This corresponds to nearly 70% of the staple food needs of the Oblast, and represents a major achievement compared to the self-sufficiency level of 15% at the inception of the programme.

Wheat, barley, rye and potatoes continue to be grown as the main food crops. MSDSP also encourages and facilitates the production of pulses, vegetables and fruits in order to provide a balanced diet and a sustain- able supply of vitamins and minerals. Wheat, barley, potato, pulse and vegetable seed (returned to MSDSP from previous loans) are made available to participating farmers for spring and autumn planting, together with fruit tree saplings. MSDSP attempts to procure as much seed as possible locally, in order to encourage farmers to market their surplus, and to inject cash into a cash-starved economy. Fertiliser, fuel, agricultural machinery and dairy-processing and other equipment continue to Varieties of wheat are tested on experimental be made available on a cash or credit basis. plots. New grains have helped double production in potatoes and wheat. 3 MSDSP’s most urgent task was to ensure the availability of enough food for the survival of the population of GBAO, and, for the longer term, to work towards food self-sufficiency. MSDSP is close to achieving the im- mediate objective: private farmers have gradually been producing an increasing share of the region’s staple food, while food aid has been diminishing. The table below shows trends in the level of self-sufficiency in staple foods (cereals and potatoes, calculated as wheat flour equivalent) and also the impact of drought in 2000-2001.

30,000 100% mt Food Deficit 25,000 left hand scale 78% 80% 68% 69% Local Production 20,000 left hand scale 60% 60%

15,000 Self sufficiency ratio In GBAO, MSDSP collaborates with over right hand scale 40% 24,000 private farmers who cultivate 85% 10,000 35% of the crop area, of which 83% is under staple food crops. 25% 20% 5,000

0 0% 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001* *estimate

In GBAO, MSDSP collaborates with over 24,000 private farmers who cultivate 85% of the crop area, of which 83% is under staple food crops. The remainder is planted with pulses, vegetables and fodder. Applied agricultural research is undertaken in GBAO with the National Agricul- tural Research Service. As a result of this collaboration, four improved varieties of wheat and six of potato are now being grown in the region. To

In 2000, production of cereals and potatoes disseminate information on new varieties of crops and different crop (calculated as wheat flour equivalent) totalled management practices, MSDSP carries out annually some 30 farmers’ 20,310 tons - nearly 70% of staple food field days in both regions. In addition, demonstration plots were estab- needs compared to 15% at programme lished in strategic locations in order to encourage the rational use of inception. inputs and innovative farming techniques.

In the Rasht Valley region MSDSP collaborates with more than 5,500 farmers. Yields of private farmers for wheat and potatoes have been two and a half times higher than on state farms.

By improving food security in Gorno-Badakhshan and the Rasht Valley – regions to which large numbers of former opposition fighters fled during the Tajik civil war (1992-1997) – and by offering the opportunity of private farming and credit, AKDN has contributed to the promotion of peace and stability in Tajikistan.

4 Agricultural Diversification

A livestock programme is undertaken in both GBAO and the Rasht Val- ley region to address issues related to poor animal health, insufficient fodder availability and lack of organised marketing systems. A breeding programme aims to improve livestock quality and yields of meat and dairy produce. In order to improve livestock health as well as to enable herders to process raw milk into marketable products, fodder seed, con- centrated feed, medicines and vaccines, and basic dairy processing equipment are procured and distributed on a sale or credit basis. Local processing is being encouraged with a view to adding value to livestock products.

In addition, small animal husbandry activities, largely managed by women, have been initiated in both regions, including poultry, wool- processing and bee-keeping.

A horticultural programme has tested and introduced new varieties of A breeding programme aims to improve vegetables: nine new varieties of beans and six varieties of peas were livestock quality and yields of meat and dairy produce. tested in two districts - suitable varieties, which are well adapted to the particular climatic conditions of the region, have been identified and planted. In addition to increasing fruit and vegetable production through the provision of fertiliser, seeds, saplings, and plastic tunnels for small greenhouses, the horticultural programme also provides training and equipment for processing and preserving horticultural produce, including apricot drying. MSDSP has also rehabilitated two greenhouses from the Soviet era, which are heated and irrigated all year round from nearby natural hot springs. The greenhouses are thus able to supply a small, but profitable market for out-of-season vegetables to Khorog and other areas.

