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20 July 2022
UNODC trains prison officers in Tajikistan
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15 July 2022
EU-funded project supports stress testing of Tajikistan’s disaster risk management system
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12 July 2022
UNODC raises public awareness about illicit drugs in Central Asia
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The Sustainable Development Goals in Tajikistan
The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. These are the goals the UN is working on in Tajikistan:
Press Release
02 April 2021
UNDAF Joint Steering Committee Meeting takes place in Dushanbe
The Government of Tajikistan and the United Nations met today to review achievements against national development priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals and to discuss upcoming development cooperation plans. The meeting was convened by Mr. Zavqizoda Zavqi Amin, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, and Ms. Sezin Sinanoglu, UN Resident Coordinator who together co-chair the National Joint Steering Committee responsible for overseeing the implementation of the United National Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF 2016-2022).*
The meeting reviewed the UN’s contribution during 2020 to sustainable development in both the COVID-19 response as well as across the pillars of the UNDAF: democratic governance, rule of law and human rights; inclusive and sustainable economic development; social development (health, education, and social protection) and access to quality services; inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable groups; and environmental sustainability.
In 2020, in partnership with the Government, the UN in Tajikistan provided:
more than 3.5 million individuals with essential health services
more than 2.5 million children and vulnerable households with food assistance
more than 2 million children with distance learning support
more than 20,000 women with reproductive health services during a time when all health services were stretched to the limit
dedicated support to those experiencing gender-based violence
support through cash assistance, food packages, and documentation to almost 10,000 refugees and stateless people,
support through transportation and food packages to more than 3,000 Tajik migrants stranded abroad
on the job training on digitalization, grants for startups, and job creation to almost 4,000 people (42% women and 37% youth) and more than 900 small businesses affected by COVID
The major UNDAF results achieved represent a joint commitment and collaborative efforts between the UN Agencies and the Government of Tajikistan:
adoption of Law on Legal Aid in 2020 (20% of the budget of the free legal aid system covered by the state budget)
development and ensuring SDG mainstreaming in MoEDT and other key strategic documents,
Net enrolment ratio (NER) in pre-primary education, children between the ages of 36–59 months (SDG 4.2.2) 15.9% (school year 19-20);
providing access to essential health services for up to 80 % of the general population;
increasing access and coverage of vulnerable groups of the population to protective programs by 60%;
providing hot meals up to 433,000 students (49% girls) in schools; 22,000 families of vulnerable school children receiving a special take-home ration;
development of a roadmap for ratification of CRPD adopted by the Government of RT on February 27, 2020, and
518,430 people (57% women) across 20 most vulnerable district benefiting from the disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation interventions;
Mr. Zavqizoda Zavqi, Minister of Economic Development and Trade expressed his gratitude to the UN for the partnership and support in the country’s development made possible due to the economic policy within the development agenda supported by the President of Tajikistan. Thanks to coordinated actions and the timely integrated response plan the average annual GDP growth was ensured at the level of at least 7% and GDP increased by 1.6 times and the poverty has been reduced from 31.3 percent to 26.3 percent despite the COVID-19 crisis and economic slowdown.
Ms. Sezin Sinanoglu, UN Resident Coordinator noted: “We have less than 10 years left to achieve all the 2030 Agenda targets that Tajikistan has established to eliminate poverty and food insecurity, achieve gender equality, fight climate change, and more. The full roll-out of the UN reform in Tajikistan has a focus on moving from the provision of development assistance to a partnership for sustainable development, and we look forward to enhanced cooperation in achieving results against these priorities and making this vision a reality in the next two years.
The full 2020 UN Annual Results Report for Tajikistan that illustrates the UN’s contribution to the advancement of the SDG will be available on 10 April 2021.
* The UNDAF is a strategic framework that draws on the full range of expertise and resources of the United Nations Country Team (UNCT) to deliver development results in response to national priorities as reflected in the National Development Strategy 2030, the Mid-term Development Programme 2021-2025 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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25 October 2021
National Workshop on SDG Financing in Tajikistan kicks off in Dushanbe
National Workshop on SDG Financing in Tajikistan kicks off in Dushanbe: experts discuss the innovative approaches in financing SDGs on the national level
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27 November 2020
'16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence' Launches in Tajikistan
Government, UN and EU launch 16 days of activism against gender-based violence.
