DUSHANBE, February 27, 2009, Asia-Plus -- A new 200-place education building at school # 13 in the village of Khoja Quchqor, Khatlon’s Panj district was put into operation on February 25, Asia-Plus has leaned at the National Social Investment Fund of Tajikistan (NSIFT) head office in Dushanbe.

The project was implemented within the frames of the Funds for Basic Education Development and Community Infrastructure Program.  The new education building is provided with modern school furniture, equipment and educational supplies.

According to NSIFT, it is already the third microproject officially opened by the agency this month.  In all, 11 microporjects have been implemented since the launch of the education sector development program, the source said.

Funds for Basic Education Development and Community Infrastructure Program is implemented within the Tajik-German cooperation and under the agreement concluded between the National Social Investment Fund of Tajikistan and the KfW (German Development Bank).  The program is implemented in 14 districts of the Khatlon province.  Total program cost is 6.72 million euros, including 5.4 million euros provided by the German party, 1.02 million euros of the Tajik government and the community contribution of 300,000 euros.

NSIFT is an agency established by the Tajik government to provide assistance to the poor communities to improve their living conditions.  The agency operates in all regions of the country; it is financed by the government, international financial institutions and other donors and development programs.