Promotion of Social and Economic Opportunities for Women and Youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

With ﬁnancial support from the Russian Federation

FINAL REPORT

July 2017 – December 2019

PROMOTION OF SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR WOMEN AND YOUTH IN ZERAFSHAN VALLEY OF TAJIKISTAN

United Nations Development Programme Tajikistan Ayni Street 39, Dushanbe, Tajikistan +992 44 600 5600

@UNDP_Tajikistan / @UNDPTJK / https://www.tj.undp.org

UNDP Tajikistan RUSSIAN FEDERATION - UNDP TRUST FUND FOR DEVELOPMENT

FINAL REPORT

Project title: Project budget: "Promotion of social and economic Total: 1,700,000 USD opportunities for women and youth in TFD: 1,500,000 USD Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan" UNDP: 200,000 USD

Project ID: Implementing partner: 00092983 United Nations Development Programme, Tajikistan

Project start and end date: Period covered in this report: July 2017 – December 2019 July 2017 – December 2019

Date of the last Project Board meeting: 31 January 2020

SDGs supported by the project: Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS

AEC Adult Education Centre AWP Annual Work Plan IC Individual Consultant ILO International Labour Organization CIS Commonwealth of Independent States SDGs Sustainable Development Goals PO Public Organization MCF Micro-Credit Fund SMEs Small and medium enterprises ToT Training of Trainers TVET Technical and Vocational Education and Training RTF Russian Trust Fund for Development VTL Vocational Training Lyceum GAC Grant Appraisal Committee

04 TABLE OF CONTENT

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7

RESULTS 11

PROJECT RISKS 31

LESSONS LEARNT 33

FUTURE PLANS 35

PARTNERSHIPS 36

PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION 38

COMMUNICATION AND VISIBILITY 40

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT 41

ANNEXES 42

FINAL REPORT |05 Involving women into beekeeping and establishment of Women Initiative Group in Shamtuch Jamoat @UNDP Tajikistan EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The project on “Promoon of social and Economic empowerment, social services economic opportunies for women and quality improvement and support in jobs youth in Zeravshan Valley of Tajikistan” creaon at the local level were endorsed aimed at ensuring implementaon of local through concerted acons with local priories, which, in their turn, contributed to authories and communies, building addressing naonal priories linked with the effecve partnerships with naonal and commitments of the Republic of Tajikistan in internaonal stakeholders, and aracon of achieving Sustainable Development Goals relevant experse from Russia and CIS (SDGs). The project envisaged integrated countries. 'Hard' components of the project aimed at strengthening local resource base rural development approach to address of social service providers in remote areas, economic and social disparies of the most rehabilitaon and equipping of local vulnerable populaon of Ayni and Kuhistoni healthcare and educaon facilies and Mastchoh districts of Tajikistan. The project's improving access to social services for target intervenons were focused on populaon. demonstraon and promoon of efficient integrated local development soluons to The reporng period covers the whole improve livelihoods and socio-economic project implementaon cycle and outlines opportunies for women and youth through acvies implemented during July 2017 to vocaonal educaon and strengthened December 2019. Overall implementaon of business skills, beer access to educaon the project acvies was successfully and health services, effecvely addressing completed in accordance with the approved labor migraon issues and migaon of its work plan of the project document with the social consequences. following results to be highlighted:

FINAL REPORT |07 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

The project

DIRECTLY BENEFITTED people including 25,000 4,771 women, 10,062 from 5 jamoats of target districts while INDIRECTLY the project befitted benefitted from INCREASED INCOME the population of two districts that are AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES through establishment of people including 103,400 52,734 women. 15 ECONOMIC As a result of project interventions INFRASTRUCTURES. people 3,987 (including 2,003 women) from target districts have an IMPROVED ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES Among them are two mini-workshops, two bakeries, one refrigerated fruit and health facilities through 4 newly built and vegetable storage, one mini-workshop for 579 people (including 307 women) access processing and packaging of dairy products; to quality education through 1 rehabilitated and 2 newly built educational facilities; 18,000 people (including 11,000 women 2,300 and young girls) were covered by people (45% women) AWARENESS RAISING AND were covered by OUTREACH ACTIVITIES on the social consequences of unorganized “HEALTH CARAVAN” and low-qualified migration carried out in engaging narrowly specialized experts in the two target districts. field of healthcare and legal consultations.

08 IMPROVED ACCESS 105 OF YOUNG GIRLS TO people (including 72 women) VOCATIONAL TRAININGS gained employment with another 100 people benefitting from SEASONAL EMPLOYMENT through the renovated and OPPORTUNITIES equipped dormitory of Vocational Technical Lyceum resulted in 4 times enrolment increase by CAPACITY women students reaching with BUILDING enrolled in a TRAININGS BENEFITTING 127three-year period. TECHNICAL 372 people including: local government officials ASSISTANCE on efficiently migration 72 management & employment; PROVIDED

rural young people 250 on business development through establishment local female-headed businesses of agri-tool bank and procurement of on entrepreneurship, marketing, 4 AGRICULTURE MACHINERY 50 ﬁnance & business development in Urmetan village and some other jamoats

FINAL REPORT |09 Enhanced access of girls to education@UNDP Tajikistan RESULTS Output 1: Increased income and job opportunies for rural women and youth through business skills development, vocaonal trainings and access to ﬁnance

The project on “Promoon of social and implementaon of above-menoned economic opportunies for women and iniaves. All the envisaged acvies were youth in Zeravshan Valley of Tajikistan” executed during the period of October 2017 throughout its implementaon made efforts to August 2018 (Annex 10.3 – Business to movate and encourage rural women and School “Synergy Tajikistan” report). Prior to youth to explore new innovave business execung training courses, the ideas and foster a culture of innovaon that implemenng partner conducted needs is appropriate to the local context. The assessment among 408 target groups important role of business educaon in (including 172 women) of two districts on promong entrepreneurial atudes in the business development. Based on the results region was to turn ideas into acon and help of the needs assessment, it was revealed young people and women to be more that target groups priorized learning the creave and self-confident in new basics of wring a business plan, business businesses they undertake. model, budget and financial reporng, markeng, creang a logo, branding and To support the development of local promong a new product. In January 2018, businesses through start-up trainings, educaonal modules were designed business consultaons, market research and considering the needs and requirements of analysis to idenfy and develop innovave the target groups. Upon compleon, of all products for the Ayni and Kuhistoni the acvies, parcipants received the Mastchoh districts, the project selected opportunity for further mentoring for the Business School “Synergy Tajikistan” for development of their business ideas.

