UNDP Kulob Area Office was established in 1996. Since its foundation, the office has implemented activities throughout the 10 districts of the eastern part of Khatlon region (Kulob, Vose, Temurmalik, Farkhor, Hamadoni, Shurobod, Muminobod, Khovaling, Baljuvon and Dangara districts).
During its operation for the period of 1996-2001, the office implemented projects mainly related to emergency relief and rehabilitation of social infrastructures (schools, hospitals, water systems and irrigation, safe drinking) through the Reconstruction Rehabilitation and Development Programme. More recent projects, implemented through the Communities Programme, have focused on long-term development including employment creation, improvement of local governance and the agricultural sector development of micro-finance portfolio. In the period of 13 years of functioning, the office has implemented over 450 sub-projects amounting to over US $7.5 million. Delivery Status of UNDP Kulyab AO is assessed over US $7.5 million starting from 1996 until the end of 2009.

To achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and reduce poverty in the rural areas of Eastern Khatlon, the Area Office is implementing projects funded by TACIS, UNDP and CIDA to improve income generation and governance under the Transforming Livelihoods and Redistributing Responsibilities components of the UN framework of support for Tajikistan.

Current Projects:

• Enhancing Individual Incomes and Improving Living Standards in Khatlon, Tajikistan (TACIS/EC).
Duration of project: 2007-2008. Project Budget: EUR 1,275,886 (for Kulob and Shaartuz AO’s).

• Enhancing Agricultural Governance in Tajikistan (CIDA).
Duration of project: 2007-2009. Project Budget: USD 1,063,560 (for Kulob and Shaartuz AO’s).


Geographic Location, Area of Coverage, Number of In/Direct Beneficiaries, Map of Area of Coverage, Regional Statistics, and Ongoing Projects:

KULYAB СITY


The foundation of Kulyab city goes back to over 2,700 years ago and for many centuries was and is considered as an important political, commercial and economic and cultural centre of the huge Khatlon Oblast. Being along the Great Silk Road, Kulyab has close trade, economic and cultural networks across several Oriental and Western countries.

KULYAB AREA

Kulyab area covers the eastern half of Khatlon Oblast, borders with Afghanistan in the south, Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Republic in the east and Kurgon-Teppa zone in the west and north. The total land area is equal to some 12,000 km² with a population of 957, 945 persons or a population density of 582, 7 persons per km². Kulyab area is divided into 10 districts five of which are deemed hilly and mountainous and the remaining five are located in lowlands. These districts are Kulyab, Vose, Temurmalik (former Sovetski), Farkhor, Hamadoni (former Moskovski), Shurobod, Muminobod, Khovaling, Baljuvon and Dangara districts.

 

UNDP Khujand AO was established in 2000. Since it began operations, the office has implemented 16 projects and over 270 sub-projects totaling nearly US$ 6 million in all 14 districts of the Sughd region. The number of direct and indirect beneficiaries is estimated at approximately 1.2 million people or roughly 60% of the population of the Sughd region. Projects implemented in the region have addressed critical challenges including the drinking water supply, agriculture, disaster risk management, health, education, governance, and conflict prevention.

Considerable investments have been made to address these challenges including:
• Drinking water sector investments of US $1.5 million through the implementation of 80 sub-projects
• Agricultural sector investments of US $1 million through the implementation of 40 sub-projects
• Health and education sectors investments of US $500,000.
• Employment sector investments of nearly US $ 1million to create jobs and income generating opportunities.

The Sughd region shares borders with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan. As such, UNDP pays a great deal of attention towards addressing challenges related to cross-border relations. In 2003, the first phase of the cross border cooperation project jointly with UNDP Kyrgyzstan was implemented. Building on the success of the first phase, the second phase was launched in 2004 which lasted through the end of 2005. The cross border projects have helped to establish good neighborly relations between the bordering communities of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan and to establish dialogue between the district and regional level authorities of both countries.

UNDP Khujand AO has built positive relations with the local authorities at the jamoat, district and regional levels, as well as with civil society and private sectors representatives in the region. In order to contribute to better partnership between the three sectors, District Development Councils (DDCs) were established and supported in three target districts of Isfara, B. Gafurov and J. Rasulov.

