DUSHANBE, July 29, 2015, Asia-Plus -- The University of Central Asia’s (UCA) Local Economic Community Development (LECD) Certificate Program is underway in Tajikistan.

UCA says LECD is designed to build the capacity of local civil servants, who are the closest government representatives to rural communities and have the greatest potential to enhance community-government relations.

The program is being delivered by UCA’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) in partnership with the Institute of Public Administration (IPA) under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, with support from the International Development Research Center, Ottawa, Canada and the Aga Khan Foundation Canada.

“Following the successful delivery of our Certificate Program in Policy Analysis for civil servants in Tajikistan, we are delighted to engage in another fruitful partnership with the Institute of Public Administration in Dushanbe,” said Dr Bohdan Krawchenko, Director General and Dean of Graduate Studies at UCA, “LECD is designed to build skills and to highlight the ways in which frontline civil servants can effectively lead and make a difference in the lives of their constituents.”

Under the partnership, UCA developed 10 modules in its LECD Certificate Program curriculum and identified and trained 10 instructors.  The program is currently being delivered to 15 civil servants from sub-districts of Tajikistan at IPA in Dushanbe.

“The LECD certificate program is a unique program and will enable civil servants at the local level to increase their knowledge, and their organizational and management skills to the highest standards,” said Homidkhon Nuriddinov, Pro-rector of IPA.

The curriculum covers a range of modules, such as local economic development, including entrepreneurship and private sector finance and infrastructure development; community development, including resource mobilization, social issues and government response, land management and energy efficiency; public administration and management, including business administration and public management; and information technology.  It is a 25 credit European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) program.

Since 2011, UCA has supported the efforts of governments in the region to build the capacity of civil servants through the LECD program.  SPCE has successfully delivered the program to 1375 civil servants in Kyrgyzstan through agreements with the Kyrgyz Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Finance.

The University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000.  The Presidents of Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan and His Highness the Aga Khan signed the International Treaty and Charter establishing this secular and private University, which was ratified by the respective parliaments and registered with the United Nations.  UCA was established to offer an internationally recognized standard of higher education in Central Asia and prepare graduates to contribute leadership, ideas and innovation to the economies and communities of the region.  UCA brings with it the commitment and partnership of the Aga Khan Development Network.