UNDP Kulob Area Office was established in 1996. Since its opening, the office has implemented various types of activities throughout 10 districts of the Eastern Khatlon Oblast (Kulob, Vose, Temurmalik, Farkhor, Hamadoni, Shurobod, Muminobod, Khovaling, Baljuvon and Dangara districts). From 2010 UNDP Kulob AO is recognized as UN representative in Kulob area based to change of UN structure in Tajikistan.

Acting as the UN representative in the area, Kulob Area Office functions as programme/project implementation unit and delivery mechanism for all UNDP projects that cover ten districts of Eastern Khatlon in the area and seven districts of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (Darvoz, Vanj, Rushon, Shughnon, Roshtkala, Ishkoshim and Murghab. During the beginning date of operations the Area Office implemented the following types of activities:

- From 1996-2001 Kulob AO mainly implemented projects related to emergency relief and rehabilitation of social infrastructure (schools, hospitals, water and irrigation systems, food security projects and etc.) 
- From 2002-2009 Kulob AO has been implementing projects which focus on development activities (establishing Jamoat Resource Centers (JRCs) and District Development Committees (DDCs) income generation sub-projects, supporting SMEs and agricultural best practices, establishing Associations of Dehkan Farms (DFAs) and Business Advisory Centers) 
- From 2010 till present Kulob AO implements various types of projects directed to different thematic areas as crises prevention and recovery, good governance, energy and environment and health.

Presently Area Office addresses these challenges through a thematic approach which is aligned with broader development goals, including the overall framework for UN cooperation which contributes to national frameworks for development including the National Development Strategy and Poverty Reduction Strategy. More recent projects, implemented through the Area Office is focused on early recovery, health, agrobiodiversity and cross-border projects through employment creation, rehabilitation of social infrastructures, natural resource management, capacity building, income generation and etc. In the period of 15 years of functioning, the office has implemented over 513 sub-projects amounting to over US $8,587,632. Delivery Status of UNDP Kulob AO is reached over than US $8.5 million starting from 1996 until present. 

To achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and reduce poverty in the rural areas of Eastern Khatlon and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast the area office functioning as UNDP delivery mechanism implementing projects in close collaboration with UNDP/DRMP, UNDP/GFATM, UNDP/Agrobidiversity projects in order to reduce poverty and ensure long-term development in the UN framework of support for Tajikistan.
The below is the list of projects implemented in close collaboration of other UNDP programme and projects: 

- “Tajikistan-Afghanistan Poverty Reduction Initiative”, funded by Japan Government
- “Strengthening Tuberculosis Prevention and Control Program in the Framework of Health System Reform in the Republic of Tajikistan” funded by GFATM
- “Malaria Elimination in Tajikistan for 2009-2014”, funded by GFATM
- “Strengthening Local Level Early Recovery Programme”, funded by UNDP/BCPR

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

Kulob city

Kulob - is a city in Eastern Khatlon Province of Tajikistan and the city changed its name from Khatlon to Kulob in 1750. In 1921, after the fall of the Bukhara Emirate, Soviet rule was established in Kulob and the city became an industrial center during the Soviet era. In September 2006 Kulob celebrated its 2700th anniversary. Kulob city was born more than 2,700 years ago and for many centuries was and in the present time exists an important political, commercial and economic and cultural center of Khatlon Oblast. The city is stood on one of the Great Silk way branches and has close trade and economic and cultural links with many Oriental and Western countries. The city is Persian-speaking, and dialects are grouped together with the "southern" group of Tajik dialects. Kulob is located 203 km southeast of the capital Dushanbe on the Yakhsu River at 580m above sea level; it is one of the largest cities in the country (population 97,500).

Kulob Area

Kulob area covers the eastern half of Khatlon Oblast, borders on Afghanistan in the south, Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast in the east and Kurgon-Teppa zone in the west and north. The total land area is equal to some 12,900 km² with a population of 1,015.140 persons or population density of 582, 7 persons per km². Kulob area is divided into 10 districts of which five are deemed hilly and mountainous and the other five are located in the lowlands. They are Kulob, Vose, Temurmalik (former Sovetski), Farkhor, Hamadoni (former Moskovski), Shurobod, Muminobod, Khovaling, Baljuvan and Dangara districts.

KULOB AREA - FACTS & FIGURES

Social and Economic situation

Kulob zone was not directly hit by the civil war, as was the case in Kurgon-Teppa and other areas, but war affected all spheres of the area’s life. For instance the situation of all social infrastructures like schools and hospitals deteriorated. Year by year new social infrastructures are constructed and the destroyed ones are rehabilitated.

The population of Kulob area is mainly engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. In the past, the Kulob area was a major producer and supplier of meat and agricultural products. But during the last few years’ agricultural productivity deteriorated to a level far below the past average. In the past agriculture was a government monopoly under Sovkhozes and Kolkhozes. Most properties of Kolkhozes and Sovkhozes have been looted or destroyed during the early years after dissolution of the Soviet Union. Now, these organizations reorganized into private “Dehkаn Farms”, but most are on the decline due to financial constraints.

Low living standard of population and a high unemployment rate and prevailing number of able bodied population resulted in increased annual labour migration to CIS countries and especially to Russian Federation.

List of Partners:

1. Government at Oblast level (Khatlon Oblast Hukumat)
2. Government at District level (10 District Hukumats of Kulob area)
3. Jamoat (70 jamoats functioning at 10 districts of Kulob area)
4. Modular Training Center under the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection
5. Regional Committee of Emergency Situations  
6. REACT
7. Jamoat Resource Centers (18 JRCs in Kulob area)
8. Micro-Finance Institutions
9. International NGOs
10. Public/private companies
11. Statistic departments

Donor Agencies:

1. UNDP
2. UNDP BCPR
3. UNDP GEF
4. Government of Japan
5. GFATM

Delivery status of UNDP Kulob AO

UNDP KULYAB AREA OFFICE STAFF LIST

For detailed information, please contact Ms. Sojida Tagaeva, Programme Analyst by e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it