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Story
28 July 2022
UNODC trains prison officers in Tajikistan
One of the important objectives of the staff of prison services is to contribute to public safety through safe, secure and humane management of suspects and offenders and the provision of opportunities for rehabilitation and reintegration. Prison staff training is essential to enable them to mitigate potential threats in prison and find solutions on how to manage prison challenges at large.
The UNODC’s approach to supporting the penitentiary system is underpinned by international norms and standards, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (The Nelson Mandela Rules).
On 18 – 20 July 2022, UNODC conducted in Dushanbe (Tajikistan) a three-day workshop on training curricula for prison officers and the Nelson Mandela Rules. The workshop aimed to review the current training curriculum for prison officers and elaborate on the institutionalization of the UNODC’s e-learning course on the Nelson Mandela Rules into the regular training curriculum for prison officers. Twenty penitentiary system officers attended the workshop.
“Capacity building is particularly important for prison staff working with prisoners convicted for extremism and terrorism. Improving the skills of our staff to organize work with these groups of prisoners more effectively is our priority. We are confident that today’s workshop allowing for an exchange of views on various challenges of the penitentiary system, will be useful for the participants, and will also provide the opportunity to develop recommendations for further cooperation and exchange of best practices,” said Mr. Furkat Akbarov, Deputy Head of the Main Directorate for the Execution of Criminal Sentences under the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan in opening the workshop.
“The work and focus dedicated to identifying and improving the curriculum by the UNODC team, in conjunction with the Ministry of Justice in Tajikistan, will deliver high-quality results and improve the ability of prison officers in Tajikistan to effectively and successfully work with foreign terrorist fighters and violent extremist prisoners,” said Ms. Bridgette Walker, Chargé d’Affaires, the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe in her welcome remarks.
“Beginning this workshop today, on Nelson Mandela Day, is no mere coincidence. The Nelson Mandela Rules - are a guiding light for the establishment of safe and humane prisons around the globe that properly rehabilitate and prevent individuals from reoffending. These rules provide a strong, principled foundation on which prison systems can best address the needs of the prisoners and the country’s security,” she added.
The workshop was conducted in a hybrid format and provided theoretical and practical sessions. The sessions were delivered by Torben Adams, Shah Salman Khan, Jörg Lorenz, Batyr Saparbaev, and Myrzabek Tuiganov - international experts with extensive experience in criminal justice, human rights and security, prison system management, training prison staff and curriculum design.
Mr. Torben Adams, UNODC International Programme Coordinator, thanked the Government of Tajikistan for its commitment to the joint Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters Detention Programme in the country and all related initiatives. He also expressed gratitude to the U.S. Government for the financial support that enabled to work in partnership on the important topics of security and safety in prison, and on rehabilitation and reintegration of prisoners.
“In our joint mission to ‘leave no-one behind’, we must not forget prisoners and those who are tasked with their custody and care. On Nelson Mandela Day, we are sending a strong message to that effect – a message which reiterates the need to ensure continued human rights compliance behind bars and which reiterates that treating prisoners in line with their human dignity and effectively preparing them for their release is an essential contributor to public safety and the cohesion of societies,” he noted.
During the workshop, the participants learned about the Nelson Mandela Rules, national and international training curricula for prison staff, core competencies required for prison staff working with violent extremist prisoners and foreign terrorist fighters, special needs of women violent extremist prisoners and juveniles recruited and exploited by violent extremist groups. They also acquired knowledge and skills in the process of curriculum design and the related management techniques in some jurisdictions with an emphasis on the DACUM (Developing a Curriculum) method.
They had a dedicated discussion on the selection and recruitment process for staff working in prison, and on the induction and advanced training which should be offered for staff working in prison.
On the last day of the workshop, the participants made recommendations on the design, delivery and institutionalization of an in-service training curriculum for prison officers dedicated to the management of high-risk prisoners, including terrorist and foreign terrorist fighters prisoners, and put forward suggestions on the institutionalization of the UNODC’s e-learning course on the Nelson Mandela Rules into the regular training curriculum for prison staff in Tajikistan.