Civil Society and Rural Development

Programme activities have moved away from a single focus on food self- sufficiency, and now deal increasingly with broader long-term economic and social development using innovative models suitable for wider rep- Apples, as part of the MSDSP programme to lication. The underlying philosophy is that rural economic development increase fruit and vegetable products, are is best catalysed and sustained through village-level institutions that laid out to dry on the roof of a house and will then be stocked for winter. are autonomous and transparent, and that contribute to democratic norms of behaviour and to the growth of civil society. The shift in focus has been accompanied by an organisational change within MSDSP from a vertically organised group of independent programmes to a set of activities integrated through the Village Organisations (see below).

Civil-society organisations such as MSDSP were an entirely new concept in the region in 1993. MSDSP has established a reputation as a serious partner for the regional and national governments as well as for the international donor community. It has offices in Moscow, Osh, Khorog and throughout districts of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO)

5 and the Rasht Valley. Its total staff complement exceeds 340, with an annual operating budget of over USD 3.5 million and strong locally recruited professional core staff with representatives in each district. Since its inception, MSDSP has gained considerable experience in the design, implementation and monitoring of complex development inter- ventions, as well as the procurement and distribution of humanitarian assistance and agricultural inputs, the training of farmers, social and community mobilisation and the implementation of a variety of infrastructure projects.

Village Organisation (VO) Programme

The central channel for most activities is the community-based grass roots Village Organisation. Villagers learn self-reliance, and VOs mo- bilise human, physical and financial resources to empower local villagers, give them greater ownership of development activities and generate wealth.

There are more than 400 VOs in GBAO with nearly 45,000 members, equivalent to virtually 100% coverage of rural settlements - over 95% of rural households are members. In April 2000, the VO programme was initiated in the Rasht Valley region: there are now more than a dozen One of twelve bridges constructed by Village VOs in the region with more than 2,700 members. In addition to initiat- Organisations under AKF programmes. ing their own savings and internal lending programme, VOs have access to a ‘Village Development Fund’ made available by MSDSP and have begun to implement small village- and household-level development initiatives.

Special efforts have been made to enhance women’s participation in the development process. Within MSDSP, a new cadre of female Social Or- ganisers have been recruited to work with Women’s Groups. WG projects include vegetable processing, poultry and other micro-enterprise projects and provide the necessary physical inputs as well as training in book- keeping, accounting and general management. These projects increase women’s control over their financial resources, integrate women more fully into emerging local markets, and contribute increased income. Over 600 women members have taken internally managed micro-credit loans for various processing, marketing and trading purposes. These women have gained increased respect and standing in their communities.

Both women and men participate in Village Organisation meetings. There are more than 400 VOs in Gorno-Badakhshan with nearly HEALTH REFORM PROGRAMME 45,000 members - over 95% of the rural households are members. The health sector in Tajikistan remains very much as it was in the Soviet period. During this time, decisions about the health of the population were made by the central government with little or no consultation with their regional counterparts, there was a surplus of health facilities and personnel, the focus of medical care was curative, and resources were

6 spent without much regard for cost-effectiveness. The collapse of the Soviet Union meant an end to previous high levels of subsidy.

The GBAO Department of Health (DoH) turned to AKF for technical and financial assistance in 1997 and now works closely with AKF in imple- menting a health reform programme, the aim of which is to assist the government to transform the health system from a centrally planned, facility-based operation to one that is decentralized, cost-effective and responsive to the local needs of the population in GBAO. It seeks to

• provide essential, cost-effective health services to people most at risk • enhance the efficiency of the public health system • monitor and analyse the health status of the population and suggest ways to improve the health system in GBAO, and • influence the national health reform programmes. The aim of the Health Reform Programme is It is guided by the health sector reform (HSR) initiative launched by the to assist the government to transform the Ministry of Health (MoH) at the national level in 1999. Together with the health system from a centrally planned, facility-based operation to one that is Somoni team (the group established by the MoH to oversee all aspects of decentralized, cost-effective and responsive to HSR), the AKF health reform programme seeks to impact the following the local needs of the population in Gorno- main principles of the national HSR: Badakhshan.

• prioritising of services due to limited resources • strengthening the primary health care (PHC) system and the introduction of a comprehensive PHC approach • distributing resources according to need, based on geographic and service level distribution • ensuring necessary information management for policy and decision- making and monitoring the impact of health sector reform • rationalising of services • improving quality of care • developing human resources • strengthening management capacity, and • creating responsibility for health among the population.

The primary sources of funds for the AKF Health Reform Programme are the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), USAID, AKF- USA, and the European Commission. It comprises five components.