Since UNDP has begun working through the jamoat level as an entry point to implement poverty reduction and development endeavors, it has supported 15 Jamoat Resource Centers (JRCs), which provide support in the implementation of UNDP projects. All JRCs are registered at the Ministry of Justice and are legal entities.

Currently, the heads of 12 JRCs are on the Board of Founders of the Micro Loan Fund (MLF) “Sugdmicrofin”, which has a portfolio equal to US$ 500,000. The MLF serves 12 jamoats in Asht, B. Gafurov, J. Rasulov, Isfara and Zafarabad districts. Since the establishment of the MLF in July 2007 the number of clients has reached over 5,000 people.




Facts and figures on Sughd region

- The region borders with Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and shares 1401 km of the border, of which 906 km is with Uzbekistan (Samarkand, Jizzakh, Tashkent, Namangan and Ferghana oblasts) and 495 km is with Kyrgyzstan (Batken oblast).

- The territory of the oblast is 26.1 thousand square km (18.2% of the country).

- Over 40 nationalities and nearly a third of the country’s population (31.3%) reside in Sughd. The population of the region is over 2 million people (of which 26.3% is urban and 73.7% is rural).

- The Sughd region consists of 7 cities and towns, 14 districts, 20 urban type settlements and 113 jamoats.

- The region generates 40% of the industrial and 30% of the agricultural production of the entire country. The GDP breakdown for the region is: industry – 47%, agriculture – 27%, construction – 5.4%, trade – 2.6%, transport and communication – 7% and other productions and services – 11%.

List of Partners: UNDP Khujand AO has enjoyed strong partnerships with regional, district and jamoat authorities; national and international organizations operating in Sughd; private/public companies; and state departments.

Donor Agency: EU - TACIS, Government of Germany

UNDP KHUJAND AREA OFFICE STAFF LIST

For more information please contact Jamshed Kodirkulov at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

1. Brief information about Shaartuz AO.
UNDP in Shartuz began its project implementation activities in July 1997. It was primarily funded by UNDP with additional funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the European Community Humanitarian Office (ECHO), and the Japanese Government and the Asian Development Bank. With support funds provided by donors, UNDP in Shaartuz promoted a wide range of programs in agriculture, education, health and sanitation, water resources development and women empowerment. Most activities of the Area Offic were designed to strengthen basic social services, rebuild the physical infrastructure for a sustained recovery and at the same time create employment and income opportunities for vulnerable groups (women, returnees and war affected populations). The objective of UNDP is to support a process of political and economic stabilization in the country through development and conflict prevention activities aimed at reducing poverty, strengthening local economic development and governance, and supporting the practical implementation of the government’s policy reforms at the local level. In order to include the grass root level of the community in all stages of UNDP activities, to strengthen community participation and to promote community ownership of projects the Jamoat Resource Centers (JRCs) were established. In addition, other associations (including professional ones, such as Women’s Associations and Assosiations of Dehkan Farmers (ADFs)) have eventually been formed, registered with district administrations and operate till now.

The goals of all development efforts that are being promoted by UNDP is to promote and facilitate changes that are positive in character, significant in impact, long-lasting in consequence, and sustainable into the future. UNDP has injected huge investments via private sectors and public counterparts that created a multiplier effect in the local economy and brought an impact on the environment and other indices of better living condition of rural poor.

Shaartuz AO operates in western Khatlon, which is one of the poorest regions of Tajikistan, in 2008 staggering 78% of population’s income is less than $ 2.15 (PPP) per day/person . So far, activities implemented by AO possessed emergency rehabilitation and development features while gradually the focus of interventions has shifted towards sustainable development. All priorities of AO are shaped based on local needs in the field in line with UNDP Tajikistan country strategy papers. Presently three projects are being implemented by Shaartuz AO which cover (6) districts Panj, Kumsangir, Jilikul, Kabodien, Shaartuz and N. Khusrav out of 14 districts in its operational zone. Activities implemented under Shaartuz AO executed projects aim to tackle humanitarian aid and development issues and contribute to poverty reduction along with sustainable development of communities. The targeted beneficiaries of the AO’s activities are vulnerable and marginalised portions of population which had been selected in accordance with donor and UNDP requirements. Although (6) districts within Shaartuz AO operational zone are already covered by running projects, still there remain (8) districts which represent vast geographical area and large numbers of population with limited access to UNDP assistance. In addition to that, there are several major towns ( Kurghonteppa, Sarband etc.) with large number of urban population where UNDP is not present yet and expansion of AO activities to these areas may greatly contribute to more balanced development of the region.