FINAL REPORT |11 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

Capacity building on small and medium business development @UNDP Tajikistan

In accordance with the agreed acon plan, With the aim to enhance the potenal of the BUSINESS SCHOOL DELIVERED two-day parcipants and build their capacies in exploring available opportunies with the COMPREHENSIVE perspecve to expand and sustain the START-UP TRAINING FOR growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), four-day training course on small and medium business development for exisng women-headed businesses was conducted for 45 women from Ayni and 210 Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts. young people (including 79 women) from 29 villages of Kuhistoni Mastchoh and Ayni districts.

12 “The training was very effective in terms of deﬁning and elaboration of business idea considering the local context. During 4 days I was able to identify an idea and develop a business plan on establishment of dry fruits processing and packaging workshop” notes Gulrukhsor Zarifova from Ayni village.

The parcipants of the course had an opportunity to improve their knowledge on I have more than 30 years of experience label design, brand development, markeng on trade and know my work good enough. and promoon of their products. All these years I thought of expansion but Furthermore, consultaons were provided due to lack of additional resources could on improvement of producon technology, not. In 2018 I have received a small loan markeng, financial accounng, increasing from “Rushdi Vodii Zarafshon” and I am organizaonal sustainability and networking satisfied with the result since the number to gain beer edge on the local and regional of my clients and income has increased. Now I have an expanded set of materials markets, and expansion of customer base in supplied from Dushanbe and Khujand. the external markets, etc. At the end of the training course, with the support of the business experts of the Synergy Tajikistan, in total 45 business ideas were developed. Assessment of the local businesses and opportunies for doing business in the It should be noted that the implemenng target districts were accomplished and partner produced possible perspecve areas to be covered by micro-capital grants were idenfied with SHORT terms of reference for the micro-capital VIDEOS grants designed and announced in 2018. As 5 a result of this iniave, 14 proposals were received which were reviewed by UNDP's on doing business, youth entrepreneurship Grant Appraisal Commiee (GAC) and and expert opinions which were shared selected the three below public through social networks. All developed videos organizaons for implementaon of income were transmied by UNDP and widely generaon acvies among youth and publicized on social networks (Annex 10.14 – women: Media coverage links).

FINAL REPORT |13 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

Public Organizaon “Zarafshon” received a “Dar-Dar” community-based organizaon grant to purchase and distribute was supported with the establishment of a training workshop for weaving of adras and 85 honey-bee atlas – tradional, naonal fabric. At the hives among me of the reporng

WOMEN-HEADED women received 17 HOUSEHOLDS 35 certificates to implement a project “Involving women following the compleon of trainings on into beekeeping and establishment of adras weaving. Currently, 20 of these women Women Iniave Group in Shamtuch Jamoat have set up their home-based enterprises. of Ayni district”. Both theorecal and hands- The remaining 15 have connued working in on trainings were conducted by PO the workshop as apprences to the trainer “Zarafshon” experts for beneficiaries. During and receive wages and spends based harvesng season, each beneficiary family on their daily works. received, on average, 50 kilograms of pure honey.

“Varz” Mahalla Commiee received FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO ESTABLISH A BAKERY WORKSHOP and currently employs 7 women, who are engaged in baking, cooking and producon of culinary goods.

14 To promote economic empowerment of The loans were preferenal and depended women and youth in Zerafshan valley, in on the nature of loans issued for the 2018, the project provided technical and borrower with a grace period of up to 9 financial support to local small and medium months was granted in order to help farmers enterprises in Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh use a significant period and get the districts. In parcular, UNDP organized GAC maximum benefit. These types of loans are under the project to evaluate grant proposals welcomed by both farmers and for creang condions for employment and entrepreneurs, as they helped recipients self-employment for women and youth and immediately to launch or their business and provided assistance via grant modality to expand. Micro-Credit Fund (MCF) “Rushdi Vodii Zarafshon” On 19 November 2018, the Internaonal which issued Women's Entrepreneurship Day was marked 31 SMALL jointly with 45 young women to raise awareness on entrepreneurial opportunies LOANS for local women (Annex 10.4 – “Internaonal Women's Entrepreneurship FOR LOCAL Day” report). ENTREPRENEURS (13 for women and 18 for men) with 12% annual interest rate for development of tourism sector (establishment of homestays), sewing workshops, producon and processing of various products, agriculture, and trade sectors.

FINAL REPORT |15 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

promong new small medium enterprises (SME's) owned by marginalized group of populaon, women and youth in parcular. In the course of project implementaon, it was envisaged to conduct rapid assessments of vocaonal educaon with focus group discussions on vocaonal skills to idenfy required addional training such as: (i) vocaonal educaon on professional skills on demand, (ii) availability and accessibility of vocaonal trainings, (iii) exisng resource base of vocaonal instuons and (iv) Master class, a plaorm for exchanging ideas and promong new enterprises @UNDP Tajikistan service providers in Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts (Annex 10.5 – Report on the results of evaluaon in professional The agenda of the event included topics educaon instuons with purpose to such as entrepreneurship, legal issues, professional skills for determining exisng opportunies for start-up addional educaonal modules). As part of businesses, discussions of new business the rapid assessment, the macroeconomic ideas with like-minded and enthusiasc environment of the country was studied with business people from other parts of the a review of the economic condion of Ayni country. Within the frame of the event, and Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts. A focus three master-classes on fruit-carving, group discussion was applied to get an in- hairstyling and food preparaon were depth understanding of youth and women's conducted for the parcipants. The master- opinion on available economic opportunies classes catered to the availability of local in their districts. Moreover, the assessment resources and unique market demand of of the trained professions at the educaonal local populaon for such goods and services instuons were conducted to idenfy the to ensure the high potenal of success when needs of the regional labor market for new embedded into acon. It is expected that professions with the parcipaon of holding such events would serve as representaves of government agencies and plaorms for exchanging ideas and professional educaonal instuons.

