DUSHANBE, June 19, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the UNDP Country Office in Tajikistan have signed two cooperation documents. 

The documents were inked by Foreign Minister Hamrokhon Zarifi and UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan Michael Jones in Dushanbe on June 19.  According to the documents, the UNDP will support implementation of two projects in Tajikistan: Strengthening of Tajik MFA’s Capacity for Efficient Implementation of Foreign Policy and  National Human Development Report for 2008-2009 – Problem of Employment in Tajikistan.     

Speaking to reporters after the document-signing ceremony, Mr. Jones said  that the project for strengthening of MFA’s capacity is aimed at improving skills of MFA’s personnel in the field of foreign policy.  The project will promote creation of technological, personnel and institutional factors and improvement of MFA personnel’s skills, necessary for more efficient formulation and implementation of foreign policy of Tajikistan. 

Foreign policy in Tajikistan is efficient enough, however it should develop.  Each government, each international organization has different policy and procedures which are constantly changing, Mr. Jones said noting that different countries work at the different levels with Tajikistan and some of them have strategic interests in the region.

According to him, they plan to train the government to work with donors for increasing efficiency of cooperation with international community.  The estimated budget for implementation of this project is $300,000.  

On the support for implementation of “National Human Development Report for 2008-2009 Problem of Employment in Tajikistan” project, the UN resident coordinator said that project aims to promote the concept of human development at all levels, including decision-making authorities.  According to hi, the report will be based on the official statistic data with short analysis. 

The project aims to raise people’s awareness of problems of human development through working out, publishing and widely distributing the human development report.  The estimated budget for implementation of this project is $100,000.