Rationalising Pharmaceutical Policy A pharmacy set up in Roshtkala is part of an and Management (RPPM) Project AKF project that provides essential pharmaceuticals to Primary Health Care facilities and pharmacies. The RPPM project addresses three basic constraints: • a serious shortage of high-quality, essential, low-cost pharmaceuticals • inefficiencies in the management of pharmaceuticals • a lack of involvement of health care users in the management of health resources.

7 The project contributed to the introduction, in 1997, of a national Essential Pharmaceuticals List (according to the World Health Organi- zation’s standards).

Working in all eight districts in GBAO, the project has provided essential pharmaceuticals to primary health care (PHC) facilities at an afford- able cost, with partial cost recovery. Health care staff have been trained and health sub-committees and village organisations (VOs – see MSDSP section above) have been assisted in managing the cost recovery funds. A policy dialogue has been initiated at national level.

The current value of the cost recovery fund after three years is approximately USD 65,000. Twenty percent is used for the remuneration of government health workers participating in pharmaceutical distribution; a small portion goes to the health committees of the VOs to help fund projects for the improved health of their communities and to cover the

Community health points provide pharma- cost of medicine for the poor who are exempt from payment; the balance ceuticals to communities in outlying areas. finances the ongoing procurement of pharmaceutical supplies. The aver- age number of pharmaceuticals prescribed per physician consultation has decreased from 4.6 to 2.5 and the amount of antibiotics in injections has decreased from 51% to 18%.

The project acts as a test model to improve management and financing of essential pharmaceuticals throughout Tajikistan, and will provide lessons on institutional sustainability for replication at the national level.

Reproductive Health and Child Survival (RHCS) Project

The RHCS community-based project aims to improve the health status of women of childbearing age and children under five by promoting healthy behaviours - e.g. breastfeeding, family planning, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), good nutrition, good hygiene - supporting and strengthening health institutions in the provision of health care for this population and encouraging communities to take action for their own health.

Since 1998, the RHCS project has provided training to PHC staff - including doctors, nurses and midwives - in reproductive health, family planning, immunization, breastfeeding, anaemia, STDs, nutrition and

Improving the health status of women of the control of diarrhoeal diseases and acute respiratory infections. PHC childbearing age and children under five is facilities in GBAO have received basic medical equipment and supplies the aim of the RHCS project. and training of the PHC staff in their proper use. In collaboration with the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme (see section above), the project has begun the rehabilitation of PHC facilities.

The project has provided micronutrients (i.e. iodine, iron and vitamins A and D) to women of childbearing age and iodised salt to the general

8 population through PHC facilities and other village-level distribution points. To encourage the proper consumption of micronutrients and iodised salt, the project has also developed information, education and communication materials that have been disseminated through local tel- evision, radio, and press. The low immunisation rate in GBAO has prompted the collection and analysis of immunisation data to form the basis of a comprehensive immunisation strategy, in collaboration with the DoH, UNICEF and Médecins Sans Frontières.

Results from the RHCS project show that compliance for vitamins A and D has increased from approximately 70% in 1998 to 89% in 2000. The project team has been engaged in policy dialogue with the Somoni Health Care reform group, the core group involved in health sector reform at the national level. The team has also participated in seminars with international and national organisations on HIV/AIDS and STDs in Tajikistan.

Health Management Information System (HMIS) Project

The Soviet HMIS was characterised by the collection of much information of varying (and in some cases doubtful) utility, only little of which was actually used to inform decision-making. The existing information system is heavily based on hospital-related information rather than being community-based. The emphasis is being shifted towards efficient data collection at the community and primary health care levels. The project aims to achieve the following objectives: The RHCS project has provided training to Primary Health Care staff in reproductive • work with the government’s Health Statistics Information Centre health, family planning, immunisation, breastfeeding, anaemia, STDs, nutrition (HSIC) and the DoH to demonstrate the contribution of health infor- and the control of diarrhoeal diseases and mation to rational decision-making by health managers acute respiratory infections. • enhance the capacity of government health staff to collect health- related data and develop, test and introduce management tools • make nutrition and health information available to stakeholders (e.g. district hospitals, national MoH) in order to improve health services.

All staff employed in the HMIS project are from the DoH. DoH, HSIC and other medical staff have been trained in improved data collection and analysis skills. The project provides technical equipment and supplies for all health facilities in GBAO. A Health and Nutrition Survey (HNS) is made in GBAO every three years covering health-related indica- tors (malnutrition, STD prevalence, anaemia, etc.). Its results provide valu- able information on the impact of AKF’s concerted programmatic efforts in education, health, agriculture, and humanitarian assistance in GBAO. Assessing medical equipment needs in health facilities as part of the HMIS Project.

9 Hospital Support Project (HSP)

The collapse of the Soviet Union resulted in the weakening of hospital services in Tajikistan. As a result of the cutback in financial resources from the central government, hospitals are characterised by outdated medical practices, low esteem for the nursing profession and correspond- ing low standards, a deterioration of physical infrastructure and medical equipment, poor sanitary conditions and overprovision of facilities and beds in relation to the size of the population served. Effective rationalisation of services will result in improved patient care, more efficient use of resources, and a potential transfer of finances from the hospital sector to primary health care. The Aga Khan Health Service, Tajikistan, was set up in 2000 to address these issues in partnership with the AKF health programme and the Department of Health in GBAO, through the Hospital Support Project.

The HSP has updated the clinical skills of doctors through professional development courses, study leaves and support from North American counterparts. Doctors and nurses have attended English language and computer courses in large numbers in order to access current medical information through distance learning. Management courses for head doctors, nurses and hospital administrators have been held in response to the need to change the centralised authoritarian system of management and to encourage the implementation of new clinical practices. The rehabilitation and rationalisation of three district hospitals (Vanj, Ishkashim and Murghab) and parts of the central referral hospital in The rehabilitation and rationalisation of parts of the central referral hospital in Khorog and the provision of essential equipment have resulted in im- Khorog and the provision of essential proved patient care. A strategy to improve nursing practice has been equipment have resulted in improved patient developed and will be implemented at the national level. care.

There is an acceptance among hospital staff of the need for the better use of resources (by reducing the size and number of hospitals) and the national Ministry of Health has expressed interest in replicating the training of nurses and rationalisation of hospital services components of the HSP throughout Tajikistan.

Building Capacity for Restructuring and Reform (BCRR) Project

The main goal of the BCRR project is to plan, implement and monitor health reform activities in GBAO by enhancing the capacity of the DoH through skills development, information system strengthening and increased exposure to alternative approaches to managing and financing health care with limited resources. It is creating a better understanding of the need to reform the health system in GBAO and the country as a whole and of the ways to approach reform.

10 A three-year programme of work outlining the reform process has been developed in conjunction with the DoH. A steering committee and supporting working groups in HMIS, pharmaceuticals, PHC, hospital services and health financing have been created. Several study visits to other countries of the former Soviet Union have taken place in order to share health reform experiences in similar systems elsewhere. A new component aims to strengthen district management. Policy dialogue is being pursued with different stakeholders (e.g. the World Bank, MoH, WHO, etc.) at the national level and a regional health bulletin is planned.

EDUCATION REFORM PROGRAMME

As in the health sector, education under the Soviet system benefited from a very generous allocation of financial resources. Expenditure for education in Tajikistan started to decline in 1992, from 11.1% of GDP in 1992 to 2.1% in 1999. 20% of the schools were destroyed during the civil war and it is estimated that it will require more than USD 25 million to rebuild and rehabilitate school buildings. Many certified teachers are leaving their schools to search for better employment opportunities abroad (e.g. Russia), leaving behind uncertified teachers with only Grade 11 level education and no teaching experience. As a result, almost a whole generation of children is going through an education system that is unlikely to produce individuals capable of compet- Initially, as part of the programme to ing in the modern world. In spite of all these challenges, the people of address the decline of schools, 20% of which were destroyed during the civil war, AKF GBAO are determined to give their children the best education possi- provided text books and essential educa- ble. Teachers continue to teach for less than USD 10 a month, parents tional supplies, as well as setting up are voicing their concerns about the conditions in which their chil- revolving funds and community support dren learn and school administrators are finding new ways to finance mechanisms. their schools, despite limited financial support from the government.

Initially, in order to prevent the education system from total break- down, AKF provided schools with textbooks and essential educational supplies, as well as setting up revolving funds and community support mechanisms. Village Organisations have undertaken rehabilitation of school buildings.

The programme has now shifted from relief to long term development, including promoting new teaching/learning approaches, enhancing management and planning skills of mid- and senior-level education administrators and building capacity in development of curriculum and teaching resources. It focuses more on institution-building (primarily in the Institute for Professional Development – IPD – a government institution whose mandate is to provide in-service teacher training, conduct educational research and develop education and teaching materials for schools in GBAO), on capacity-building and on the creation of educational structures (e.g. district support groups, key teacher structures) that can be embedded within the whole education system.

