DUSHANBE, April 9, 2014, Asia-Plus -- The Institute of Public Administration (IPA) under the Executive Office of the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and the University of Central Asia (UCA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase the capacity and knowledge of civil servants in Tajikistan through a series of training and policy activities.

The agreement was inked by Dr. Abdulhakim Roziqzoda, Rector of IPA, and Dr. Bohdan Krawchenko, Director General of UCA, in Dushanbe on April 8.

Press release issued by UCA notes that under the agreement, UCA and IPA will work together over the next two years to adapt and deliver UCA certificate programs in Local Economic and Community Development (LECD) and in Policy Analysis to civil servants in Tajikistan.  The activities will be implemented by IPA and UCA’s School of Professional and Continuing Education (SPCE) and Institute of Public Policy and Administration (IPPA).  All activities will be conducted at IPA in Dushanbe and IPA and UCA will select civil servants working in local and regional governments of Tajikistan to participate in the programs.

“The University of Central Asia is a leading and successful regional institution.  Experts from this University gained rich experience in Public Policy, Local Economic and Community Development. The goal and vision of the UCA corresponds the with the IPA’s mission. Therefore, cooperation and purposeful use of the experience of UCA is valuable for Instructors and specialists of IPA,” said Dr. Abdulhakim Roziqzoda.

This expanded partnership follows a successful symposium on Policy-Making Process in Government in Tajikistan jointly convened by UCA and IPA in Dushanbe on February 21, 2014.  The symposium highlighted the need for deliberate and informed processes in the development of government policy. It was part of a series of three symposia engaging civil servants and policy analysts, hosted by IPA and partners in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Afghanistan.

“This two-year partnership reflects UCA’s commitment to comprehensively building the capacity of civil servants in Tajikistan,” said Dr Krawchenko.  “Our training and research programs are generating skills and information to enrich the outputs of civil servants and ensure they are informed by processes that reflect international standards and relevant and current information.”

IPA and UCA will jointly review UCA’s LECD curriculum, identify and train instructors and create a schedule for the delivery of the program.  Based on its existing programs, UCA will develop the structure and curriculum of the LECD program and provide training of trainers for instructors. SPCE has already successfully delivered the program to 1,150 civil servants in the Kyrgyz Republic.

UCA developed the Certificate Program in Policy Analysis in collaboration with Carleton University.  The program is being offered in Kyrgyzstan, starting in May 2014.  IPPA also has an agreement with the Afghan Ministry of Finance to offer the Certificate Program in Policy Analysis to civil servants in Afghanistan in the future.

Certificate Programs at UCA consist of 25 credits European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).  Successful participants will receive a professional development Certificate in Policy Analysis and a certificate supplement detailing the program of studies completed and learner’s achievement in accordance with European norms.

These activities are carried out with the assistance of a grant from the International Development Research Centre, Ottawa, Canada and the Aga Khan Foundation Canada.