U.S. Assistance to Tajikistan - Fiscal Year 2004

The Tajikistan assistance program has shifted from primarily focusing on humanitarian assistance during the civil war to efforts that promote democracy, develop the investment climate, and improve social services. Reform of law enforcement services helps Tajikistan defend its borders from the transit of weapons of mass destruction, illicit drugs, and persons of concern.

The estimated $50.7 million budgeted by all U.S. Government agencies for assistance programs in Tajikistan in Fiscal Year 2004 is allocated roughly as follows based on information available as of the date of this fact sheet:

Democracy Programs	$10.2 million
Economic & Social Reform	$12.6 million
Security & Law Enforcement	$6.9 million
Humanitarian Assistance	$20.5 million
Cross Sectoral Initiatives	$0.5 million

Democracy programs in Tajikistan seek to improve political processes and government institutions, strengthen civil society and public advocacy, and support independent media. In preparation for local, parliamentary, and presidential elections in 2005 and 2006, the U.S. Government will increase assistance for nonpartisan political party training, civil society organizations, and media. Civic education programs encourage youth advocacy and critical thinking, and local government programs promote decentralization. Rule of law assistance provides training to lawyers and judges and strengthens the work of the national legislature.

Through civil society support centers, indigenous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receive training, grants, and technical assistance. Independent print and broadcast media outlets are trained in basic journalism techniques, production methods, management, legal issues, marketing, and advertising. U.S. Government assistance also supports an anti-trafficking in persons programs. Training and exchange programs give the next generation of Tajik leaders first-hand experience with the day-to-day functioning of a market-based, democratic system. Last year, the U.S. Government sent approximately 145 Tajikistani citizens to the United States on academic and professional exchange programs in fields ranging from management to social service provision and NGO development. Since 1993, the U.S. Government has funded the travel of over 1,250 Tajikistani citizens to the U.S. on these programs.

In the area of social services, U.S. assistance targets basic education, community development, and the health-care sector. The basic education program seeks to improve teachers’ skills, update curricula, increase parent and community involvement in schools, strengthen the capacity of school administration, and improve school infrastructure. The health care program works with the Ministry of Health to improve access to equitable, efficient, and quality primary health care services. Infectious disease programs focus on fighting tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. Other programs include nutritional surveillance and rehabilitation, improving maternal and child health, and preventing illicit drug use. Conflict mitigation programs mobilize local communities to reduce tensions and improve social conditions through a participatory process resulting in small-scale infrastructure improvements such as rehabilitating schools or irrigation canals.

Market reform programs focus on increasing farmers' incomes and improving water management. The small and medium-sized enterprise program provides training and technical assistance focusing on accounting, management, marketing, tax issues, and the development of professional associations. The microfinance program works to improve the legal and regulatory environment and support micro-credit. The U.S. Government also provides commercial law training to Tajik judges and attorneys, promotes business education, and provides support to the Government of Tajikistan on tax reform, banking sector reform, and World Trade Organization (WTO) accession. A new water user’s association project will focus on increasing community participation in efficient water use, infrastructure repair, and maintenance programs. The U.S. Government is helping to rehabilitate irrigation water pumping stations in southwest Tajikistan.

Security assistance programs seek to enhance Tajikistan’s territorial integrity, prevent the transit of materials or technology related to weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and support a stable, peaceful Tajikistan in order to prevent the spread of influence and activities of radical groups and terrorists. Our Export Control and Related Border Security Assistance (EXBS) program continues to work with Tajik export control officials, customs, and border guards to improve their prevention capabilities against weapons proliferation and other illicit trafficking. The International Military Education and Training Program (IMET) will help facilitate greater professionalism, reform of the armed forces, and provide English language training. Foreign Military Financing is supporting Tajikistan’s recent transformation of a motorized rifle brigade into a light mountain brigade and its development of a peacekeeping battalion.

Tajikistan acceded to the multinational International Science and Technology Center in Moscow in 2003, enabling former weapons scientists from Tajikistan to apply for U.S. nonproliferation assistance. The U.S. funds science centers, bio-chem redirect, and bio-industry initiative programs to engage scientists in transparent, sustainable, cooperative civilian research projects. The Export Control and Related Border Security Program (EXBS) provides training and equipment to enhance border control capabilities of the Customs, Border Guards, and other security forces. EXBS assistance focuses on combating transshipments and exports of WMD, illegal dual use technology items, and other border security violations.

Law enforcement assistance also supports the stability of Tajikistan and the advancement of economic and political reforms by interdicting the rapidly-growing transit of drugs originating in neighboring Afghanistan and by reforming Tajik law enforcement agencies. U.S. assistance in this area supports the new Tajik Drug Control Agency, co-funded by the United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP), which coordinates all Tajik efforts at drug interdiction, drug abuse, and treatment. U.S. assistance supports border security activities to interdict narcotics. The U.S. Government also provides equipment and training for proper collection and analysis of evidence in criminal cases and supports the expansion of law enforcement training curricula to include material on human rights and combating trafficking in persons.

Humanitarian programs in Tajikistan include the provision of over $25 million in medicines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and supplies, school equipment and supplies, emergency shelter items, food, and clothing to the most needy individuals, families, and institutions. The U.S. Government provides the Government of Tajikistan with 2,000 metric tons of wheat seed 17,500 metric tons of food commodities that are sold to support poverty alleviation and income generation projects in Tajikistan.

The Peace Corps has received a formal letter of invitation from the government of Tajikistan and is considering the possibility of opening a program there.