Upon completion of the workshop, the participants were awarded certificates. They thanked UNODC and trainers for the high quality of the workshop.
The workshop was conducted under the UNODC Global Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters Detention Programme and the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025. The UNODC Global Returning Foreign Terrorist Fighters Detention Programme is funded by the Counterterrorism Bureau of the U.S. Department of State.
The programme in Tajikistan aims to enhance the national capacity to manage threats posed by foreign terrorist fighters through technical assistance to law enforcement, corrections, and justice sector agencies consistent with relevant norms of international law.
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14 July 2022
UNODC raises public awareness about illicit drugs in Central Asia
Central Asia borders Afghanistan - the world’s largest opium poppy producer. The region is on the front line of efforts to counter drug trafficking along the northern route.
Thematic public awareness-raising campaigns play an important role in the fight against illicit drugs. It is crucial to inform, in particular, young people, who make up more than half of the population in Central Asian countries about the risks posed by drug use and illicit drug trafficking.
The awareness-raising campaign was conducted at the Korday border crossing point (BCP) on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border, the Sypatay Batyr BCP on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border, the Ak-Zhol BCP on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border, the Zhibek Zholy BCP on the Kazakh-Uzbek border, the Dusti BCP on the Tajik-Uzbek border, the Sariosiyo BCP on the Uzbek-Tajik border, the Gisht Kuprik BCP on the Uzbek-Kazakh border and the Aktau International Airport in Kazakhstan, the International Airport Manas in Kyrgyzstan and the Tashkent International Airport in Uzbekistan.
During the campaign, the UNODC team and law enforcement officers working at the BCPs and international airports placed information banners and disseminated fridge magnets among people crossing the borders. The messages on the banners and magnets were presented in English, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian, Tajik, and Uzbek languages.
A campaign video dedicated to the Day was shown at the arrival and departure terminals of international flights of the Aktau International Airport and the border terminal of the Sypatay Batyr BCP.
The UNODC representatives and law enforcement officers informed the citizens crossing the land and air borders about World Drug Day, the harmful health consequences of drug use and the legal consequences of illicit drug use and trafficking, among others.
The banners provided the following useful information: “Even a single use of a drug can cause severe harm to the human body. You can become addicted to any type of drug the first time you try it”; “Illegal drugs are often transported under the guise of ordinary food, medications, or other legal goods”; “Anyone can be found to be a drug trafficker by agreeing to transport a stranger’s luggage across the border if it is found to contain drugs.”
The key message on the magnet was a reminder of the harms of drug abuse.
The campaign was conducted under the Cross-Border Cooperation Project of Sub-programme 1 “Countering transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025. The project aims to enhance the capacity of border crossing points and improve regional cross-border cooperation by promoting Border Liaison Offices’ concept and developing information and communication networks for border agencies.
The project is funded by the Government of Japan.
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Story
07 July 2022
Training drug control agents helps to effectively respond to drug trafficking challenges along the Tajik-Afghan border
Drug trafficking and illicit financial flows emanating out of Afghanistan pose increased challenges for the Central Asian region. Afghanistan continues to dominate the worldwide opium market, accounting for 85 per cent of the global production total in 2020. Opium produced in Afghanistan supplies markets in neighbouring countries as well as Europe, the Near and Middle East, South Asia and Africa.
Of all of Afghanistan’s neighbours in Central Asia, Tajikistan shares its longest border. The Tajik-Afghan border runs for almost 1400 km and through incredibly rugged mountains that, compounded by weak security, make it porous. Tajikistan is therefore the most vulnerable among its neighbours to drug-related threats and challenges. Accordingly, Tajikistan plays a critical role in fighting illicit drug trafficking, especially given the high opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, and the increased production of synthetic drugs. Tajikistan ranked eleventh among countries with the largest quantities of opiate seizures in 2020.
UNODC’s counternarcotics efforts in Central Asia aim to strengthen national drug enforcement agencies to address the drug-related threats and challenges effectively. The foremost coordinating institute of drug control, prevention and enforcement-related activities in Tajikistan is the Drug Control Agency under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan (DCA), established in 1999. UNODC has supported it since then to enhance its capacities to counter drug trafficking, including strengthening institutional and human resources capabilities to cope with emerging challenges related to the regional drug situation.
Since 2020, UNODC in Tajikistan has been establishing a training academy at the DCA as part of a project funded by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The academy is designed to empower DCA staff, equipping them with the relevant knowledge and skills to execute effective service delivery.
To establish the long-term sustainability of the training centre, UNODC has assisted in conducting training-of-trainers (ToT) courses to create a pool of national trainers. They will support the DCA by developing and delivering the training curriculum, and advising on the application of relevant tools, standards and norms, and best practices in the design, delivery and evaluation of training programmes.
Two recipients of the ToT courses are Major Nuriddin Sharifzoda, Head of the DCA Legal Affairs Unit, and Lieutenant Colonel Tojiddin Ismoiliyon, Head of the DCA Training Centre. They are building their skills to develop their institution’s capacity, efficiency, and reputation.
Over the past eight months they have delivered training courses with skills and knowledge gained from the ToT programmes and drafted standard operating procedures and some policy documents.
Recently, the pair took a study tour to institutions in Almaty, Kazakhstan and Budapest, Hungary to study methods of organizing, developing, conducting, and evaluating training programmes, and processing information on drugs and precursors. They compared good practices that could be brought to the DCA.
Tojiddin Ismoiliyon described his experience to UNODC: “I have extensive teaching experience. By attending ToT courses, I learned about new teaching methods, and how to plan, conduct, and structure a course. I honed my training skills, and knowledge in adult education. I developed the DCA and UNODC project implementation plan and training materials. The trainings greatly contributed to my professional development.”
Nuriddin Sharifzoda also expressed that “the courses added value to my professional teaching experience. I have trained recruits and in-service officers from the regional and inter-district departments of DCA. The ToT courses improved my training skills and knowledge in using best teaching practices. I am now equipped to conduct advanced training courses for the DCA’s instructors and staff,” he added.
Both trainers were asked what they intended to do next with their additional knowledge and skills. Both proposed establishing an institute of advanced training and professional development at the DCA training centre to further strengthen the agency’s training and human resources capacities.
Tojiddin Ismoiliyon discussed developing the DCA’s institutional capacities “to ensure favourable training conditions and high quality of training activities, adapted to modern requirements and in line with international standards. If the agency’s human resources capacity is strengthened, that will contribute to conducting counternarcotics activities more effectively. That will in turn contribute to the effective detection of crimes and drug seizures.”
Nuriddin Sharifzoda shared his plans to contribute to the agency’s development: “I am engaged in reviewing the current drug control legislation and proposals to improve it. I will help improve drug control regulatory and legal acts and bring legislation in line with international standards and Tajikistan’s obligations. And I will pass my new knowledge on to our officers.”
As part of its activities for World Drug Day, 26 June 2022, the DCA organized and conducted drug abuse prevention public awareness-raising campaigns and contests among youth. Both Major Nuriddin Sharifzoda and Lieutenant Colonel Tojiddin Ismoiliyon took active roles in organizing the events and promoting good health, with their enhanced training experience and skills making the activities impactful.
Mustafa Erten, Head of the UNODC Programme Office in Tajikistan, delivered several ToT courses and follow-up trainings for the DCA officers. He calls the ToT courses “the most sustainable form of capacity development as they support the building of personal skills in imparting knowledge to others, and build up an institutional memory – key for organizations with an eye on continuous development. It is encouraging to witness the strong commitment of the DCA to ToT courses through our joint project,” he added.
***
The UNODC Programme for Central Asia will further strengthen the DCA’s capacity through the ongoing Tajikistan Drug Control Agency Establishing the Training Academy: Phase II project. This includes the provision of additional ToT courses, recruit and in-service staff trainings, as well as the establishment of a new database system for tracking information flow on the DCA capacity-building initiatives and the development of e-learning training modules, and an electronic library system in line with the DCA requirements. The electronic library will be updated by DCA trainers with materials, manuals, and instructions.
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Story
04 April 2022
Women production groups taking the lead in Tajikistan
In Tajikistan, most of the population rely on agriculture and labour migration for a living. However, numerous studies have found that Tajik women farmers receive little reward or income in return for their labour. They traditionally have less access than men to productive resources, services, and opportunities, including land, financial services, and education. Dasturgul Ibrohimova, who lives in the remote district of Muminobod in Khatlon Region, is one of them.
Before COVID-19, Dasturgul and her family of four children relied mostly on remittances from her husband. Due to movement restrictions, her husband hasn’t been able to travel to Russia to find work. Their family plot has become the only source of income.
In 2020, with the financial support of Japan Association for the World Food Programme (JAWFP), WFP launched a women’s production groups project in 21 districts of the country, including Muminobod District, the homeland of Dasturgul. The project was implemented by NGO Caritas Switzerland. Dasturgul was among the first group of participants in the project. With the knowledge she acquired, she formed a production group consisting of six women from her village.
“We started this business by renting one hectare of land plot from an owner. It was hard to prepare the land for cultivation. Even my husband had hesitation about our plans and refused to help me. The plot was not used for a long time which meant more efforts were required from us to transform it into a cultivation farm,” says Dasturgul.
“For the first time, in August, we planted chickpeas with the seeds I received from WFP, but we harvested almost nothing. The knowledge we received was not enough for our climate and we also realized that it was not the right season to plant. We tried the second time in April next year. Thanks God, we harvested good products and used them for our consumption and sold the extra in the market. Before this project, what we managed to harvest was not even enough for our own consumption. We are now planning to expand this activity by renting additional plots,” says Dasturgul.
Through this project, Dasturgul learned how to increase farm productivity with good agricultural practices, such as integrated soil fertility management. She was also taught business strategies to help her market and sell her crops.
Some 90 women in 21 districts of the country took part in the project. WFP ensured rural women like Dasturgul were included so that they could have an equal opportunity to improve their food security and income.
Within this project, every production group was provided with tablets, and women participants created a WhatsApp group to keep in touch and share their experience and tips and offer each other support.
“We know how to store agricultural products, how to use fertilizers, and the need to follow recommendations from agricultural experts. Now, I can tell with confidence that in my district, it is possible to harvest more than one time. For this, I want to thank JAWFP and WFP for their support,” concluded Dasturgul.
Contributor: Nasrullo Ramazonov, WFP
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Story
08 March 2022
Op-Ed for the Secretary-General: “A Sustainable Feminist Recovery”
As the world moves ahead to mark International Women’s Day, the clock on women’s rights is moving backwards. All of us are paying the price.
The cascading crises of recent years have highlighted how women’s leadership is more crucial than ever.
Women have heroically confronted the COVID-19 pandemic as doctors, nurses, and public health and social care workers.
But at the same time, women and girls have been the first to lose out on jobs or schooling, taking on more unpaid care work, and facing skyrocketing levels of domestic and cyber abuse and child marriage.
The pandemic has highlighted even more starkly an age-old truth: the roots of patriarchy run deep. We still live in a male-dominated world with a male-dominated culture.
As a result, in good times or bad, women are more likely to fall into poverty. Their healthcare is sacrificed and their education and opportunities are curtailed.
And in countries enduring conflict — as we see from Ethiopia to Afghanistan to Ukraine -- women and girls are the most vulnerable but also the most compelling voices for peace.
As we look to the future, a sustainable and equal recovery for all is only possible if it is a feminist recovery — one that puts progress for girls and women at its centre.
We need economic progress through targeted investments in women’s education, employment, training and decent work. Women should be first in line for the 400 million jobs we are called to create by 2030.
We need social progress through investments in social protection systems and the care economy. Such investments yield huge dividends, creating green, sustainable jobs, while supporting members of our societies that need assistance, including children, older people and the sick.
We need financial progress, to reform a morally bankrupt global financial system, so all countries can invest in a woman-centred economic recovery. This includes debt relief and fairer tax systems that channel some of the massive pockets of wealth around the world to those who need it most.
We need urgent, transformative climate action, to reverse the reckless increase in emissions and gender inequalities that have left women and girls disproportionately vulnerable. Developed countries must urgently deliver on their commitments on finance and technical support for a just transition from fossil fuels. The successful, stable economies of the future will be green, gender-inclusive and sustainable.
We need more women in leadership in government and business, including finance ministers and CEOs, developing and implementing green and socially progressive policies that benefit all their people.
We know, for example, that having more women in parliaments is linked with stronger climate commitments and higher levels of investment in healthcare and education.
We need political progress through targeted measures that ensure women’s equal leadership and representation at all levels of political decision-making, through bold gender quotas.
Gender inequality is essentially a question of power. Uprooting centuries of patriarchy demands that power is equally shared across every institution, at every level.
At the United Nations, we have achieved — for the first time in the organization’s history — gender parity in senior management at headquarters and around the world. This has dramatically improved our ability to better reflect and represent the communities we serve.
Every step of the way, we can take inspiration from women and girls pushing for progress in every sphere and every corner of our globe.
Young women climate campaigners are leading global efforts to pressure governments to live up to their commitments.
Women’s rights activists are bravely demanding equality and justice, and building more peaceful societies as peacekeepers, peacemakers and humanitarians in some of the world’s trouble zones and beyond.
In societies where women’s rights movements are vibrant, democracies are stronger.
When the world invests in expanding opportunities for women and girls, all of humanity wins.
As a matter of justice, equality, morality and plain common sense, we need to turn the clock forward on women’s rights.
We need a sustainable, feminist recovery centred around — and driven by — women and girls.
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Press Release
15 July 2022
EU-funded project supports stress testing of Tajikistan’s disaster risk management system
The workshop was funded by the European Union (EU) and organized by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) within the joint project on disaster risk reduction in Central Asia.
In May 2022, Tajikistan’s Committee of Emergency Situations & Civil Defense and UNDRR concluded a comprehensive DRM system capacity assessment and planning exercise, which revealed major needs and challenges in the system and suggested a targeted plan of action to strengthen the disaster risk reduction (DRR) policy implementation in the country.
As the next step of the process, EU-UNDRR project supported the National Platform to conduct a stress test analysis - a scenario-based multi-stakeholder assessment process to evaluate the state of national capabilities to reduce, absorb and transfer disaster risk and develop a targeted action plan to further support the strengthening of the DRM system. During the meeting, participants developed disaster scenarios for Tajikistan based on relevant sources, and prioritized required DRM system capacities against the disaster scenarios.
Over the past years, Tajikistan has made significant progress in increasing its capacity in DRM and in the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. As part of the work towards reducing disaster risks, Tajikistan has developed and adopted the National Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction in 2019, its implementation is guided by the National Platform for DRR. However, the increasing challenges posed by climate change and the rapid change of the global hazard trends may create strong stress for the DRM system of the country.
Background information
The EU-funded project “Strengthening disaster resilience and accelerating the implementation of Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction in Central Asia”, implemented by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), supports countries of the region in implementing the Sendai Framework priorities. The project supports strengthening regional coordination, development of regional DRR strategy, national disaster loss accounting systems, and community-level disaster risk reduction. On the local level, the project supports the development of disaster resilience strategies of capital cities. For this project, the EU committed EUR 3,750,000 for the three-year implementation.
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Press Release
26 July 2022
UNODC raises public awareness about illicit drugs in Central Asia
Central Asia borders Afghanistan - the world’s largest opium poppy producer. The region is on the front line of efforts to counter drug trafficking along the northern route.
Thematic public awareness-raising campaigns play an important role in the fight against illicit drugs. It is crucial to inform, in particular, young people, who make up more than half of the population in Central Asian countries about the risks posed by drug use and illicit drug trafficking.