16 Taking into account recommendaons of the rapid assessment, the project supported the Ministry of Labor, Migraon and Employment of the Republic of Tajikistan with building the capacity of its Adult Educaon Centers (AEC) staﬀ from Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts.

In parcular, during the period of 16-20 October 2018,

instructors/teachers of the AECs under the Ministry as well as the Vocaonal Training Lyceum (VTL) of Ayni district have undergone through “Start and Improve Your Business” training of trainers (ToT) using ILO methodology. Following compleon of the ToT, the training was introduced as part of the educaonal 10 curriculums of the AECs in Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts and the VTL of Ayni district.

In general, the Adult Educaon Centers under needed inventories to the Center UNDP the Ministry is currently aiming to capacitate supported the AEC in diversifying its list of its human and technical resources through educaonal courses to make them more following three areas: (i) enhancing teaching market oriented through development of and praccal trainings on the carpentry addional educaonal curriculum on cell- (woodworking, carving etc.); (ii) culinary; and phone repairs and provision of technical (iii) producon of furniture (for businesses and support. Local instructors undergone the small industries/oﬃces). To contribute to training are delivering the course extending the technical capacity of the AEC's exisng needs knowledge to students, hence encouraging were reviewed and determined with the local youth including vulnerable populaon representaves of Ayni's AEC. In December such as rural women to explore new 2019, UNDP delivered (a) IT equipment, (b) opportunies in any area of entrepreneurial equipment for confeconary courses, (c) interest while being innovave and considering educaonal visual materials, (d) and other the local context.

FINAL REPORT |17 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

In 2018, UNDP iniated an analycal review Women and Family Affairs, and the Youth on constraints and opportunies for engaging Commiee to consider the findings of the women and youth into social and economic analycal review to embed the proposed acvies. The main findings of the review soluons into their future annual work plans were concluded based on the discussions with and programs. UNDP team on ongoing acvies under this project, conducted focus group discussions Introducon and integraon of new innovave with the parcipaon of representaves of course into educaon system of Technological the economy department, women and youth University of Tajikistan and building network sectors of the Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh among Tajik and Russian instuons was district administraons, heads of vocaonal iniated in the frame of the project. Two educaon instuons operang in the region, teachers of the University were supported in migraon and employment departments parcipaon of a ToT course on "Innovave respecvely, branches of the AEC in Ayni and economy and technological entrepreneurship" Kuhistoni Mastchoh and representaves of that took place in Moscow on during 28-31 local public organizaons. May 2018. Parcipants reviewed and discussed all the aspects of the new course in On October 2018, the findings of the review pracce, shared teaching methods with (Annex 10.6 – Analycal review on colleagues from other universies and constraints and opportunies for engaging working with technological projects. The ToT women and youth into social and economic course enabled them not only to introduce a acvies in Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh new course at their University, but also to act districts) were discussed with the as facilitators at the university project teams representaves of various sectors of local during the realizaon of innovave projects. governments, private sector, and academia As a result of this intervenon, “Innovave during a dedicated roundtable. The economy and technological entrepreneurship” parcipants of the round table have course has been introduced and adopted into acknowledged existence of arficial and non- the universies curriculum. As of December arficial barriers, constrains and available 2019, a total of 98 students completed the opportunies for engagement of women and introduced course (Annex 10.7 – Agenda of youth into social and economic acvies. the ToT for educaonal course on Recommendaons were made to the “Technological and Innovaon representaves of local departments of Entrepreneurship”).

18 From 22 to 25 July 2019, a four-day training on business planning was held for 30 women and youth who have a business idea and want to start a business in Ayni districts. The purpose of the training was to familiarize parcipants with the deﬁnion and expansion of a Business Idea, seng goals, developing a business strategy, developing business plan for its further elaboraon on the chosen business idea. As a result of this intervenon,

9 SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS With the aim to help young people to learn IDEAS WERE SUPPORTED about the latest developments on IT and AND IMPLEMENTED innovaon for further business development, the that were focused on diverse types Youth Forum “CREATIVITY AND of socio-economic development and self-employment The projects covered INNOVATION IN BUSINESS iniaves such as building a greenhouse, PROMOTION” establishment of technical and computer was organized during 17-18 October 2019. service centers, confeconary and sewing The agenda of the youth forum included workshops, opening beauty salon and two program parts: Day 1- A study tour to pharmacy etc. business companies and producon workshops that apply innovave “I provide computer services from home technologies and new approaches to work and plan to establish a technical and with clients in their daily acvies and have computer service center in the village. a reputaon of successful companies; Day 2 During this training I elaborated my of the Forum, allowed 40 people (including business plan and learned ways of presenting the idea to investor” - 30% women and girls) to familiarize mentioned Munisa Jumaeva from themselves with successful examples of Kuhistoni Mastchoh start-up business in Tajikistan.

FINAL REPORT |19 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

Furthermore, 50 women entrepreneurs who Responding to the demand of local populaon wanted to start their own businesses took part through Varz Mahalla Commiee it was decided at the Regional Conference “Women and to provide support in procurement of equipment Entrepreneurship: Challenges and and goods for expansion of confeconary Opportunies” on December 2019. The workshop in Ayni district. As a result of this parcipants of the conference got acquainted iniave 5 PERMANENT JOBS WERE CREATED with examples of successful business run by including 4 jobs for young women. women, learned about exisng opportunies and measures to support women's entrepreneurship in Tajikistan. During the Producon of handicras training sessions, the conference parcipants in established homestay under the mentorship of business trainers guesthouse @UNDP Tajikistan discussed topics the following topics:

1) “Tax legislaon. Registraon of entrepreneurial business”; 2) Loans: Interest rates; 3) Opportunies for women entrepreneurs in Tajikistan (grants and so loans); 4) Financial planning: accounng for income and expenses. To promote tourism development in remote and mountainous villages of Ayni district, UNDP announced a Call for Proposals as a result of which Public Organizaon (PO) “Zarafshon Tourism Development Associaon” was selected to implement a sub-project. The project acvies included: building capacies of private homestay owners, diversiﬁcaon of products and services oﬀered to foreign and domesc tourists, trainings in management of homestays, hotels and hostels, development of new handicra Study tour to Khujand city to share experience products adapted for tourists' demands, such as of successful businesses @UNDP Tajikistan handbags, hand-made carpets and souvenirs.

