HUMAN Developmenteffectiveness
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENT RESULTS DEVELOPMENT OF ASSESSMENT ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENT RESULTSRepuBlic of EVALUATION OF UNDP CONTRIBUTION TAJIKistan T A J I effectiveness K HUMAN DEVELOPMENT COORDINATI istan efficiency COORDINATION AND PARTNERSHIP sust NATIONAL OWNERSHIP relevance MANAGING FOR sustainability MANAGING FOR RESULTS responsivene AN DEVELOPMENT responsiveness NATIONAL OWN NATIONAL OWNERSHIP effectiveness COORDINATI United Nations Development Programme efficiency sust Evaluation Office COORDINATION AND PARTNERSHIP One United Nations Plaza New York, NY 10017, USA NATIONAL OWNERSHIP relevance MANAGING FOR Tel. (212) 906 5059, Fax (212) 906 6008 Internet: http://www.undp.org/eo sustainability MANAGING FOR RESULTS responsivene HUMAN DEVELOPMENT effectiveness COORDINATI ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENT RESULTS REPUBLIC OF EVALUATION OF UNDP CONTRIBUTION TAJIKISTAN Evaluation Office, May 2009 United Nations Development Programme REPORTS PUBLISHED UNDER THE ADR SERIES Afghanistan Jamaica Argentina Jordan Bangladesh Lao PDR Barbados Montenegro Benin Mozambique Bhutan Nicaragua Bosnia & Herzegovina Nigeria Botswana Rwanda Bulgaria Serbia China Sudan Colombia Syrian Arab Republic Republic of the Congo Tajikistan Egypt Ukraine Ethiopia Uzbekistan Guatemala Turkey Honduras Viet Nam India Yemen EVALUATION TEAM Team Leader Leif Manger Team Members Olga Lukashenko Rakhmat Khakulov Usufovich EO Task Manager and Team Member Vijayalakshmi Vadivelu EO Research Assistant Nidhi Sharma ASSESSMENT OF DEVELOPMENT RESULTS: REPUBLIC OF TAJIKISTAN Copyright © UNDP 2009, all rights reserved. Manufactured in the United States of America. Printed on recycled paper. The analysis and recommendations of this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Development Programme, its Executive Board or the United Nations Member States. This is an independent publication by UNDP and reflects the views of its authors. Design: Green Communication Design inc. FOREWORD The Evaluation Office of the United Nations maternal and child mortality and the number of Development Programme (UNDP) conducts infectious diseases, and enhance social and gender independent evaluations of UNDP contribu- equality. While there has been an overall decline tions to development results through its country in poverty level, the percentage of the population programmes. These evaluations are titled living below the poverty line remains high. The Assessments of Development Results (ADRs). civil war contributed to the deterioration of the An ADR evaluates the relevance and strategic physical infrastructure and an already weak institu- positioning of UNDP support and contribu- tional capacity. A landlocked country, Tajikistan tions to the country’s development over a period also remains highly dependent on its rich natural of time. The purpose of the ADR is to generate resources. Recurrent humanitarian crises have lessons for future country-level programming and slowed down development and diverted the focus to contribute to the effectiveness and substantive from long-term development issues. accountability of UNDP. This report presents the findings and recommendations of an ADR The evaluation looked at the range of support that was conducted in Tajikistan with a scope provided by UNDP to Tajikistan in the areas of covering the period of two country cooperation poverty reduction, democratic governance, reducing frameworks (2001 to 2008). More specifically, vulnerability to infectious diseases, and disaster the ADR provides forward-looking recommen- management. The evaluation found that, in the dations to assist the UNDP country office and its context of transition, UNDP quickly established partners in formulating an action plan for the next itself as a capable and reliable implementing agency programming cycle (2010-2014). of the government and donors. The government considers UNDP as a trusted partner. The evalua- The report examines the context in which UNDP tion found that UNDP has contributed to policy operates in Tajikistan, mainly with regard to development and dialogue, and played a key role in economic and human development. Following the incorporating the MDGs and pro-poor concerns national independence and civil war, Tajikistan into national development planning. UNDP support faced formidable challenges in political restruc- to infrastructure development has been important in turing, reorganizing the economy, and responding addressing social service needs in rural areas. to the socio-economic needs of the people. The government has been pursuing institutional Through support to data systems, strategic research reforms for the past decade, and there have been on key issues and other initiatives, UNDP has measures towards macro-economic