11 The programme supports educational policy reform in GBAO by:

• decentralising decision-making at the local government and community levels • strengthening the IPD • training school communities, head teachers, district school directors and provincial officials in planning and management skills • increasing community involvement and setting up revolving funds for educational materials and textbooks at school and district levels • improving teaching and learning methodologies • developing new teaching and learning materials as part of a wider curriculum reform, and • rehabilitating the physical infrastructure of schools.

The Programme is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Dutch Interchurch Organisation for Development Co-operation, the Flora Foundation and Aga Khan Foundation Canada. It has the following main components.

As part of a new teaching and learning approach under AKF’s Education Reform Curriculum Development Programme, students work in groups. Improvements in the quality of teaching and learning must start in the early stages of education in order to have a lasting impact. In GBAO, classrooms, teaching and learning methods were highly formal, with a reliance on rote learning and memorisation. For most teachers, the curriculum was a single textbook, often of dubious quality and teaching resources were lacking. The primary aims are, therefore, to make learning more interactive by introducing teachers to child-centred approaches and to promote self-sustaining professional development.

Training workshops are organised and a training manual on child- centred methodology and a guide to teaching Tajik (the medium of instruction in schools) have been developed and distributed.

Institute of Professional Development (IPD)

AKF was instrumental in the re-instatement of the IPD to its status as part of the reform process and has been working with it to revive its functions and broaden its mandate to include applied research. Transparent and accountable governance and operating structures have been introduced.

Daulat, Head of the Aga Khan Lycée, Khorog, As uncertified teachers continue to replace the growing number of certi- and Gulguncha, a Master Teacher Trainer, fied teachers in the education system, IPD is assisting uncertified teach- discuss pedagogical techniques, as part of the professional development programme. ers to acquire basic teaching skills, and professional acceptance through training workshops and a certification plan.

12 AKF will progressively transfer to IPD its present role in programme implementation. IPD should, in the long term, constitute a model of good governance for key national educational institutions in Tajikistan.

Selected school support: “Allied schools”

As a result of limited funding and resources, educational standards are declining. A general objective of the Aga Khan Development Network is to promote high standards of educational quality and the new Aga Khan Lycée in Khorog exemplifies this commitment as well as providing a model of potential financial sustainability for quality education in poor com- Gulguncha assists a teacher with teaching munities. The government of GBAO is attempting to develop a similar methods. She was sent to get a Masters Degree model through support for ‘gymnasium’ schools in GBAO (schools that at the Institute for Educational Development can attract better resources but must serve a wider student population). at the Aga Khan University in Karachi so that she could train Lycée teachers on modern pedagogical techniques upon her return. AKF will support this initiative through the “allied schools” project that will demonstrate how quality education might be achieved in a more efficient public system. Over the next four years, AKF will support a school in each district that will serve as a resource centre for the district and become a model for other schools. Through the selection of schools already demonstrating good practices and that are able to serve a wider area than their current one, AKF will:

• demonstrate the concept of schools as places of learning where explo- ration, problem-solving and creativity is encouraged, and • show that schools can implement transparency and accountability as part of their operating structures.

Languages

The languages component of the AKF education programme in GBAO provides technical training to language teachers and methodologists in new At the Aga Khan Lycée, Khorog, young and innovative methods of teaching languages at the primary level (Rus- students work in the computer lab as part sian, Tajik, English), develops curriculum and resources, strengthens the of an active learning, problem-solving session. IPD and builds capacity among the local IPD and AKF education staff.

Since 1997, language methodologists from the IPD have participated in workshops and study tours to upgrade their technical knowledge and training skills for training teachers in GBAO in pedagogy and curriculum con- tent. Over 1,000 language teachers have attended workshops on participatory approaches to teaching languages in the classroom and on developing low-cost educational resources (with the assistance of “mini- resource-centres” in target schools equipped with low-cost materials).

13 Mobile Resource Training Centres

In order to meet the increasing challenge of working with teachers in isolated communities who are unable to attend teacher training, two “Mo- bile Resource Training Centres” have been set up, comprising a mini- van, equipped with trainers and resources, that visits schools on a regular basis. Language and primary teachers are trained to improve their teaching methods and managerial skills and have access to instructional me- dia and educational resources.

An English language teacher at Khorog State University learns computer skills from Educational Management (EM) the Department Head as part of the languages component of the AKF Education programme in GBAO. This component works with education administrators at the school, district and regional levels in order to achieve

• decentralisation through policy dialogue • greater local autonomy and democracy in education • strengthening the IPD • capacity development of education managers at all levels • greater involvement of communities in school life, and • development of replicable models of best practices.