20 Implementaon of the sub-project resulted in autumn season. Seasonally, at least 40 women the establishment of one homestay which is using the mini workshop significantly improved equipped with basic amenies and comfortable their livelihoods through the sale of beer to receive guests/tourists. Besides quality, properly dried and packaged fruits. Their accommodaon services, the guesthouse offers product has a substanally improved quality as a visitors different services such as trekking guide result of using proper drying and packaging service, hands-on master classes in making equipment, giving them addional value and various souvenirs, carpets and handbags. The comparave advantage in the local and regional homestay guesthouse created fixed jobs for 3 markets. During the summer season in 2019, at women, and 6 more women are permanently least 10,000 kg of various fruits were processed engaged in producon of carpets and local in the drying facility resulng in 2,500 kg of dried souvenir products. Although Project was and packaged fruits. Through advisory support of completed on December 2019, the homestay UNDP, it became possible for PO to improve guesthouse connues to expand its funcons sales capacity and parcipate at the number of beyond the menoned period and, among trade fairs, including in the Sughd-2019, Women others, will serve as a training base for other Entrepreneurship Forum in Dushanbe in 2019 local tourism service providers. and find its regular customers throughout the country. To encourage women entrepreneurship and create employment opportunies for women in Veshab village of Ayni district, UNDP facilitated procurement and delivery of construcon materials with the amount of USD 40,000 for the local PO “Zarafshon” (Annex 10.8 – Minutes of community consultaons for selecon of the project). Two separate fruit drying rooms and a mini-workshop for packaging of good-quality dried products were constructed. The members of the PO have started using the new facilies to dry apricots, peaches, berries and various herbs Dry fruit processing grown in their gardens in summer period. The master class for women in Veshab village, and members of the local women PO “Zarafshon” began packaging of fruits in @UNDP Tajikistan summer of 2019 and connued this acvity unl

FINAL REPORT |21 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

To improve the access of local populaon to of Dehkan Associaons and could employ dairy products, create new employment 6 local people, including 4 women. It is opportunity, promote internal trade, UNDP assumed that, indirectly, more than 6,663 facilitated establishment of DAIRY people (53% of women) will beneﬁt from PROCESSING WORKSHOP IN LANGAR this facility. This project was carried out JAMOAT of Kuhistoni Mastchoh district with jointly with the local populaon (10 young total amount of USD 78,800. All the people were employed for 4 months for the necessary equipment was procured, construcon works) with UNDP providing delivered and installed which resulted in building materials and equipment in creaon of 8 new permanent jobs for local cooperaon with WFP which provided residents including 6 for women. As a result assistance through its “cash for work” of this iniave, 1,736 HOUSEHOLDS of modality. The sub-project was completed in Langar Jamoat (total populaon of the November 2019. jamoat 10,617 people including 5,259 women) are DIRECT BENEFICIARIES of the Exhibion of dried and processed mini dairy-processing and producon fruits @UNDP Tajikistan workshop.

Moreover, in 2019, UNDP procured equipment and materials for CONSTRUCTION OF A REFRIGERATED STORAGE FACILITY for fruits and vegetables in Shamtuch village of Ayni district for the total amount of USD 46,520. Provided assistance enabled local farmers to store their vegetables (potato) and fruits (apples) aer harvesng, enabling them to sell their products for beer gains at a later stage (during winter months). Building the cold storage and refrigerated warehouse to store temperature-controlled products will serve more than 2,000 MEMBERS (57% women)

22 11000 people of Ivan Tojik jamoat beneﬁted from new agriculture machinery

Due to its remoteness from the regional Mastchoh district. The new machineries have center and locaon in the mountainous successfully undergone tesng and were areas, Kuhistoni Mastchoh and Ayni districts effecvely used during land preparaon and are prone to rockfalls and landslides. To planng seasons by members of associaons respond to the populaon's needs and of dehkan farms. Furthermore, an excavator priories of these region, UNDP procured and was provided to the Shamtuch jamoat in the DELIVERED FIVE TRACTORS MTZ 82.1 (three Ayni district, where dekhkan farms are of which with tractor-trailers), ONE suffering from natural disasters, and EXCAVATOR based on chassis of MTZ 82.1 periodically access to their lands became and ONE MINI COMBINE-HARVESTER for the difficult. Now it's easier to clear roads from total amount of USD 117,510. The tractors rockfalls, clear irrigaon canals and prepare which are equipped with supplemental land for culvaon. The provided machinery equipment such as plough, culvator, potato serves farmers for mely and high-quality planter and digging equipment were provided harvesng, as previously all women and to Ivan Tojik and Langar Jamoats of Kuhistoni young people did by hand.

FINAL REPORT |23 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

Output 2: Improved access to social services for rural women and youth through enhanced capacies of local health and educaon facilies and increased community engagement for promoon of healthy lifestyles and educaon for all.

“Now more than 7,700 people of 19 surrounding villages, in total 2,377 households have an improved access to the timely health services and can prevent and manage diseases without traveling to other remote health facilities” - mentioned Gaforov Qayum, Chief Doctor of medical house in Rogh village

Rapid assessment of local health facilies and Timely access of local populaon schools has been carried out by the project to quality medical service team to idenfy the needs for renovaon, @UNDP Tajikistan rehabilitaon and provision of new or repair of exisng facilies (Annex 10.9 – Rapid assessment of local health facilies). As a result of the conducted rapid assessment, 4 medical and 2 educaonal facilies were idenﬁed for further intervenons.