stabilization, contributed to capacity development in the govern- restructuring financial systems, privatization and ment to carry out high-level policy. The contribution controlling inflation. Tajikistan is one of the first of UNDP in developing disaster management pilot countries of the Millennium Project and policy was found to be noteworthy. However, became a signatory to the Millennium Development there are still areas where UNDP can assist the Goals (MDGs) in 2000. government, such as in the field of governance— strengthening coordination mechanisms in social The international community, including United service sectors, particularly the health sector and Nations organizations active in Tajikistan, played disaster management. In the areas of environment an important role in reconstruction and transi- and sustainable development, more could be done tion to development. The development strategy to incorporate related issues into policy dialogue pursued by the government is aimed to lower the in order to optimize the sustainable use of natural poverty and extreme poverty rates, create employ- resources for the benefit of the country. ment, increase school enrolment levels, reduce FOREWORD iii One of the key roles UNDP has played in Tajikistan led by Resident Representative Michael Jones. is supporting the government in managing the I would like to offer special thanks to Farid Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Garakhanov, Deputy Resident Representative, Malaria. This has contributed to reducing the who acted as the country office focal point for incidence of malaria and there are important the evaluation and Rastilav Verbrensky, the ongoing efforts to minimize the incidence of Country Director. I wish to thank Sukhrob tuberculosis and risk of HIV/AIDS. However, Khoshmukhamedov, Assistant Resident the evaluation found that UNDP can play a more Representative, and Tahmina Anvarova for proactive role in enhancing government capaci- organizing the various missions for the ADR. ties in the health sector and in coordinating I would also like to thank the UNDP Regional donor contributions. As governance reforms and Bureau for Europe and the Commonwealth of efficient management of environment and energy Independent States, particularly Kori Udovicki, will continue to be an essential precondition for Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the sustainable development, the evaluation recognizes Bureau, Christine Roth, Director, Central Asia, the importance of the continued engagement of Sanjar Tursaliev and Yulia Oleinik for their UNDP in priority areas where enhanced national efficient support. capacity and ownership of development processes can lead to significant results. Most importantly, this report would not have been possible without the strong interest and support To maximize results in areas central to the UNDP of numerous officials from the Government of mandate and build on its comparative advantages, Tajikistan at both the national and local levels. the evaluation recommends that UNDP emphasize I would like to offer sincere thanks to Sukhrob policy support and strengthening government Sharipov, Head of the Strategic Research Centre systems. UNDP should be more responsive to under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan; governance needs in the country and coordinate Abdugaffor Rakhmonov, First Deputy Chairman, with other agencies working in the area. It is also State Committee on Investment and State Property recommended that UNDP make an assessment Management; Muzaffar Khuseynov, Head of of the role it can play in energy, environment and Department of International Organizations, climate change concerns in Tajikistan. Sufficient Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Azamjon Mirzoev, measures need to be taken to integrate environ- Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health; and Yahyo ment and climate change issues in the poverty and Vahobov, Head of the Department of International disaster management interventions. Organizations, Ministry of Labour and Social A number of people contributed to the evalua- Protection of the Population. The team is also tion, particularly the evaluation team composed indebted to the representatives of civil society of Leif Manger, Team Leader; Olga Lukashenko and non-governmental organizations, the donor International Evaluator; Rahamat Khakulov community of Tajikistan, and the United Nations Usufovich, National Consultant; and Evaluation Country Team, who generously gave their time Office Task Manager and Team Member and frank views. Vijayalakshmi Vadivelu. I would also like to I hope that the findings and recommendations extend my appreciation to Johannes Linn and of this report will assist UNDP in responding Yasemin Aysan, the external reviewers of the to the country’s challenges and