Empovered lives. Resilient nations. N A T I O N A L H U M A N D E V E L O P M E N T R E P O R T 2 0 1 4 Tajikistan: access to resources for human development DUSHANBE - 2015 International Labour Organization The United Nations Population Fund The International Labour Organization (UNFPA) is an international institution (ILO) is a UN specialized agency which on development issues and delivering seeks the promotion of social justice a world where every pregnancy is wanted, and internationally recognized human every childbirth is safe and every young and labour rights. person’s potential is fulfilled. The report has been prepared in collaboration with a group of local consultants. The contents of this publication are not copyrighted. They may be reproduced partially or fully without the prior consent of UNDP or the Republic of Tajikistan. However, the report authors will appreciate if reference is made to this publication The views and opinions expressed in this report belong to the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official position of UNDP, UNFPA and ILO. Dear reader, You are welcome to the latest National Human Development Report called Tajikistan: Access to Human Development prepared with the support of the UN Development Program and in close cooperation with the government, civil society and international organizations in Tajikistan. It is remarkable that this Report is presented during the final year of the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan for the period of 2015, which was elaborated in consideration of the Millennium Development Goals for 2015 as well as the Living Standards Improvement Strategy of Tajikistan for 2013-2015. It should be noted that the consolidation of resources and permanent monitoring of the implementation of the said strategic documents on the part of the President of Tajikistan, H.E. Mr. Emomali Rahmon, and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan allowed for significant poverty reduction and provided a fertile ground for the emergence and development of the middle class. Since the first years of independence, the republic’s social policy focused on human development, equalization of economic opportunities, and improving people’s access to modern education, healthcare, social security and social service has been one of the priorities of national development. As a result, the country has made great progress in this regard - poverty has been steadily reduced, and access to education, healthcare and social security services has been improving. This Report deals with the assessment of human development in the country, changes of the demographic situation and on the labour market, as well as the quantitative and qualitative measurement of access to the key resources of the Republic of Tajikistan (institutional, economic, social and natural). The Report also provides an assessment of the recent trends in the social evolution of the country, linking national development with human development indicators. The authors of the Report note that access to economic resources ensures human security encompassing both energy and food security, which eventually exerts a decisive influence on the development of the country. Certainly, the above said does not in any way undermine the importance or the significance of other types of security (transport, information, environmental and other types of security). This Report for the first time presents a comprehensive analysis of the primary economic resources available in Tajikistan, and based on this analysis high-priority resources of great importance for the improved well-being of the population are identified. With that special attention is given to the problems of quality and access to these resources and their efficient use for development purposes. It is worth mentioning that in the process of the preparation of this Report regional studies in the context of human development were continued with the support from all levels of the government, scholars, experts, and civil society organizations, and a textbook ‘‘Human Development’’ for higher educational establishments was published, which effectively allows a broader access of the population of Tajikistan to information and educational services. Naturally, there is still a lot to be done to ensure quality access to various government services, but we are determined to do everything in our power so that steady economic development is more and more reflected in the sustainable growth of prosperity of our people. And this, in our opinion, will be a platform for the elaboration and implementation of the future development strategies of Tajikistan with due regard for the principles of human development. I can positively state that the National Human Development Report Tajikistan: Access to Resources for Human Development containing quite a lot of valuable analytical information will be of use for a broad range of readers, staff of governing bodies of various levels, as well as the civil society of the republic. Sincerely, Nematullo Khikmatullozoda Minister of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan Dushanbe, February 2015 TAJIKISTAN: ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT 3 Dear Reader! The National Human Development Report ‘Tajikistan: Access to Resources for Human Devel- opment’ builds on the tradition of reviewing the key factors contributing to country’s actual de- velopment progress in the socio-economic area. This report provides detailed description and analysis of the most recent trends in human devel- opment and links the access to resources with human development indicators in the context of the key strategies coming to the end in 2015, such as: Millennium Development Goals, National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan and the Living Standards Improvement Strategy of Tajikistan for 2013-2015. In view of this, the Report gives a short review of the exist-ing resource capacity of the Republic of Tajikistan. Difficult demographic situation and problems in the national labour market, given the high un- employment rates and external labour migration, have a direct impact on the economic growth and access to the established potential. Access to economic resources is of utmost importance for development in general, and it is especially important in the context of the process of human development. The Report includes a comprehensive analysis of the basic economic resources of Tajikistan and highlights those having primary importance for the improvement of the well-being of the population of Tajikistan. While doing so, special attention is given to the problems of access to basic resources and their efficient use for sustainable development. Yet, in the current situation of the increasingly complicated and intensive global economic pro- cesses, the role of governance needs to be enhanced, and it is especially notable during the reforms and crises. Therefore, the review of the public services as well as the major issues and challenges in this regard are of added value. Tajikistan is successfully overcoming the constraints of the existing transportation problems. At the same time, additional resources, including at intra-regional level, need to be mobilized to ensure energy and food security. Currently there is an increasing global understanding of the need of assuring economic progress through social development, based on an individual’s potential, accumulation of human capital and its utilization for economic growth. With that, the assessment of human development in the context of access to social services helps to highlight not only the ‘‘progress’’ in provision of equal opportunities, but also to assess the vulnerability level of the socially disadvantaged population groups caused by the limited access to having stable incomes, as well as education and health services. Given the link between human development and the environment, the Report also includes a section on the access to natural resources. As it is the case in the rest of the world, the concept of sustainable development is gaining wider recognition in the country, while the issues of green development are being prioritised. Thus, Tajikistan was able to maintain a steady growth of the Human Development Index value, which in 2014 (at year-end 2013) was 0.607 enabling the country to move one step up as com- pared to 2012 and rank 133rd in the world rating. During the preparation of previous National Reports the enhancement of partnerships between the United Nations Development Program and the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan were noted, and, first and foremost, with the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, as well as other ministries and agencies, the local authorities and the civil society. Of special consideration is the fact that almost all other UN agencies, especially the UN Population Fund and the International Labour Organization were also actively involved in and provided substantive contributions to the preparation of the present Report. I am sure that the successful multilateral partnership will continue and strengthen in the future. I am convinced that the Report will be of use for the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, the civil society and the donor community and will be used as an evidence base in effectively dealing with the major challenges hampering human development in Tajikistan. Alexander Zuev, UN Resident Coordinator & UNDP Resident Representative in Tajikistan Dushanbe, February, 2015 4 NATIONAL HUMAN DEVELOPMENT REPORT 2014 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT