The European Union (EU) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have supported training for extension specialists to improve public private partnership and investment

A 10-day training course related to investment, business planning and public private partnership concluded in Dushanbe last week, as part of a FAO project on supporting the Ministry of Agriculture and State Veterinary Inspection Service for Policy Formulation, funded by the European Union.

According to FAO Country Office in Tajikistan, the event brought together 20 participants from the lead departments of the Ministry of Agriculture, state unitary enterprises and members of technical working groups to facilitate the agrarian reform process in Tajikistan.

They have reportedly widened their knowledge and skills in their professional area and learned essential information and contemporary tools for strategic management along with innovative approaches to agricultural sector planning.

This course is an integral part of a comprehensive development program for key staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, aimed at facilitating the transition towards modern sector management and planning models. Additional knowledge to be built within the ministry include international standards, marketing, economic analysis, and strategic management.

The success of an agrarian reform highly depends on the supportive enabling environment and sustainability of the underlying agricultural institutions.

“It is prerequisite for the sustainable development of the sector to equip decision makers with essential investment management and planning tools,” said Oleg Guchgeldiyev, FAO Representative in Tajikistan.  “With the ultimate goal to put the private sector in leading position in agricultural development, the Ministry of Agriculture is playing a key role in providing essential services at the national level, required by the beneficiaries of the reform.”

Upon completion of the course, participants improved their attainments on strategic planning and environmental analysis, preparation and evaluation of investment and public private partnership projects, providing quality services to both internal and external investors and other areas.

The European Union and FAO have been working together since 2016 to support the agricultural policy reform in the country, including development of relevant strategies, designing institutional framework and strengthening the knowledge and skills of government and non-governmental institutions.