The AKDN bridges at Tem, Darwaz TAJIKISTAN and Ishkashim facilitate over 15,000 border crossings per year, as well as over US$ 3 million in traded goods including food, construction materials and electronic appliances.

Partners certification. In 2010, the Certification created efficient channels for delivery Asian Development Bank/Japan Fund for Committee included government officials, of humanitarian aid to otherwise remote Poverty Reduction (ADB/JFPR) Canadian International Development Agency members of parliament, representatives and inaccessible areas. On the Tajik side, (CIDA) from international agencies and leaders they have facilitated access to a wider Department for International Development (DFID) of local CSOs. The National Association variety of better-priced goods transited Embassy of Japan of NGOs in Tajikistan, established under from China, Iran and Pakistan by Afghan European Commission (EC) Government of Austria the programme, played a central role traders. During 2009, more than 28,000 Government of Germany (BMZ, GTZ) in lobbying legislative changes and people crossed these bridges to access Government of Norway Government of the Republic of Tajikistan consolidation of CSOs in Tajikistan. A the border markets. The bridges also Humanitarian Aid Department of the total of five legislative changes have been facilitate exchange of ideas and serve to European Commission (ECHO) introduced; changes include legislation strengthen relations across the border. International Fund for Agriculture Aga Khan Foundation Development (IFAD) aimed at regulating government support to They represent an important step towards Master Card Foundation (MCF) CSOs and allowing VOs and SUDVOs to achieving peace and stability in the region. Netherlands Organization for International The Aga Khan Foundation (AKF) disciplined application of best practices financial and technical resources. As part Development Co-operation (Novib) officially register with the government. has been implementing innovative over periods that may be longer than of its efforts, AKF operates an internal Organization of Petroleum Exporting Other cross-border collaborations include Countries (OPEC) development solutions in Tajikistan since typical funding cycles. evaluation unit that conducts research Swedish International Development Agency an irrigation project launched in 2010, Regional Infrastructure 1993. Central to its efforts have been studies for the Foundation, stakeholders (SIDA) which enables the Tajik village of Rogak to Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation inclusive, community-based development The Foundation’s activity in Tajikistan and partners in order to review the impact Since 2002, the Foundation has built obtain water from Afghanistan, while the (SDC) approaches in which local organisations began in 1993, when it mounted a of its activities and inform future efforts. The Christensen Fund (TCF) four bridges over the Pyanj River at Tem, Zingiryo village on the Afghan side obtains identify, prioritise and implement projects response to the acute food shortages in the United States Agency for International Darwaz, Ishkashim and Vanj, which now water from Tajikistan. In the power supply Development (USAID) with the Foundation’s assistance. Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast United States Department of Agriculture connect remote regions of Tajikistan and arena, the PamirEnergy company, in Rural Development (GBAO) resulting from the collapse of the (USDA) Afghanistan. A fifth bridge in Shorobod is 2008, opened a cross-border transmission World Bank (WB) The Foundation’s programmes in Tajikistan Soviet Union and the ensuing civil war. AKF’s MSDSP has worked to mobilise currently under construction. Rehabilitation line between Tajikistan and Afghanistan, focus on four areas: rural development, and organise local community-based efforts have significantly increased enabling it to share its surplus power during health, education and civil society. Its Since then, AKF has begun making organisations (CBOs) throughout Tajikistan the capacity and safety of the bridges. the summer months with the Shugnan initiatives address cross-cutting concerns grants and implementing projects with and provide support to strengthen their Contact Information These construction efforts have been district of Afghanistan. In 2010, the line Aga Khan Foundation Tajikistan including gender equality, pluralism, partners. When an appropriate partner capacity to identify, prioritise and realize accompanied by the building of border was extended to serve an additional 500 137 Rudaki Avenue human resource development and public does not exist, the Foundation will create their development agendas in GBAO, Tojikmatlubot, 4th Floor posts and cross-border markets to facilitate households, bringing the total to more than awareness of development issues. Through one. To address rural development issues Khatlon and Rasht Valley. 734003 Dushanbe, Tajikistan the flow of trade. 