AKDN supports local music schools to transmit musical traditions to future generations while also promoting contemporary music groups such as The Badakhshan Ensemble with audiences abroad.

Partners Darwaz, Ishkashim and which now aid for affected communities. Since 1997 Act Central Asia (ACA) Agency for Technical Cooperation and connect remote regions of Tajikistan and FOCUS has responded to more than 50 Development (ACTED) Afghanistan. A fifth bridge in Shorobod is disasters in Tajikistan. Aid to Artisans Asian Development Bank (ADB) currently under construction. Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Cultural Development Department of International Development On the Afghan side, the bridges have (DFID) Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst provided better food security, access AKDN supports the efforts of Central (DAAD) to critical social services at Tajik health Asian musicians and communities to European Commission Humanitarian Organisation (ECHO) centres and more efficient delivery sustain, preserve, further develop and European Union (EU) Aga Khan Development Network German Ministry for Economic Cooperation channels for humanitarian aid. On the transmit musical traditions that are and Development (BMZ/GIZ) Tajik side, they are facilitating access a vital part of their cultural heritage. Government of India to a wider variety of better-priced The Network supports ustâd-shâgird Government of Japan The Aga Khan Development Network working with mountain societies. It works Following its rehabilitation, over 85 Government of Norway goods transited by Afghan traders. The (master-student) centres in Tajikistan Government of the Swiss Confederation (AKDN) works towards the vision of an in all regions of the country and employs percent of the population of GBAO now (SECO) bridges also facilitate the exchange of including the Academy of Maqâm in economically dynamic, politically stable, over 3,500 people through its operations has access to electricity and the total Government of Tajikistan ideas and serve to strengthen relations and the Khunar (“Talent”) International Finance Corporation (IFC) intellectually vibrant and culturally and investments. capacity of the Pamir 1 hydropower Japan Social Development Fund (JSDF) across the border. They represent Centre in . In collaboration with Kreditanstalt fur Weideraufbau tolerant Tajikistan. This is achieved plant has increased to 44 Megawatts an important step towards achieving Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, it has Bankengruppe (KfW) by supporting the establishment of (MW), from 33 MW in 2002. Netherlands Organisation for International peace and stability in the region. produced an internationally acclaimed Economic Development Development (NOVIB) programmes and institutions that allow Swedish International Development Agency series of Central Asian music recordings, (SIDA) the Government, private sector and civil As part of its approach to economic AKDN and its partners launched including an album by the Academy Swiss Agency for International Development Disaster Management society to play complementary roles development, AKDN makes long-term Indigo Tajikistan in 2001 to help meet and Cooperation (SDC) Focus Humanitarian Assistance of Maqâm that was nominated for a Technical Assistance for Commonwealth of in increasing prosperity and creativity investments in Tajikistan in areas where the demand for improved service and Independent States (TACIS) (FOCUS), an AKDN affiliate, Grammy Award in 2006. within a pluralistic society. essential infrastructure is lacking. In 2002, increased offerings in the country’s TeliaSonera implements a wide range of disaster The Christensen Fund the Network and its partners founded the mobile services industry. In March 2010, The OPEC Fund for International prevention and response initiatives in The Network has rehabilitated the city Development (OPEC) The Network brings together individual PamirEnergy Company. Under a public- Indigo and its sister brand Somoncom local communities, including disaster park of Khorog, the administrative and United States Agency for International agencies that operate in a range of areas private partnership agreement signed with were re-branded under the name Tcell. Development (USAID) preparedness trainings, vulnerability economic capital of the mountainous United States Department of Agriculture – from economic development, education the Government of Tajikistan, the company (USDA) assessments, risk mitigation activities Gorno-Badakhshan region in Tajikistan. World Bank (WB) and rural development to cultural is managing the operation of all power Today, Tcell is the largest mobile and disaster relief efforts. The development of the park and its World Health Organization (WHO) revitalisation, health care and financial generation, transmission and distribution operator in Tajikistan by revenue, with surrounding urban environment has For further information services. Together these agencies facilities of the Gorno-Badakhshan annual figures in excess of US$ 100 FOCUS, in collaboration with local created a significant public green space Aga Khan Development Network collaborate towards a common goal – Autonomous (GBAO) for a 25-year million. It is the second largest by Government and non-government and represents a substantial step towards 8-10 Gani Abdullo Street to build institutions and programmes concession period. subscriber base, with one-third of the 734003 Dushanbe, Tajikistan partners, also responds during the revitalisation of the city as a whole. Tel: +992 37 2246500/2246508 that can respond to the contemporary industry market share in 2010. Tcell emergency situations to provide relief Website: www.akdn.org challenges and opportunities of social, PamirEnergy has invested more than provides coverage to over 90 percent economic and cultural growth in Tajikistan. US$ 37 million since 2002 to repair of the country’s population and has The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a group of private development agencies working to empower communities and individuals, often in electrical infrastructure, expand set high standards for Tajik telecom disadvantaged circumstances, to improve living conditions and opportunities, especially in Africa and Asia. Its agencies work in over 30 countries for the common good of all citizens, regardless of their gender, origin or religion. Its underlying impulse is the ethic of compassion for the vulnerable in society. Operating in Tajikistan since 1992, AKDN hydroelectric capacity and establish companies for customer service and draws on a strong base of experience in a metering system in the region. corporate business practices. Photo credits: AKDN/Jean-Luc Ray, Arata Isozaki & Associates, © AKDN, January 2012. Information contained in this brief can be reproduced with acknowledgement to AKDN. AKTC/Gary Otte