A training course provides information on management, leadership and organisational development to educational administrators in GBAO. The EM component is currently developing a library within the IPD to be equipped with the most updated resources (e.g. books, journals, CD ROMs, etc.) and to develop the capacity of the IPD librarian. The AKF model requires the active involvement of parents and the community The project publishes a professional educational newsletter, Rahnamo, in school life. as a resource for teachers and educational administrators on current issues in education. It advises regional and district education departments, school administrators, leaders of village organisations and school heads in GBAO on the generation, management, allocation and monitoring of their own education funds. At community-level, a training course, Com- munity Development and Involvement in Education, is offered.

Health Education Project (HEP)

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, food shortages have caused a rapid decline in nutritional status in GBAO, particularly in women and children. The deterioration in sanitation has led to increasing levels of diarrhoeal diseases. The majority of illnesses in the region can be pre- vented: research by the HEP team identified a lack of awareness about basic preventive health measures.

14 The HEP works closely with teachers, school directors and administrators, methodologists, children, community nurses and district and regional departments of health and education at the government level to promote disease prevention and ensure that local communities have access to health-related information. The HEP is developing the methods through which teachers and nurses can effectively transmit messages related to personal hygiene to school children – a teacher’s guide for the primary level has been prepared and a culturally sensitive health education curriculum is being developed, dealing with nutrition, safety, first aid and personal hygiene. The HEP uses child-to-child learning methodologies that train children to pass on what they learn to their families Primary teachers learn in small groups at and communities. Secondary materials, including topics surrounding drug a health education workshop. abuse and sexual behaviour, are currently being developed and will be implemented in the same manner.

The project, in collaboration with MSDSP, has provided and repaired latrines and appropriate hand-washing facilities in selected schools.

The project aims to demonstrate to the national Ministries of Health and Education its potential for replication in other areas of Tajikistan. It has initiated a health education forum to share ideas and experiences with both local and international organisations working in health and health education in Tajikistan. It receives funding from the UK Department for International Development (DFID), the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Af- fairs and Christian Aid. Participatory monitoring and evaluation techniques are studied by a team member of the Health Education Project.

SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME

The Tajik Scholarship Programme was started in 1993 to assist students stranded in Gorno-Badakhshan as a result of the civil war and to create a cadre of educated young people to help with the development of the region. Ten students were selected every year from among the best of the first and second year students at Khorog State University and sent to pursue undergraduate studies, first to Moscow and, as of 1998, to Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan. Eighty students have so far received awards. Those who have finished either continued their studies at the Master’s level or found jobs in Moscow or Tajikistan. Students have opted for courses that are thought to be useful for the development of their country: Economics, Business, Geology, Computer Science, Law, Medicine, International Rela- Washing hands is part of a health and tions, Language Studies, Agricultural Economics and Public Administra- hygiene lesson. Children are encouraged to act as health messengers, communicating tion. health information to their peers, families and communities. In addition to the annual 10 awards for study outside Gorno-Badakhshan, another smaller programme was initiated in 2001 to assist secondary school graduates from the outlying districts of Gorno-Badakhshan who

15 have been admitted to Khorog State University in the provincial capital. Twenty-five students were chosen initially; they receive tuition and liv- ing expenses. It is planned that five new students will be added each subsequent year, thus giving talented but poor students the opportunity to continue their studies at the local university.

An impressive number of AKF scholarship students have achieved ex- cellent results at the prestigious Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU), at People’s Friendship University in Moscow, at the American University of Kyrgyzstan and the Slavonic University in Bishkek. Stu- dents in Moscow are also given the possibility of attending English language courses at the British Council and four have succeeded in gaining admission to UK universities, such as the School of Oriental and African Studies and the London School of Economics, for postgraduate courses.

AKF Scholarship students who have graduated from Moscow State University.

Tajik AKF scholarship students attending Annexes university in Bishkek. Other AKDN Activities in Tajikistan Map 1: Tajikistan Map 2: Gorno-Badakhshan Map 3: Garm region AKDN

Photographic Credits : All photographs were provided by Jean-Luc Ray/ Aga Khan Foundation with the exception of p.1(top) & page 3(bottom) Robin Oldacre; p.1(bottom) H.P. Peterson; p.8(bottom) Robert Middleton; p.9(top & bottom) Pierre Claquin; p.15(top) Diana Porter; (centre) Kate Smith; p.16 Catherine Hieronymi.

Compiled : March, 2002 16 OTHER AKDN ACTIVITIES IN TAJIKISTAN

The Aga Khan Development Network has been working in Tajikistan since 1991. It has invested USD150 million to date in the country. It operates programmes in humanitarian assistance, agricultural reform, health, education, physical infrastructure improvement and culture.