1,000 households. Tel: +992 37 2247650/2218001 its activities in all four regions of Tajikistan, in Tajikistan, in 1998 AKF founded the Website: www.akf.org AKF is reaching over one million people. Mountain Societies Development Support To date, MSDSP has supported over 1,400 For relevant Afghan communities, The Foundation has also contributed Programme (MSDSP). MSDSP has evolved Village Organisations (VOs) and nearly Aga Khan Development Network the bridges have provided better food towards various other infrastructure projects from a humanitarian relief programme 100 Social Unions for the Development of 8-10 Gani Abdullo Street security, offered access to critical within Tajikistan, including the construction Overview of Activities 734003 Dushanbe, Tajikistan into one of the most respected local non- Village Organisations (SUDVOs) totalling Tel: +992 37 2246500/2246508 social services such as emergency of roads that serve remote regions such as One hallmark of AKF’s approach in governmental organisations in the country. more than 140,000 village members – of Website: www.akdn.org medical treatment at Tajik hospitals, and the Kulma pass, Khorog and Darwaz. Tajikistan is its long-term commitment. The Foundation also plays a catalytic which over 40 percent are women. It is It has been the Foundation’s experience role in the activities of other Aga Khan also working increasingly with sub-district The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of private development agencies working to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities, especially in Africa and Asia. Its agencies work in over 30 countries for the common that quick fixes rarely take root; rather, Development Network (AKDN) agencies and district authorities to strengthen the good of all citizens, regardless of their gender, origin or religion. Its underlying impulse is the ethic of compassion for the vulnerable in society. sustainable development requires and partners committed to development capacity of local governmental institutions. careful, culturally appropriate and in Tajikistan, including the mobilisation of MSDSP seeks to increase rural incomes © AKDN, January 2012. Information contained in this brief can be reproduced with acknowledgement to AKDN. Photo credits: AKDN/Jean-Luc Ray

AGA KHAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK www.akdn.org supports a decentralised curriculum fund was developed in GBAO in 1997 “It has always seemed to me that In an effort to increase rural development process at the national level. to ensure the availability of high quality, bridges are among the most powerful incomes, the Mountain Societies In addition, AKF has piloted a community- low-cost, essential pharmaceuticals. and important symbols in human Development Support Programme based Early Childhood Development Funds generated from sales of medicines society - symbols of connection, of has assisted 15 families in (ECD) model, which it plans to expand are used for procurement, delivery and across Tajikistan. The model has been distribution of additional medicines. The cooperation and of harmony. the construction and use of approved by the Ministry of Education as fund will likely be self-sustaining in the greenhouses in order to improve an alternative to the current ECD model. near future. In the recent past, in this region, agricultural output. With the support of UNICEF, IPD is scaling bridges have opened at Tem, up activities in Rasht, Khatlon and Sughd AKF started the Cross-Border Health Darwaz and Langar. Like them, regions. Over the last two years, 65 Project in 2009 to leverage regional the Ishkashim Bridge is a concrete community-based ECD centres have been resources to create greater access to expression of cooperation AKF provides scholarships each year and employment by fostering development of teachers and students, and support established, which provide access for healthcare services for rural Afghan 1,450 children to ECD services. communities bordering Tajikistan. The amongst the Governments of to outstanding students in Tajikistan of micro and small-enterprises, facilitating national educational reforms. Activities initiative has enabled treatment of over Tajikistan and Afghanistan and for undergraduate and graduate their access to capital and business include strengthening local educational development services and promoting institutions, engaging in dialogues with the 2,800 Afghan patients by Tajik health the Aga Khan Development studies. The AKF International Health cross-border trade. Through its Centres Government to influence education policy, professionals, including over 500 surgeries Network. It symbolizes our common Scholarship Programme has enabled In health care, AKF supports the work during routine and emergency visits. for Business Development Services, and enhancing the quality of children’s determination to help open up the over 50 Tajik students to pursue of Aga Khan Health Services (AKHS) MSDSP supports entrepreneurs with a learning opportunities. region to new development and graduate studies at institutions of wide range of integrated offerings, from by mobilizing resources and providing Moving forward, AKF will work closely technical assistance. The Foundation with other AKDN agencies to address improved prosperity. high calibre in Central