DUSHANBE, October 10, 2012, Asia-Plus  -- As part of their ongoing collaboration which has spanned the last fifteen years, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Aga Khan Foundation Tajikistan (AKF Tjk) on October 9 confirmed two additional projects to help improve the quality of life of all people of Tajikistan.

According to the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, the signing ceremony was attended by the Country Director of Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, Mr. Peter Mikula; Deputy Minister of Melioration and Water Resources, Mr. Anvar Zoirov; General Director of State Communal Services, Mr. Alimurod Taghoymurodov; Head of International Relations Department of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Ilhom Bandayev, AKDN Resident Representative in Tajikistan, Mr. Munir Merali; Chief Executive Officer of AKF Tjk,, Mr. Yodgor Faizov; and other respective staff and invited guests.

Mr. Mikula reportedly noted that Switzerland remains committed to supporting the reforms in health and drinking water sectors.  He went on to say “they are fully confident with our long-term partner, AKF, as they are efficient in implementing projects and he believes that families living in remote areas of Tajikistan will improve their access to adequate basic healthcare services and safe drinking water facilities through these two projects.”

The CEO of AKF Tjk, Mr. Yodgor   Faizov, highlighted in his speech the effectiveness of collaboration between AKF and SDC and noted that the newly signed projects will make positive changes in the quality of life of targeted communities.

The first project, Improving Water Supply Systems and Hygiene Practices in Mountain Regions of Tajikistan will be implemented by the Mountain Societies Development Support Program (MSDSP), a project of AKF Tjk.  The goal of this project is to increase the access and availability of safe, clean drinking water, in addition to help improve the knowledge of water quality, hygiene and appropriate sanitation practices.  The project aims to cover the mountainous regions of Tajikistan including communities in Rasht Valley, Khatlon and Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO) benefiting over 40,000 people while training Community Health Promoters, teachers and other related professionals in best-practices for sanitation and hygiene.

The second project, Improving Access to Basic Care in Mountain Regions of Tajikistan seeks to improve the overall health conditions of beneficiaries by providing better access to health services, rehabilitating existing infrastructure, and providing the necessary medical equipment in areas with limited resources.  This project, implemented by Aga Khan Health Service (AKHS) and MSDSP, will impact over 64,000 beneficiaries in various districts of Rasht Valley, Khatlon and GBAO.

Since 1998, Switzerland has provided US $200 million towards the implementation of numerous projects in a number of sectors including: health care reform, strengthening public institutions and services, engaging in private sector development, basic infrastructure (potable water and energy development), irrigation water management and disaster risk reduction.  AKF Tjk has collaborated with SDC in several of these areas with its current projects focused on water supply, health infrastructure and community health promotion.

These initiatives were set out to respond to key challenges of the region while building on the results, experiences and capacities of Switzerland and aims to support the transition process in Tajikistan by contributing to the economic development of the country and by helping to build institutions and systems, which are responsive to the population’s needs.

Both projects will be implemented taking into account gender and governance aspects by ensuring equal access to health care and other community services as well as inclusion of all community members into the decision-making processes.

The Aga Khan Foundation is part of Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN); a group of development agencies founded and guided by His Highness the Aga Khan. Established in 1967 in Geneva, Switzerland, AKF is a non-denominational, international development agency with branches, affiliates and representative offices in 20 countries.  In Tajikistan, AKF has been active since 1993 when, with the support of the international donor community, a response was mounted in Gorno-Badakhshan to imminent food shortages caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union. In parallel with this emergency program, AKF initiated a rural development program with the aim of contributing to poverty alleviation in the program areas.  Programs for reform in the social sector (Health and Education) were introduced in 1994, with the aim of assisting the government to cope more efficiently with reduced resources while at the same time benefiting from new approaches in education and health.