Highlights of AKDN Activities 2000-2001

There were several important developments in the period 2000-01.

• Signing of a Treaty between Presidents Rahmonov of Tajikistan, Akayev of Kyrgyzistan and Nazarbaev of Kazakstan and His Highness the Aga Khan to establish the University of Central Asia, the first international “mountain” university, with a main campus in Tajikistan; • Endorsement of AKDN’s reform programme in the health sector in Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) by the Tajikistan Ministry of Health; • International recognition for the AKDN’s regional Humanities Programme for Central Asia, which is based in Tajikistan; • Visit of a high level delegation under the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister responsible for Agricul- ture to the AKDN’s agriculture reform programme; • USD15 million mobilised and invested in Tajikistan - for a total of USD150 million to date.

Micro-credit

Since 1995, the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED) has operated a micro-credit and small business support programme in Tajikistan. This “Enterprise Support Facility” trains entrepreneurs and finances a wide-range of small-scale businesses ranging from agro-processing to services and commerce.

Pamir Utility Project: Clean, Renewable Electric Power for Gorno-Badakshan

The Pamir Utility Project builds on a programme begun in 1994 to respond to the end of subsidised diesel fuel shipments that had resulted in drastic cuts in electricity. People were forced to cut down forests and orchards in order to heat homes, hospitals and schools. An estimated 70% of the forest cover was cut down. In response, the Aga Khan Foundation, working with donors and the Tajikistan government, invested in 12 mini hydropower projects with a total generating capacity of 540 kW. It also installed two new turbines at the Pamir 1 hydropower plant with a generating capacity of 14 MW. A new initiative, the Pamir Utility Project—launched by AKFED and costing USD20 million—will build on the previous work by expanding power generation while setting up a system for sustained funding of costs. When complete, the project will provide clean, renewable energy to 145,000 residents, as well as schools, hospitals and businesses.

17 The University of Central Asia

The world’s first internationally chartered private institution of higher education is being established in Central Asia. To be known as the University of Central Asia (UCA), the new institution has been founded by the joint action of the presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, and of His Highness the Aga Khan. At ceremo- nies held in Dushanbe, Bishkek, and Astana on August 28, 30, and 31, 2000, the four parties entered into an International Treaty establishing the new University and signed its founding Charter. While many other institutions have aspired to be international in character, UCA is the first private institution of higher education to be internationally chartered.

The University of Central Asia is intended to serve the educational and developmental needs of people across the vast mountain zones of Central Asia and beyond. Through university degree programmes and research and through training courses available to the general public, UCA will foster economic and social betterment throughout a region that modern development has largely bypassed.

The University of Central Asia’s main campus will be at the city of Khorog in the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast of Tajikistan. At first glance this may seem an unlikely spot for the seat of a major regional institution of higher education and research. Khorog is small, with barely 27,000 inhabitants. At an altitude of 2,384 metres, Khorog at first leaves many flat-land visitors catching their breath.

His Highness the Aga Khan first visited the large Ismaili Muslim community of Khorog in 1995. On the basis of the successful experience of the Aga Khan Development Network in the nearby Northern Areas of Pakistan, he immediately sensed the region’s unrealised potential. Important considerations confirm and reinforce the logic of this choice.

Khorog sits astride ancient transportation routes that connected the oasis cities of Central Asia with the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East with China. Marco Polo is said to have passed up the nearby Wakhan valley on his way to visit the court of the Great Khan. When peace returns to the region these routes will once again be opened. New roads and air routes have already begun this process.

Khorog is also at the very heart of the great Asian mountain system that includes the western Himalayas, Karakorum, Pamir, Hindukush, Zarafshan, Tien-Shan, Altai, Kohi-Baba, Safedkoh, Siakoh, and Kopet Dag ranges. As such, it has ready access to a virtual laboratory of mountain geology, flora, fauna, and human adaptation.

Finally, the conditions of underdevelopment and poverty that prevail for hundreds of miles in every direction from Khorog are precisely what the University of Central Asia has been established to address. If it were otherwise, there would be little need for such an institution.

The Aga Khan Humanities Project

Central Asia is going through profound cultural change. New foundations for identity are emerging as the recently independent nations face much broader economic and political horizons. Central Asians are reaching into their past for inspiration. A number of Central Asian intellectuals have expressed a need for assistance in drawing upon the rich traditions of societies across the region in an education project that promotes tolerance, peace and civic virtues.