Asia, Europe technical training on production to advice AKF has recognised the need for a aims to improve the health status of continued and burgeoning health problems and North America. on marketing, business regulations and strong partner that can offer continuous financial services. assistance and development opportunities communities in GBAO, select districts including under-nutrition, substance abuse Links and meeting places created to teachers. In this vein, it works of Khatlon and bordering areas of the and migrant health issues. Furthermore, by the bridges do more than simply The Foundation is also focusing Innovative approaches to natural resource closely with the Institute of Professional Badakhshan region of Afghanistan. In regional solutions to increase access to facilitate commerce. We exchange on early childhood development this vein, AKF seeks to improve primary quality healthcare services are currently management are also encouraged by Development (IPD), an agency of the questions and answers. We trade in (ECD), bringing together various healthcare services with a particular being explored, including eHealth, creation promoting community-based resource Government of Tajikistan. Tajikistan’s products, but we can also trade in AKDN agencies and partners management systems, facilitating access Ministry of Education has chosen to focus on Family Medicine. It promotes of a regional diagnostic and imaging centre, clinical excellence through trainings and and improvement of nursing education. ideas. Communities on each side to collaboratively enhance ECD to appropriate technologies and inputs, incorporate into its national teacher establishment of Clinical Excellence of the border will know one another programming. AKF, AKHS and improving the conditions for market- training programmes many methodologies based agriculture and processing. MSDSP developed by IPD in partnership with AKF. Centres, which ensure regular access to better and be better able to help one and IPD, in particular, are jointly Civil Society has also developed and demonstrated a updated medical literature. Clinical audits another grow, prosper and share the developing modules for training are also being piloted as a method of Launched in 2006, AKF’s Civil Society wide range of habitat improvement and IPD is implementing the Whole School lessons of life.” caregivers on child rearing energy efficient technologies including Improvement Programme in GBAO measuring changes in clinical practices. Programme aims to strengthen the civil practices to ensure the healthy thermal insulation and fuel-efficient to improve the region’s primary and society organisations (CSOs) by facilitating In 2009, AKF initiated a Community-Based their establishment and building their — Remarks by His Highness the development of young children. stoves. To protect investments in the built secondary educational systems. Activities Aga Khan at the Inauguration of environment, MSDSP is an implementing include mentoring initiatives, trainings Health Financing Scheme in pilot VOs capacity to improve the quality of life of partner of the Disaster Risk Management to introduce teachers and school as a mechanism to increase financial communities. The programme also seeks the Ishkashim Bridge. Ishkashim, Initiative (DRMI) whereby it is the administrators to innovative methods, access to health care. By mid-2011, almost to increase the knowledge and appreciation Tajikistan, 31 October 2006 leading agency for structural safety and establishment of over 110 Learning US$ 10,000 had been collected, and 91 of good governance in society. Since engineering. Resource Centres and community patients had benefited from the scheme. 2008, over 160 CSOs have completed engagement through building capacities Moreover, a revolving pharmaceutical the process of self-assessment and MSDSP supports the construction and of over 300 Parent Committees. To date, rehabilitation of economic and social 312 schools have benefited from these infrastructure projects, which are now initiatives, including over 5,400 teachers, largely implemented and maintained 500 school administrators, 30 district In collaboration with the Institute by the communities themselves under education officials, 46,000 students and for Professional Development, the consideration of environmental aspects an additional 600 Afghan teachers as and energy efficiency. Over 2,500 small part of the cross-border programme. To Foundation has designed national and medium sized infrastructure projects improve access to reading materials, 42 Curriculum Enrichment Frameworks have been finalized for a total investment mini-libraries were established in remote that have been endorsed by of nearly US$ 16 million. areas enabling parents to borrow books to Tajikistan’s Ministry of Education for read to their children at home. use in schools nationwide. Education The Foundation, through IPD, also Cover Photo: The Vanj Bridge is one of four between Afghanistan and Tajikistan AKF’s activities in the education sector contributes to the development of constructed by AKF. seek to improve the skills and knowledge textbooks for primary schools and