DUSHANBE, February 12, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- Draft structure of Tajikistan’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper for 2010-2012 (PRSP-2) was held in Dushanbe on February 12.

Presenting the draft structure of PRSP-2, Deputy Economic Development and Trade Minister, Abdughaffor Rahmonov, noted that the draft PRSP-2 itself would be completed by the end of March and the document would be submitted for consideration to the government.

“Implementation of measures of the national development strategy for the period till 2015 as well as the fact that separate goals of the PRSP for 2007-2009 have note been implemented for some objective and subjective reasons have become the objective prerequisites for development of the PRSP-2,” the deputy minister said.

Speaking on the outcomes of the PRSP-1, Rahmonov noted that “only 53 percent of measures provided for by the PRSP-1” have been implemented so far.  “The PRSP-1’s outcomes would have been better, if the institutional problems had been solved completely, in other words if the council for national development, experts’ council as well as monitoring and assessment structures at central and local authorities had been set up opportunely,” said the deputy minister, “Energy crisis that hit the country in the winter of 2007-2008 and effects of the global financial crisis have also affected proper implementation of the document.”

He added that improper coordination of use of external aid and the fact that the document financing was not budgeted last year had also hindered implementation of the document.

“We have already applied to the Ministry of Finance, suggesting that a certain section should be established at the ministry for financing of the Strategy monitoring.”

The Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper is prepared in broad consultation with stakeholders and development partners.  Updated every three years with annual progress reports, the paper describes the country''s macroeconomic, structural, and social policies in support of growth and poverty reduction, as well as associated external financing needs and major sources of financing.