The Aga Khan Humanities Project (AKHP), headquartered in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, is a project of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, Geneva. The AKHP aims to strengthen the study of humanities in the education systems of

18 Central Asia. The goal of the AKHP is to develop skills of cultural interpretation, independent thinking, reasoned debate, and open-ended curiosity. The AKHP also promotes tolerance for pluralism in ideas, cultures, and peoples, and develops a capacity for ethical reflection and aesthetic appreciation.

The AKHP addresses these objectives by encouraging Central Asians to write curriculum material and by training teachers to ensure accurate delivery of the material. The curriculum consists of a core introduction to humanities in Central Asia based on the cultural traditions of the region. The curriculum developers, in close collaboration with teachers, then experiment with innovative pedagogies. These experiments are then tested in selected universities in Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Tajikistan. The results are compiled and analysed for further development.

Central Asia is a product of many civilisations: Buddhist, ancient Greek, Iranian, Islamic, Jewish, Russian, Turkic, and Zoroastrian. The Project does not promote any one perspective nor provide instruction in any religion. Instead, it seeks to help students address current challenges, predicaments, and opportunities, and build bridges across communal boundaries in the region. The Project also helps Central Asians make culture available to the outside world. This endeavour could help return Central Asians to their historical role in connecting different cultures. Such connective traditions can serve the yearning of Central Asians for national identity and their concern for all humanity.

The Aga Khan Music Initiative in Central Asia

The Aga Khan Music Initiative is a multi-year project (in collaboration with the Silk Road Project, Inc.) for the preservation and promotion of traditional music at the heart of the Silk Road. The long-term goals are to revitalise the study and performance of traditional music and to make local festivals artistically and financially self-sustaining.

In partnership with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture, the Silk Road Project is expanding its public programming and outreach initiatives to the core lands of the Silk Road - Central Asia. A series of concerts and festivals are being held in 5-6 countries featuring Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble together with outstanding local performers of both Western and Eastern music.

Educational Collaborations Like the Silk Road Project’s concerts and festivals in other cities around the world, the programmes in Central Asia are conceived not simply as performances, but as educational collaborations involving local cultural organisations, musicians, students, and communities. Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble are including local musicians in performances of the works they present to Central Asian audiences. Many of these works include a combination of Western and Eastern instruments, and performers of both types of instruments are recruited from local conservatories and musical communities.

Workshops and Master-Classes In addition to performing concerts, Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Ensemble are offering workshops and master- classes to music students in conservatories and teacher training institutes. The aim of these events is to explore new avenues of musical creativity that bridge different musical languages, and to bolster communication between musicians from Central Asia and the West.

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21 AGA KHAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK (AKDN)

AKF is a member of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), a group of development agencies, institutions, and programmes that work primarily in the poorest parts of Asia and Africa. Their common goal is to help the poor achieve a level of self-reliance sufficient to plan their own livelihoods and help those even more needy than themselves. AKF’s partnerships with other AKDN institutions in the social sector provide grassroots support in a community-based environment for achieving the Foundation’s objectives.

The following AKDN institutions operate in social development: Aga Khan Foundation (AKF), the Aga Khan University (AKU), the University of Central Asia (UCA), Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS), Aga Khan Education Services (AKES) and Aga Khan Planning and Building Services (AKPBS). In addition the Foundation has set up a number of agencies for the implementation of its programmes (such as the Aga Khan Rural Support Programmes and the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme).

The Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development, with its affiliates, Tourism Promotion Services, Industrial Promo- tion Services and Financial Services, seeks to strengthen the role of the private sector in developing countries by supporting private sector initiatives in the development process. The Fund and the Foundation also encourage government policies that foster what the Aga Khan first called an “enabling environment” of favourable legisla- tive and fiscal structures for promoting philanthropy.

The Aga Khan Trust for Culture co-ordinates the Network’s cultural activities. Its programmes include The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, the Historic Cities Support Programme, the Education and Culture Programme, the Aga Khan Humanities Programme and the University of Central Asia.

Inspiration for the creation of these institutions, some of which are over one hundred years old, derives from the Muslim ethic of compassion for the most vulnerable in society. AKDN institutions draw on the Ismaili community’s traditions of philanthropy, volunteerism, self-help, education and social welfare. In every country these institutions work for the common good of all citizens, regardless of their gender, origin, religion or political persuasion.

AKDN, through the synergies and partnerships it offers on economic, social and cultural issues, is uniquely poised to contribute a wide variety of strategies and instruments to the development process.

For more information, please visit www.akdn.org 22