To enhance the access and improve medical services of rural populaon of Khudgif and Rogh villages of Kuhistoni Mastchoh and Tomin and Vota villages of Ayni district, the project facilitated the construcon and provision of all necessary equipment's and inventories for 4 medical facilies.

24 Construcon of facilies were completed on schoolchildren August 2018 which allow to carry out (including 45 schoolgirls) mandatory vaccinaon for children of 100 staﬀ of the school to improve various ages and receive medical treatment the quality of the educaon in a mely manner. It's worth to menon due to the improved school that, the handover ceremony of the health 15 condions. facility in Rogh village took place with the parcipaon of the President of Republic of The school which has 4 classrooms was Tajikistan in August 30, 2019. renovated, fully equipped with all necessary furniture, inventory and provided with To enhance access to emergency medical heang supply and washrooms. services, UNDP procured 2 (two) ambulance vehicles for the total amount of USD 111,800 Moreover, to reduce the walking distance of and handed over to Central Hospital of Ayni schoolchildren of Dash Varz village, the district and to the Rogh village hospital of construcon of a General Educaon School Kuhistoni Mastchoh district respecvely. was iniated. Due to the absence of school Procured ambulances are equipped with the facility in Dash Varz village, the modern medical equipment needed to schoolchildren aended School #1 located in prevent fatalies and injuries that require an the centre of Ayni district, passing a 3km urgent medical response considering the distance on daily basis. The newly built remoteness of the districts from the central and regional hospitals. school facility ACCOMMODATES schoolchildren of the In Khairobod village of Langar jamoat of menoned village. Kuhistoni Mastchoh district the construcon 144 works of a school building was completed in The school consists of six classrooms fully November 2019. equipped with all necessary furniture and inventory as well as heang system and THE NEWLY BUILT washrooms. The school funcons as the branch of General Secondary Educaon FACILITY School #1 of Ayni district has been enabled more than completed in the end of March 2020.

FINAL REPORT |25 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

Output 3. Improved awareness of rural women and youth on employment issues

From January 2018 to May 2018, Business SDG localizaon through establishment School “Synergy Tajikistan executed of a youth plaorm in Ayni @UNDP Tajikistan awareness raising and outreach acvies on Sustainable Development Goals, running and sustaining entrepreneurial acvies, covering more than 1,800 people (at least 40% women and girls), including rural women, migrants' wives and young people, schoolchildren of 9-11 grades from target districts ”.

More than 600 young people (including 40% women) parcipated in various community outreach events, which included provision of group and individual consultaons on involvement into economic and business Extract from the guide: “In our guide you can ﬁnd acvies. “Youth Day – Safe Space”, Women 50 typical projects for small businesses in various areas. A business plan is an Entrepreneurship Day, Internaonal Day of entrepreneur's roadmap that will lead him to Rural Women, and Internaonal Day for wealth and success. This guide is intended Eradicaon of Poverty have been used as primarily for rural entrepreneurs. To carry out the plaorms to emphasize the role of young calculations for each presented business project men and women in the economic and social of the agro-industrial sector, scientiﬁcally-based development of communies (Annex 10.10 technological maps of plant growing and animal Concept of the event dedicated to the husbandry were used” celebraon of Internaonal Youth Day).

26 A football game among entrepreneurs of Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts was organized in April 2018 with the objecve to enhance partnership among entrepreneurs, as well as to promote entrepreneurship among youth of the target area.

As part of the acvies, the project developed a guide for local civil servants on effecve management of employment and organizaon of adequate referral services for deparng and returning migrants. A guide “50 design ideas for small and medium-sized businesses in rural areas of Tajikistan” has been developed which contained: a brief business plan, that includes: an overview of the project concept, product descripon, markeng analysis and strategy, technological process, investment and financial plan, equipment list (Annex 10.11 Guide for local civil servants on effecve management of employment).

Enhancing partnership among young entrepreneurs @UNDP Tajikistan

FINAL REPORT |27 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

THREE ONE-DAY TRAININGS industrially developed regions of the country) ON EFFECTIVE MANAGEMENT OF and as a referral and organizaonal tool. In addion, awareness raising, and informaon EMPLOYMENT WERE CONDUCTED campaigns were executed, jointly with the FOR representaves of local state departments responsible for employment and migraon, on the importance of orderly and structured representaves migraon. As part of the of local state departments of AWARENESS RAISING CAMPAIGNS Kuhistoni Mastchoh 72 and Ayni districts. A brief analysis among the local populaon was conducted to idenfy opportunies for 5000 increasing employment opportunies. leaﬂets, one-pagers, informaonal Introducon of an online registraon brochures and infographics were applicaon for management of employment disseminated to local residents. and internal migraon has been proposed as (Annex 10.12 – One-pagers on employment an enabling tool both to track the availability and migraon for conducng awareness of jobs at the local markets (mainly in the raising campaigns)

In October 2019, in parallel with the job fair preparaon, three informaonal meengs on career guidance issues were organized with cooperaon of the specialists from the department of the Agency for Labor and Employment in Ayni District. The aendees received informaon about job fairs and online resources for ﬁnding jobs in the Sughd region and throughout the country. During the meengs, booklets developed on labor migraon, employment and contact details of the services of the Agency for Labor and Employment in Ayni district and Kuhistoni Mastchoh district were distributed to parcipants.