The awareness-raising campaign was conducted at the Korday border crossing point (BCP) on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border, the Sypatay Batyr BCP on the Kazakh-Kyrgyz border, the Ak-Zhol BCP on the Kyrgyz-Kazakh border, the Zhibek Zholy BCP on the Kazakh-Uzbek border, the Dusti BCP on the Tajik-Uzbek border, the Sariosiyo BCP on the Uzbek-Tajik border, the Gisht Kuprik BCP on the Uzbek-Kazakh border and the Aktau International Airport in Kazakhstan, the International Airport Manas in Kyrgyzstan and the Tashkent International Airport in Uzbekistan.
During the campaign, the UNODC team and law enforcement officers working at the BCPs and international airports placed information banners and disseminated fridge magnets among people crossing the borders. The messages on the banners and magnets were presented in English, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Russian, Tajik, and Uzbek languages.
A campaign video dedicated to the Day was shown at the arrival and departure terminals of international flights of the Aktau International Airport and the border terminal of the Sypatay Batyr BCP.
The UNODC representatives and law enforcement officers informed the citizens crossing the land and air borders about World Drug Day, the harmful health consequences of drug use and the legal consequences of illicit drug use and trafficking, among others.
The banners provided the following useful information: “Even a single use of a drug can cause severe harm to the human body. You can become addicted to any type of drug the first time you try it”; “Illegal drugs are often transported under the guise of ordinary food, medications, or other legal goods”; “Anyone can be found to be a drug trafficker by agreeing to transport a stranger’s luggage across the border if it is found to contain drugs.”
The key message on the magnet was a reminder of the harms of drug abuse.
The campaign was conducted under the Cross-Border Cooperation Project of Sub-programme 1 “Countering transnational organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and preventing terrorism” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025. The project aims to enhance the capacity of border crossing points and improve regional cross-border cooperation by promoting Border Liaison Offices’ concept and developing information and communication networks for border agencies.
The project is funded by the Government of Japan.
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Press Release
05 July 2022
Government and WFP present the State Programme on School Feeding Development in Tajikistan
“Thanks to the support of the Government and continued funding from the Russian Federation, school feeding has become a flagship WFP programme in Tajikistan, contributing to the wellbeing of hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren across the country,” said Adham Musallam, WFP Representative and Country Director in Tajikistan.
“By providing schoolchildren with healthy, nutritious school meals today, we not only help Tajik children grow and learn better, but also instill a life-long healthy eating habit that can be passed on to future generations,” he added.
School Feeding is WFP’s largest programme in Tajikistan, representing WFP’s decade-long commitment to Tajik children and their families. Since 1999, WFP has been partnering with the Government to implement school feeding in the country, and today some 440,000 schoolchildren in 2,000 schools across 52 districts and towns receive daily fresh meals under the programme. WFP has also supported the renovation and construction of school canteens, bakeries and greenhouses, and has provided expert support on the implementation of school meals.
The Russian Federation remains a key donor to the school feeding programme and to WFP’s work in the country, with more than US$ 80 million in funding provided to WFP since 2013.
The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
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Press Release
21 June 2022
WFP supports Wheat Flour Fortification initiatives in Tajikistan
The roundtable, which was conducted with the support of WFP, was the beginning of discussions around food fortification issues, particularly wheat flour fortification in the country. For the first time, Tajik Wheat Flour Mill “Ordi Dushanbe” launched wheat flour fortification in May 2022 after installing necessary equipment and importing premix to the country.
“Micronutrient deficiencies in Tajikistan remain a public health problem with short-term and long-term effects, especially among women and children. Though improving the diversity of diets to include more vitamins and minerals is the best approach to reduce micronutrient malnutrition, food fortification is an immediate nutrition intervention. Reducing micronutrient deficiencies not only prevents anemia and other health problems, but also reduces the country’s healthcare expenditures and builds food security, “ said WFP Representative and Country Director in Tajikistan Adham Musallam.
The Government of Tajikistan has identified food security and nutrition as one of the four strategic goals of the country in the National Development Strategy 2030. Tajikistan’s law on providing the population with fortified food determines the framework for prevention and for implementation of programmes to eliminate micronutrient deficiency and related diseases in Tajikistan.
