Swiss Cooperation in Tajikistan

The break-up of the Soviet Union has led in Central Asia to severe political and economic shocks and in Tajikistan to a devastating civil war. Here the drop of economic output was sharp and poverty and inequality increased dramatically. Transition to democracy and a market economy turned out to be very difficult. Following the end of the civil war in 1997 Tajikistan as a member of the Swiss Constituency Group in the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and Global Environment Fund for Switzerland therefore became a so-called ‘priority country’ for development and cooperation.

The role of Switzerland is to contribute to poverty alleviation and to support a transition towards a pluralistic and economically viable state. The Swiss Government has mandated two federal offices to coordinate international development: Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC and Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO. Their joint three goals in Tajikistan and Central Asia in the context of a Regional Cooperation Strategy 2007-2010 are: - transparent, accountable and effective public institutions; - equitable access to good quality public services;– sustainable, private sector-led growth. The implementation is monitored by the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan (SCO in TJ), which was established at the end of 1998 and is based in Dushanbe. Its implementing partners are international organisations, national and international NGO’s and governmental institutions. Switzerland invests about USD 15 million a year in promoting economic development and combating poverty in Tajikistan. Five areas (domains) of interventions were chosen: Health Care Reform, Basic Infrastructure, Disaster Risk and Water Management, Private Sector Development and Public Institutions and Services complemented by Gender and Good Governance as cross cutting themes.

Swiss cooperation supports the efforts of all its diverse partners to create sustainable development: the government, the civil society organisations and the equally important private sector. Swiss technical cooperation focuses on health care services, on support to improved water management and on better institutions. Financial cooperation engages in basic infrastructure in the fields of water and energy supply, private sector development and public finances management. And long term oriented humanitarian aid addresses the utterly crucial management of disaster risks and their mitigation.

Health Care Reform

Basic Infrastructure

Disaster Risk Reduction
and
Water Management

Private Sector Development

Public Institutions and Services

Swiss Cooperation Fund