28 AN AWARENESS RAISING CAMPAIGN “HEALTH CARAVAN” was organized to provide medical and legal face while in labor migraon, marriage and consultaons to local populaon of six remote divorce issues, alimony disputes, etc. jamoats from the centre of the Ayni and Addionally, UNDP organized Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts. As part of the of consultaons campaign, lectures and consultaons were 4 ROUNDS which covered provided by narrowly specialized doctors: wives of migrants and family gynecologist, endocrinologist, psychologist, 100 members on the negave social neuropathologist and legal adviser at the State consequences of migraon. Instuon “Legal Aid Center”. It was a During the reporng period, in collaboraon with local employment and migraon services, 5-DAY event which covered women, girls, labor 1,500 migrants and members of 13 JOB FAIRS vulnerable families from the distant jamoats were organized in Ayni district where UNDP of Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts. provided regular consultaon and assistance. Coordinaon was ensured with UNDP's Rule The job fairs were aended by of Law and Access to Jusce (RoL and A2J) people/job seekers and Programme to engage two lawyers for 779 conducng legal consultaons for the government agencies and producon populaon of Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh 23 workshops, which presented 70 jobs districts. The target beneﬁciaries included in Ayni and the region. As a result of the fairs, migrants and youth who planned to travel 25 people were interviewed and received with labor migraon purposes outside of recommendaons for further employment, of Tajikistan. The range of topics included basic which 5 women were provided with human rights, potenal legal issues people employment.

FINAL REPORT |29 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

Support in ﬁnding job@UNDP Tajikistan

30 PROJECT RISKS

Challenges Responses

Weak involvement of rural Project team closely worked with local stakeholders, women in the local economic parcularly local authories, mahalla commiees, development planning, as well religious leaders to acvely engage rural women to local as project acvies development process, enhancing their involvement in implementaon due to cultural socio-economic acvies. Also, project team closely norms and stereotypes in the worked with schools, vocaonal instuons of the project target areas, target area to involve local girls into local development parcularly in Kuhistoni processes, as well as through organizaon of open days Mastchoh district in the local administraons, visits to private sector companies, etc.

Weak capacity, lack of Close cooperaon is maintained with the local incenves to engage and authories to strengthen their capacity in managing involvement of local local employment process. A guide for civil servants on authories in job creaon and effecve management of employment has been managing local employment developed and presented to relevant state sector process departments and employees during a dedicated roundtable. Series of one-day trainings on effecve management of employment has been conducted for 72 representaves of local state departments of Kuhistoni Mastchoh and Ayni districts. Also, local authories are engaged in idenficaon and monitoring of social infrastructure.

FINAL REPORT |31 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

Challenges Responses

Local tradions, (religious) Awareness raising campaigns, community outreach values lead to decreased events, development of local leaders from acve movaon of rural women to women through conducng individual and group engage in economic and social consultaons. acvies.

The insufficient capacity of Connue close collaboraon with local stakeholders, the employees of government parcularly local authories, to encourage women and agencies responsible for promote their involvement in socio-economic acvies carrying out acvies among in women empowerment processes. Parcularly women and youth, the lack of improving access to medical services via construcon / staff (currently there are 2 rehabilitaon of medical facilies under the Health employees in the women and System Strengthening project. family affairs sector in the target areas) affect the quality of work carried out by these structures.

32 LESSONS LEARNT Lessons learned and good pracces of the project described below:

In order to ensure proper exit strategy, the project engaged members of local communies 1 in the early stages of the project life cycle. This will ensure that the communies are aware of the ownership, management and operaonal aspects of each project (mostly social and economic infrastructure). Moreover, early engagement of community leaders into the so components of the project, such as awareness raising events on the social consequences of unorganized and low-qualiﬁed migraon will be connued and replicated by community leader, thus decreasing the need for similar intervenons by other actors and stakeholders.

To ensure the success of project intervenons as well as a proper and reliable sustainability mechanism in place, it is imperave that the local government agencies who are the 2 ulmate replicaon and implementaon mechanism of the project acvies beyond the project life cycle, have strong technical and ﬁnancial capacity. Currently, due to a weak human capital (professionals), certain local government instuons are unable to fulﬁl their mandate and oenmes under-deliver. Taking this into account, UNDP will connue to work with the local authories to connue improving their human and technical capacies respecvely.

Trainings and business consultaons are an important part of the project to ensure the development of SMEs and build-up of local pool of human capital at the local level, with a 3 parcular focus on women and young people. However, these types of intervenons should be followed up through oﬀering substanal number of ﬁnancial products to fund the business ideas developed during the trainings and consultaon events.

FINAL REPORT |33 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

Although the job fairs were held at a regular interval (nearly twice a month), the project 4 observed the low effecveness of local “labor markets” and its failure to product major results. Most of the job fairs are of low-quality which are unappealing to local populaon. Low effecveness is also linked to the fact that the vacancies are announced for the purpose of filling the stascs gap (the actual vacancy may not exist but nevertheless it is announced). In this regard, the project team provided consultaons and advisory services to the organizers of the job fairs linking the unemployed people with potenal employers.

Conducng on-site consultaons with the invitaon of experts who know the condions of the region is an eﬀecve method of reaching a vulnerable group (unable to leave their 5 village) with high-quality demanded services: legal, medical, and business development that revealed the existence of demand for that services.

UNDP's and other organizaons experience working in the Zeravshan valley showed that local women (in parcular in Kuhistoni Mastchoh district) face a wide range of gender 6 disparies in various areas. In this parcular area, there is no clear gender disaggregated regional stascs, which in turn complicates the possibility of presenng a real picture of the gender situaon.

34 FUTURE PLANS

The aained results and ﬁnal evaluaon of project (Annex 10.13 – Final Project Evaluaon) revealed the meliness and relevance of up-scale and further development of project components to other regions of Tajikistan. It resulted the launch of the new iniave of UNDP in Tajikistan funded by Russian Federaon and aiming at “Strengthening the Communies of Rasht Valley and Khatlon Region” through enhanced employment opportunies and innovaons in farming and agribusiness sectors. Social inclusion of women and youth will be taken into consideraon during the project implementaon as an important programme component that will support employment and economic empowerment of the most vulnerable group of populaon. The special aenon will be paid to the inclusion of women and youth in the communies' life and implement a set of measures to increase their social acvity and strengthen their capacies with the civic educaon (leadership, mobilizaon, parcipaon in decision-making, community involvement).