Through its School Feeding Programme, WFP remains the only agency in the country to bring fortified food, especially fortified wheat flour and vegetable oil to the country and arrange hot meals for almost 440,000 primary grade schoolchildren in 2,000 schools across the country. WFP will provide technical support to the Government of Tajikistan to strengthen the health system and work with wheat flour mills and relevant ministries and departments on healthier behaviors.
Prior to the roundtable, WFP organised a field visit for participants to wheat flour mills in Sughd Region to get familiar with their work and identify gaps in the fortification of wheat flour.
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The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.
Follow us on Twitter @WFPAsiaPacific
For more information, please contact:
Nasrullo Ramazonov, WFP Dushanbe, Phone: +992 900 09 29 87, nasrullo.ramazonov@wfp.org
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Press Release
13 June 2022
UNODC conducts in Dushanbe a regional workshop on visual stories for human rights advocacy
The workshop aimed to strengthen participants’ visual storytelling techniques, including the use of mobile photography and filmmaking technical skills for effectively imparting knowledge to a variety of target audiences.
“The workshop provides a unique opportunity for rights groups in Central Asia to share ideas, exchange best practices with like-minded practitioners, and foster critical thinking on pressing human rights and health issues amongst participants and with Picture People’s trainers,” said Mutabara Vohidova, National Project Officer, UNODC Programme Office in Tajikistan, in her opening remarks.
For three intense days, the participants learned to capture professional-quality photos and videos on their smartphones as well as use visuals ethically and effectively to develop a visual project to advocate issues related to HIV and drug use.
The workshop was delivered by Claudia Modonesi, Picture People* Chief Executive Officer, human rights expert and media trainer, and Nick Danziger, Picture People Director, photojournalist, filmmaker and author.
“We live in a visual era, where digital media and technology go hand in hand to give us the best visual experience within reach, whether it is on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. It is crucial for human rights defenders and advocates in Central Asia to make the best use of video and images to inform, denounce and raise awareness on human-interest stories that need to be seen and heard to influence social change,” said Claudia Modonesi.
“It was extremely rewarding to work with such a committed and engaged group of people from across the Central Asian region advocating for better health for people living with HIV,” she added.
Upon completion of the workshop, the participants were awarded certificates. They thanked the organizers and trainers and assessed the workshop very positively.
“Excellent emotional atmosphere, productive knowledge, practical sessions. The programme was very intensive, the trainers are high-caliber professionals! During the workshop, we learned how to visually communicate with the audience and convey information at the emotional level tailored to each case. We tried our hand at applying the acquired knowledge and skills in the development of visual projects in PechaKucha presentation format. We worked in teams and jointly chose the topic of the project. Lively discussions, development of presentations using videos and photos - where each team managed to demonstrate their vision on how to visually increase the effectiveness of their human rights activities. I will continue to study visual storytelling on my own and improve my skills acquired at this workshop,” said Valentina Mankieva from Kazakhstan.
“The workshop was held in an absolutely positive and friendly atmosphere. I participated in such an event for the first time. The trainers shared with us their extensive and valuable experience. For myself, I acquired the skills of visual advocacy centered on the human being. I thank the organizers and trainers, participants of the event for the opportunity to have such a theoretically and practically useful communication,” said Elena Hasanova, Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist from NGO SPIN Plus in Tajikistan.
“Visual storytelling is the leading trend today, so it is very important to have the skills to use it effectively in your work. The workshop was conducted at a high level. Presentations by trainers, practical exercises, creative atmosphere, communication with colleagues - everything was perfect. The trainers are not just cool pros, but very interesting people. I thank UNODC for the excellent organization of the event, the trainers and all the participants!” highlighted Marina Maximova from Kazakhstan.
The workshop was conducted within Sub-programme 3 “Addressing drug use, increasing treatment of drug use disorders and preventing HIV/AIDS” of the UNODC Programme for Central Asia 2022-2025.
*Picture People is a UK not-for-profit organisation that trains and supports human rights activists and filmmakers to produce and use films to effectively expose human rights abuses, change public perceptions and influence change.
For further information, please contact:
Ms. Nurangez Abdulhamidova
Communication and External Relations Officer
UNODC Regional Office for Central Asia
Email: nurangez.abdulhamidova[at]un.org
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