AGA KHAN DEVELOPMENT NETWORK www.akdn.org to provide culturally appropriate and access to capital and business “The problems of Central Asia are The Dushanbe Serena is a state problem-oriented health education, development services. The programme remarkably complex – their causes of the art, five-star hotel with over disease prophylaxis, early detection, also supports entrepreneurs with a are multiple and defiantly inter- referrals and medical follow-up services. wide range of integrated offerings, 100 units that supports Tajikistan’s tangled. Progress requires a multi- from technical training on production efforts to become a welcoming AKDN initiatives in health care have to advice on marketing, business faceted and multi-input approach… tourist destination. included the training of over 900 regulations and financial services. The learning curve is steep and Community Health Promoters across there should be a sense of urgency Tajikistan to educate and support MSDSP also supports the – for all of us – and all the more so, communities on various health issues; the construction and rehabilitation of because solutions can be elusive. creation of a Revolving Drug Fund as part economic and social infrastructure. of a programme to sustainably provide It has completed work on over 2,500 I have come to know the Central quality and affordable pharmaceuticals projects, totalling approximately US$ to some of the most remote parts of 16 million in investments. Asian peoples and their dreams AKDN agencies make a long- In tourism, the AKDN currently manages an internationally recognised standard the country; development of a national and aspirations. I know of their term commitment to the areas in a Serena Inn in Khorog and the of higher education in Central Asia Nursing curriculum in partnership with Financial Services proud entrepreneurial spirit – often the World Health Organization; initiation The First MicroFinance Bank of which they work. They are guided Dushanbe Serena Hotel, a five-star hotel and create knowledgeable, skilled and manifested at the village and with over 100 units, which opened its creative graduates who will contribute of a community-based health financing Tajikistan (FMFB) was established household level. It is critical – even by the philosophy that a humane, scheme; and the rehabilitation of hospital in 2003 as the first fully licensed doors to guests in 2011. Through Serena leadership, ideas and innovations as we plan for development at the sustainable environment must properties, AKDN aims to facilitate to the transitioning economies and and medical infrastructure. commercial bank in Tajikistan to have a ‘macro’ level – that we also build at reflect the choices, made by people Tajikistan’s efforts to become a more communities of the region. principal focus on micro-credit lending. themselves, of how to live and viable and friendly destination for visitors, Rural Development The Bank currently has branches in the ‘micro’ level.” improve their prospects in harmony ultimately translating into economic Operational since 2006, UCA’s School of Through the Mountain Societies Dushanbe, Khorog, Rasht, Khujand, Development Support Programme Kulyab and Kurgan Tube which are with the surrounding environment. development and improved livelihoods. Professional and Continuing Education – Speech by His Highness is Central Asia’s first provider of formal, (MSDSP) of the Aga Khan Foundation, supported by a network of banking Sustainability is, therefore, a central the Aga Khan at the Conference on Social Development university-based, non-degree educational AKDN currently implements rural centres serving peri-urban and rural consideration from the outset. Central Asia and Europe: programmes and offers vocational, development throughout Tajikistan. areas. Its objectives include reducing A New Economic Partnership Education professional development and personal poverty, decreasing the vulnerability for the 21st Century, Berlin, 13 While each agency pursues its own The Aga Khan Lycée (AKL) in Khorog improvement opportunities to youth MSDSP facilitates the creation of Village of poor populations and alleviating specific mandate, they all work was established by the Network in 1998 and adults with the mission of fostering Organisations (VOs) as the conduit for economic and social exclusion. November 2007. together within the overarching as the first privately-operated school in economic development. Construction on its programme activities, which it then supports with training, capacity building As of December 2010, FMFB had a framework of the Aga Khan the GBAO region. It provides over 900 a UCA campus in Khorog, one of three students from Grades 1 to 11 with access campuses to be built in Central Asia, is and community development funds. To total loan portfolio in excess of Development Network so that their to a professionally-trained teaching staff currently in process and is being designed date, MSDSP has supported over 1,400 US$ 25 million and a client base of different pursuits can interact and offers education in three language for approximately 1,000 students and 300 VOs and nearly 100 VO Unions, with a over 12,000 people, over 25 percent of and reinforce one another. Their streams: Tajik, Russian and English. faculty members. total of over 140,000 village members, of whom were female. FMFB’s average common goal is to help poor which over 40 percent are women. loan size is about US$ 2,500 with a communities achieve a level of The Aga Khan Humanities Programme AKDN agencies also work with regional repayment rate of over 99 percent. MSDSP seeks to increase rural self-reliance whereby they are (AKHP), founded in 1997 and Government institutions, such as the headquartered in Dushanbe, promotes Institute for Professional Development, incomes and employment by fostering Infrastructure able to plan their own livelihoods pluralism in ideas, cultures and to introduce innovative teaching the development of micro and small AKDN has built and rehabilitated four and help those even more needy people through the development and methods and build relevant education enterprises, and facilitating their bridges over the Pyanj River at Tem, than themselves. implementation of innovative humanities capacities. It is currently developing an curricula based on the cultural traditions early childhood development strategy of Central Asia. More than 35,000 for GBAO that aims to provide children students at over 30 universities in Central six years of age and younger enriching When opened, the University Asia have successfully completed an experiences before they reach primary AKHP course, and over 650 faculty school in order to maximise their of Central Asia campus in members have completed trainings in learning potential thereafter. Khorog will offer a wide range teaching methods in humanities. of undergraduate and graduate Health programmes at an internationally The University of Central Asia (UCA) AKDN is working towards the sustained recognised standard. Cover Photo: FMFB’s loans enable farmers was founded by an international treaty improvement in the health status of to purchase agricultural inputs such as and charter in 2000 by the Governments communities in Tajikistan, especially seeds, fertilizers, livestock, farm equipment of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic of children younger than five years of and other capital investments. With these items, farmers can diversify their crops and and Tajikistan and His Highness the age and women of reproductive age, achieve more productive yields. Aga Khan. It was established to offer by working alongside the Government