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planning, and in the management and implementation of local
development projects. The project strived to enhance local
accountability, increase access to rural finance, and improve
infrastructure and the delivery of basic services.
Executive
summary
This report contains the findings of a review of three projects,
funded by the Democratic Governance Thematic Trust Fund
(DGTTF), in Tajikistan in 2006, 2007 and 2008. The review was
conducted by an independent consultant. The projects were
part of UNDP’s broad efforts to support the development of local
governance and provide assistance to regional development
in Tajikistan.
The review examined the projects’ impacts within the context
of history and political processes, relating specifically to local
governance and regional development. It focused on the
projects’ effectiveness, efficiency, innovation, catalytic effect, and
sustainability. The report considers key underlying factors, drivers,
and future scenarios, which provide a basis for determining the
projects’ impact.
Tajikistan is among the world’s least accessible countries. Its
high, mountainous terrain and remoteness, compounded by
a lack of infrastructure and a weak governance and regulatory
framework, are significant barriers to external trade, connectivity,
and investment. Its post-independence civil war (1992-97)
resulted in substantial economic and human losses. The country
remains the poorest of the former Soviet Union republics.
About 53 percent of the total population, and up to 70 percent
of people in isolated rural and mountainous areas, live below
the poverty line.
UNDP Tajikistan used a multi-sector approach to address poverty,
rural, and local development. Work on poverty alleviation,
decentralization, and local governance began in the aftermath
of the civil war, and continued with the flagship intervention
of UNDP Tajikistan Communities Programme (2004-2012). This
programme supported the stated goals of the Government
of Tajikistan to improve participatory processes by enhancing
opportunities for community participation in local development
The three projects supported through the DGTTF were integrated
into a large UNDP Tajikistan poverty, rural development, and
local governance portfolio, and were implemented within the
Communities Programme framework.
The first project, Clean Start for Local Councils – Building
Accountability at the Local Level, began in 2006 with a
total DGTTF contribution of US$200,000. It was designed to
strengthen the capacity of local councils to perform their
functions professionally, transparently, and accountably. The
project also supported citizens’ participation in local decisionmaking
processes through citizens’ report cards and the
introduction of a Citizen Charter. The project helped to establish
participatory planning mechanisms in the pilot districts.
The project promoted an innovative approach to the delivery of
public services by introducing new tools, such as citizen report
card surveys and citizens’ charters. It also worked to build the
capacity of district councils to comprehensively implement
new functions deriving from the reformed legal framework.
The project was implemented using the Communities
Programme management and operational structure. This
contributed to its effectiveness and efficiency, and all planned
results were achieved within the planned timeframe.
Its catalytic effect is found in its extension to the multi-donor
funded Communities Programme (2007-2009). This programme
had a total budget of around US$22 million, and was funded by
UNDP, DFID, Asian Development Bank, CIDA, and GTZ.
The participation of national partners in all project activities
contributed towards a high level of sustainability. In addition,
the Strategic Research Centre and the Institute for Civil Service
Training adopted project results into their regular work and
continued with implementation.
DGTTF supported another project in 2007, Building national
capacities for implementation of poverty reduction
strategies, with US$130,000. This project developed a capacity
development programme for elected representatives and civil
servants from district and jamoat levels (third-level administrative
divisions, similar to communes) to promote strategic planning
for socio-economic development. This enabled district
development plans to be prepared in three districts of Zarafshan
Valley. In addition, the project assisted with the improvement of
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