FINAL REPORT |35 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

PARTNERSHIPS

Partners Areas of cooperaon

Ministry of Economic Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic Development and Trade of of Tajikistan as the leading state authority on the the Republic of Tajikistan development and implementaon of economic development policy of the state was the main partner of the project. MEDT has its structural divisions at the regional, city and district levels. The Ministry is a key member of the Steering Commiee, constantly conducted monitoring of the project implementaon and achievement of speciﬁed goals and objecves.

Ministry of Labour, The Ministry played a signiﬁcant role in the implementaon of Migraon and acvies related rehabilitaon/equipping of VTIs and in Employment of the conducng vocaonal courses for rural youth and women. Republic of Tajikistan, VTIs The Ministry also supported the project in linking the course in the districts graduators with potenal employers and employment agencies and local authories responsible for employment.

Local administraons of The main task of local administraons in the implementaon regions and all target of the project was to assist in the eﬀecve implementaon of districts, as well as the project and in conducng daily monitoring of thereof. jamoatsLocal Local administraons were acvely involved in the selecon of administraons of regions social objects for rehabilitaon and small local economic and all target districts, as development projects, as well as acve involvement of well as jamoats women and youth into the economic-related acvies.

36 Partners Areas of cooperaon

Local public organizaons Close cooperaon was established with public organizaons, and business support business support centers and associaon of dehkan farms. instuons Also, representaves of mahalla commiees were involved into the project implementaon. Eﬀecve cooperaon was established with WFP through its “cash for work” modality during the implementaon of construcon acvies. Also, the project partnered with Caritas Germany for organizaon of a job fair in Ayni district. Business School “Synergy Tajikistan” and “Youth Entrepreneurs Club” were engaged for conducng needs assessment on doing business and awareness raising campaigns.

Media and social media Outreach acvies were conducted to ensure that local populaon is aware on the acvies implemented within the frame of the project.

FINAL REPORT |37 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

PARTNERSHIP WITH THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

The project ensured parcipaon of the Throughout the course of the project, the delegaon from Tajikistan in the project team acvely cooperated its internaonal expert workshop «Applying acvies in synergy with another project Innovave Approaches to Strengthening funded by the Russian Federaon-UNDP TVET Systems and Labor Markets Trust Fund for Development (RTF) “Youth for Development» held at Moscow School of Business and Innovaon”. Management SKOLKOVO campus on 23-24 October 2017. The workshop was organized In January 2020, UNDP organized a under the Russia - ILO program «Applying monitoring mission for the governmental the G20 Training Strategy». Introducon of delegaon from the Russian Federaon the «Managing TVET Instuon» computer represenng Ministry of Economic simulator and the managerial competence Development, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and assessment module presented an UNDP Partnership support office in Moscow. opportunity to apply the program in The aim of the monitoring mission was to vocaonal training instuons of Tajikistan introduce the donor representaves with the through the Ministry of Labour, Migraon results of projects funded by the and Employment of the Republic of Government of Russian Federaon including Tajikistan. the “Russian Federaon - UNDP Trust Fund for Development”. Markeng expert from the Russian Federaon, Mr. Roman Emelyanov, was As part of the mission, the delegaon had an engaged as a trainer to conduct one day opportunity to take part in project final session within the 4-day comprehensive Steering Commiee meeng and meet with training courses for exisng women-headed representaves of the Ministry of Economic businesses for 45 women from Ayni and Development and Trade of the Republic of Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts. Tajikistan, State Commiee on Investments

38 and State Property Management and other implemenng partners. The delegaon was introduced with the project implementaon processes, reviewed the overall results of projects and discussed further perspecves. One of the recommendaons highlighted by the Steering Commiee members was to enhance communicaon plaorms for beer media coverage of intervenons carried out by projects funded by the “Russian Federaon - UNDP Trust Fund for Development”.

Within the frame of the mission, ﬁeld visits Russian delegaon mission to Tajikistan @UNDP Tajikistan to project sites were organized to demonstrate supported infrastructure stakeholders indicated several success facilies, on-going projects and for a beer factors, including partnership with and very awareness from the ground on the diverse proacve support of the local authories, levels of partnerships established as a result engagement of community and religious of project intervenons. leaders, and collaboraon with other development partners working in Zeravshan The mission was concluded with a widely Valley. The private sector and business circulated press conference with promoon organizaons suggested to also parcipaon of H. E. Ambassador of the work with the cooperaves in rural areas, to Russian Federaon to Tajikistan, members of ensure connuousness support in business the “Russian Federaon – UNDP Trust Fund skill development and mentorship support for development” delegaon, UNDP for the entrepreneurs as well as improve the Resident Representave in Tajikistan, media access to microloans. and project beneﬁciaries. The project

FINAL REPORT |39 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

COMMUNICATION AND VISIBILITY

For effecve communicaon and ensuring As per donor communicaon and visibility UNDP's and donor's visibility, the project strategy all infrastructure facilies, team worked with variety of partners at equipment and machinery are marked with different levels. To raise awareness of approved symbolic and text on a special targeted audience on project implemented material made of high-quality Polyvinyl iniaves, progress and results were shared Chlorid. Other visibility materials including via UNDP's social media plaorms including rollup, banners, folders, one-pager, and website, Facebook pages and twier, brochures designed were applied and widely naonal media outlets such as Asia-Plus, disseminated while project intervenons. Sughd News and Avesta, and naonal TV channels as Jahonnamo, Tajikistan and Naonal consultant was hired to define and Sputnik. disseminate successful stories of beneficiaries, produce one video capon, Four short movaon, instrucon one long read and four stories. Links to posts entrepreneurship videos were produced and and publicaons are given below. disseminated during capacity building acvies. 3min video on project with infographics and stories was produced and promoted through media portals (links are provided in the Annex 10.14).

