U.S. Assistance to Tajikistan -- Fiscal Year 2005

The Tajikistan assistance program has shifted from humanitarian assistance during the 1992-97 civil war to efforts that promote democracy, strengthen security and law enforcement capabilities, develop the investment climate, and improve social services. In response to the June 2005 transfer of responsibility for the Tajik-Afghan border from Russian border guards to Tajik border guards, the U.S. is providing a large program to help Tajikistan defend its borders from the transit of weapons of mass destruction, illicit drugs, and potential terrorists.

The estimated $59.9 million budgeted by all U.S. Government agencies for assistance programs in Tajikistan in Fiscal Year 2005 is allocated roughly as follows based on information available as of the date of this fact sheet:

(Note: in light of the Russian border forces’ withdrawal from the Tajik-Afghan border, the U.S. Government has budgeted $16.5 million from the FY 2005 Supplemental to assist the Government of Tajikistan in fighting narcotics trafficking and improving border security. This Supplemental assistance is included in the figures below.)

Democracy programs in Tajikistan seek to improve the political process, increase the capacity and accountability of local and central government institutions, strengthen civil society and public advocacy, support independent media, and foster human rights. The U.S. Government provides non-partisan training for political parties. The U.S. Government helps the Tajik Central Government to build the capacity of local governments to provide basic services in seven pilot areas.

The legal reform program supports practical skills for law students through moot courts and street law programs, human rights training, and law clinics. Rule of law assistance provides computers and 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 provided with production grants, programming, and business management training, and promote freedom of speech. U.S. Government assistance also supports 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 165 Tajik citizens to the United States on academic and professional exchange programs in fields ranging from management to social services and NGO development. Since 1993, the U.S. Government has funded travel for over 1,420 Tajikistani citizens to the United States on these programs.

In the area of social services, U.S. assistance targets basic education, community development, and health-care. 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. Infectious disease programs focus on fighting tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. Other programs include nutritional surveillance and rehabilitation, maternal and child health, and illicit drug use prevention. Conflict mitigation programs mobilize local communities to reduce tensions, improve social conditions, and increase citizen participation through engaging the local communities in setting priorities for small-scale infrastructure improvements such as rehabilitating schools or irrigation canals.

Market reform programs focus on increasing incomes and improving water management to help agricultural development. The small and medium-sized enterprise program provides training and technical assistance in accounting, management, marketing, taxes, professional associations, and agribusiness development. The microfinance program works to improve the legal and regulatory environment and support micro-credit. The U.S. Government also promotes business and economics programs, provides commercial law training to Tajik judges and attorneys, 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. The U.S. Government also launched a program called Agricultural Finance Plus to stimulate economic growth throughout the farm-to-market value chain.

In light of the Russian Border Forces’ withdrawal from the Tajik-Afghan border, U.S. security assistance programs contribute to an international donor effort to enhance Tajikistan’s territorial integrity, prevent the transit of narcotics and material 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. EXBS assistance focuses on combating trans-shipments and exports of WMD, illegal dual use technology items, and other border security violations. The International Military Education and Training Program (IMET) will help facilitate greater professionalism through 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 (ISTC) 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 BioIndustry Initiative programs to engage scientists in transparent, sustainable, cooperative civilian research projects.

Law enforcement assistance also supports the stability of Tajikistan and 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 Office of Drug Control (UNODC), 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 in Fiscal Year 2005 of over $25 million in medicines, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment and supplies, school supplies, emergency shelter items, food, and clothing to the most needy individuals, families, and institutions. Included in that total is a Department of State hospital upgrade project that provided over $10 million in medical supplies and equipment and was concluded in Dushanbe in April 2005. In Fiscal Year 2005, the U.S. Government is providing Tajikistan with food commodities worth $12 million that are sold and distributed to support poverty alleviation and income generation projects in Tajikistan.