Humanitarian/Development Challenges:
• good governance
• economic development
• environmental situation
• energy deficiency etc.

Statistical Figures :
• Population: 1, 376,000
• Percentage of youth: 35.2
• Area in square km: 12,806
• Ethnic groups: 21.4%
• Average income: 2,07 USD per day/person
• Area of agricultural land: 239,801 ha.

Partners: UNWFP, District Hukumats, 4 District Development Centers, Local Jamoats, 18 Jamoat Resourse Centers, 7 Assosiasions of Dehkan Farmers, 4 Land Degradation Units, Local state and private institutions such as: Land committees, Construction companies, Training providers etc.

Donor Agencies: Activities implemented by the Shaartuz AO have been made possible through support from the following donor agencies: United States Agency for International Development (USAID), European Union/TACIS, Global Environment Fund (GEF/SLM), ECHO, UK Department for International Affairs (DFID), Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), BOMCA, CMCA, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Japan Fund, German Fund, Norway Fund, and Finnish Fund.

 

UNDP SHAARTUZ AREA OFFICE STAFF LIST

Name	E-mail	Position
Fazliddin SAMANDAROV	Area Manager	This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Firdavs FAIZULLOEV	National Project Manager	This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
vacant	Progarmme Analyst	n/a
Hoshim HAIMATOV	Admin /Finance Associate	This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
vacant	Economic Advisor	n/a
Najmiddin ABDURAKHIMOV	National Copnsultant /Forestry	This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Bahrom Kholdorov	Project Assistant	This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Buran URAKOV	National FFS Consultant	This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Abdughani Daler MIRZOALIEV	Area Security Assistant	This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Yuldosh BUBIEV	Driver	n/a
Manon KULMATOV	Driver	n/a
Khairullo RAKHMATULLOEV	Driver	n/a
Nozim SATTOROV	Driver	n/a
Jabbor JABBOROV	Driver	n/a
Sodiq OCHILDIEV	Driver	n/a
Nazir KOBILOV	Driver	n/a

 

 

The Ayni Area Office was established in 2005 to reach communites in the Zerafshan Valley. Zeravshan Valley is a remote mountainous area covering over a third of the territory of Sughd region with total area of 11,500 km2 hectares. The offices prioritizes activites that enhance local governance, support economic growth, improve employment opportunities, improve service delivery including safe drinking water, mitigate disaster risk, and those that attract labor migrants’ remittances for local development. The office considers gender mainstreaming as a key aspect of project activities and incorporates activities that give women equal opportunities for participation in civil society and local development.

In March 2006, with funding support from the United Kingdom Government’s Department for International Development (DFID), UNDP launched the main phase of the Zeravshan Valley Initiative Project in all 24 jamoats of the valley’s three isolated districts of Ayni, Panjakent, and Kuhistoni Mastchoh. The project builds on existing development initiatives in the Zeravshan Valley and on UNDP’s experience and achievements throughout Tajikistan. The project aims to decrease poverty and improve the living standards of the Zeravshan Valley’s 295,000 inhabitants through the implementation of the following three project components:

i) Putting in place adequate information systems for planning, identifying priorities and coordinating development;
ii) Improving public services through the efficient management of scarce resources; and
iii) Enhancing livelihoods and employment opportunities.

UNDP Ayni AO will continue supporting communities’ development initiatives by expainding on the success of the Zeravshan Valley Initiative.





Geographic Location, Area of Coverage, Number of In/Direct Beneficiaries, Map of Area of Coverage, Regional Statistics, and Ongoing Projects:

The population of Zerafshan is mainly engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding, which is often hampered due to unstable weather conditions, limited land resources and deteriorated infrastructure. A high unemployment rate and prevailing number of able bodied population resulted in increased annual labour migration to (62% out of capable labour force) mostly the Russian Federation and other former Soviet countries. The area is prone to natural disaster and access to the Valley is often limited during the winter for nearly half of the year due to poor road conditions, avalanches and mudflows.