40 FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

Delivered since Delivery rate Budgeted for the the project since the project Commitments OUTPUT Balance enre project started started (Acve PO) (2017-2020) (2017-2020)

Output 1 776,120.00 680,294.80 88% 5,464.75 90,360.45

Output 2 536,000.00 603,844.42 113% 64,637.28 -132,481.70

Output 3 69,760.00 39,057.42 56% 0.00 30,702.58

Output 4 118,120.00 93,710.53 79% 0.00 24,409.47

TOTAL 1,500,000.00 1,416,907.17 94% 70,102.03 12,990.80

Submied by______Date______

FINAL REPORT |41 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

ANNEXES Annex 10.1 Project performance data

Value for Actual Baseline the previous value Expected Data year if for the Output indicators Target outputs source diﬀerent reported Value Year from year baseline 2020 1.1 Support to business skills development

1.1.3. Number of youth and women provided 210 (79 0 2016 200 with start-up business trainings women) 1.1.4.1. Number of organized comprehensive trainings courses on various topics of small Output 1 and medium business development for Increased 0 2016 1 2 exisng women-headed businesses from income and target districts (management, markeng, job ﬁnance, business planning) opportunies

for rural 1.1.4.2. Number of women-entrepreneurs on report women and completed comprehensive trainings courses 0 2016 30 45 youth for geng advanced business skills. through 1.1.5. Number of business consultaon business skills provided by Business Support Center in Ayni development, to quality services to businesses (including 50 2016 100 130 vocaonal women-headed), including organizaon of Project implementa trainings and outreach consultave assistance in Kuhistoni access to Mastchoh district. ﬁnance. 1.1.6. Number of public organizaons, associaon of dehkan farms, local business associaons, business support centers for 0 2016 10 13 promoon of supporve business environment and supporng local income generang iniaves.

42 Value for Actual Baseline the previous value Expected Data year if Output indicators Target for the outputs source diﬀerent reported from Value Year year 2020 baseline 1.2 Improving access of rural women and unemployed youth to vocaonal trainings and professional educaon 1.2.1. Number of women and young people from remote villages passed vocaonal Output 1 trainings adapted to the needs of target 0 2016 100 157 Increased populaon with consideraon of locally income and available resources and market demands; job 1.2.2 Number of renovated vocaonal opportunies instuons with improved premises and for rural resources for conducng vocaonal trainings women and for women, including equipment for 0 2016 1 1 on report youth organizing distance trainings in remote ANNEXES through villages business skills development, 1.3 Improved access of rural women and vocaonal youth to ﬁnance their business iniaves trainings and 1.3.1 Number of supported local economic

access to iniaves aimed at creang decent jobs for Project implementa 0 2016 4 4 ﬁnance. local women and youth. (Connued) 1.3.2 Number of created agro tool banks and manufacturing/processing equipment to enhance producve capacies and quality of products produced by local Dekhkan Farmers 0 2016 4 4 (focusing on farms headed by women or providing jobs to women and youth)

1.3.3 Number of women got opportunity for 105 employment and self-employment as a result (including 0 2016 50 of provided support 72 women)

FINAL REPORT |43 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

Value for Actual Baseline the previous value Data year if for the Expected outputs Output indicators Target source different reported Value Year from year baseline 2020 2.1 Improving quality of and access to secondary educaon in remote and rural areas for at least 800 beneficiaries Output 2 2.1.1. Number of beneficiaries with Improved access to improved access to quality secondary 0 2016 800 800 social services for educaon in remote and rural districts. rural women and 2.1.2. Number of renovated and youth through equipped rural schools on report 0 2016 1 2 enhanced capacies of local health and 2.2 Improving access of rural women educaon facilies to quality services in local health

ANNEXES and increased facilies community engagement for 2.2.2. Number of renovated and Project implementa promoon of equipped local healthcare facilies healthy lifestyles (hospitals and medical houses), 0 2016 1 2 and educaon for focusing on those providing all reproducve and maternal service. 2.2.3. Number of rural women from remote areas with access to quality 0 2016 1000 5147 reproducve and emergency services

44 Value for Actual Baseline the previous value Expected Data year if Output indicators Target for the outputs source different reported from Value Year year baseline 3.1 Capacity building of local authories and service providers to ensure efficient management of the youth and women employment issues 3.1.2. Number of local officials responsible passed trainings on effecve management of employment and organizaon of 0 2016 60 72 adequate referral services for deparng and returning migrants

3.2 Community outreach for addressing ANNEXES Output 3 social consequences of labor migraon and its eﬀect on women and youth Improved on report 3.2.2. Number of people covered with awareness of awareness raising campaign rural women, rural women migrants' wives and young people, including and youth on schoolchildren aending 09-11 grades. employment Campaigns covers issues of unorganized 0 2016 5000 6700 issues migraon and its social consequences, as

well as advanced diagnosc capabilies of Project implementa HIV / AIDS and other infecous diseases, sexually transmied infecons. 3.2.3 Number of members of migrants' families receiving consultaons addressing negave social eﬀects of migraon, such as divorces, discriminaon and domesc 0 2016 200 400 violence, abandonment of rights, non- registraon of marriages and divorces, selement of alimony disputes, etc.

FINAL REPORT |45 Promotion of social and economic opportunities for women and youth in Zerafshan Valley of Tajikistan

Annex 10.2 - Combined Delivery Report for July 2017-December 2019.

Annex 10.3 - Business School “Synergy Tajikistan” report

Annex 10.4 - “Internaonal Women's Entrepreneurship Day” report

Annex 10.5 - Report on the results of evaluaon in professional educaon instuons with purpose to professional skills for determining addional educaonal modules

Annex 10.6 - Analycal review on constraints and opportunies for engaging women and youth into social and economic acvies in Ayni and Kuhistoni Mastchoh districts

Annex 10.7 - Agenda of the ToT for educaonal course on “Technological and Innovaon Entrepreneurship”

Annex 10.8 - Minutes of community consultaons for selecon of the project ANNEXES Annex 10.9 - Rapid assessment of local health facilies

Annex 10.10 - Concept of the event dedicated to the celebraon of Internaonal Youth Day

Annex 10.11 - Guide for local civil servants on eﬀecve management of employment

Annex 10.12 - One pagers on employment and migraon for conducng awareness raising campaigns

Annex 10.13 - Project ﬁnal evaluaon report

Annex 10.14 - Media coverage links