The Zeravshan Valley runs from East to West between the Turkestan and Hissar – Zeravshan mountain ranges. Access to Tajikistan’s side of the Zeravshan Valley is limited to three unreliable road outlets. On the west side a border road – only opened to the few who happen to have visas or special border permits – links the Valley westwards towards Samarkand, located in Uzbekistan’s downstream side of the Valley. The two other road outlets, closed in winter, consist of a North – South mountain road in poor condition that intersects the two mountain ranges and serves as the only road link between Northern Tajikistan’s Sughd Province and the country’s capital – Dushanbe. The roads are in bad condition and hamper the circulation of goods and people even during summer months.

 

 

 

Population 294,915	Area with the highest rate of labour migration
Youth (13, 7%) 40,403	26 % of the population is engaged in agriculture
Area 11,500 km2	22,158 hectares irrigated, 7,734 rain fed

Zeravshan Valley consists of the three administrative units called Districts or Hukumats with a total population of 294,915 inhabitants. The upstream District of Kuhistoni Mastshoh is on the farthest eastern side. It has 20,611 inhabitants. This highland District’s economy is the most isolated and depends on migrant remittances, potato cropping and animal husbandry. Although the area provides ample opportunities for pasture and cattle breeding, available statistics show that pasture lands are decreasing because of improper maintenance. At the same time, people’s interest in pasture has declined due to diminishing numbers of cattle due to economic constraints and the disappearance of kolkhozes. The midstream District of Ayni is intersected by north – south road and its economy depends on the trade linked to the road, and migrant remittances. Land scarcity is a serious constraint, and consequently off-farm employment opportunities are one of the main issues. The population of Ayni is 74,764. The District of Panjakent is the largest and most populated District among the three with a total of 199,540 inhabitants. Its former prosperity is closely linked to its proximity to Samarkand, historical trade ties albeit now somewhat cut-off, and greater availability of arable land. Its economy depends primarily on cropping, migrant remittances, tobacco, small scale gold mining and trade.

Statistical Profile of Zaravshan Valley in 2008
District Name	Numbers of Jamoats	Name of Jamoats	Number of Villages	Number of Households	Number of Residents	Number of Male	Number of Female	Distance from district centre, km
AYNI Head of District Bobojonov Shodiqul	1	Urmetan	7	4053	17359	8659	8699	40
	2	Dar-Dar	6	1552	7668	3824	3844	12
	3	Ayni	12	2601	13142	6557	6585	0
	4	Rarz	9	2145	10380	5066	5314	25
	5	Shamtuch	5	1378	7081	3535	3546	52
	6	Fon-daryo	12	1601	8512	4259	4253	26
	7	Anzob	10	1299	7852	3927	3925	60
	8	Zarafshon	2	669	2770	1308	1462	27
TOTAL for District	8		63	15298	74764	37135	37628	242
PANJAKENT Head of District Abdunazarov Khusrav	1	Moghiyon	12	3186	17965	9145	8820	598
	2	Sujina	6	2485	11581	5780	5801	62
	3	Rudaki	12	3142	17273	8598	8675	580
	4	Sarazm	22	4490	25089	12529	12560	331
	5	Chinor	5	1312	12066	6075	5991	25
	6	Khalifa Hasan	7	2607	13060	6713	6347	51
	7	Kosatarosh	10	3662	17888	9027	8861	191
	8	Yori	9	3851	17818	8777	9041	315
	9	Amondara	10	2519	12400	6344	6056	192
	10	Khurmi	10	2260	9598	4983	4615	80
	11	Shing	15	1683	10060	5102	4958	649
	12	Farob	2	1622	7384	3747	3637	144
	13	Voru	14	2284	11120	5561	5559	652
	14	Loiq Sherali	7	3735	16238	8133	8105	197
TOTAL for District	14		141	38838	199540	100514	99026	4067
MASTCHOHI KUHI Head of District Oqilov Nurullo	1	Ivan-Tojik	34	2061	12307	6276	6031	579
	2	Langar	21	1516	8304	4268	4036	1287
TOTAL for District	2		55	3577	20611	10544	10067	1866