DUSHANBE, January 31, 2013, Asia-Plus -- The European Union has started funding  3 projects under the “"Non State Actors in Development” program, for a total amount of EUR 700,000, press release issued by the EU Delegation to Tajikistan said.

The new thematic program “Non State Actors and Local Authorities in Development” was introduced in 2007.  It aims to support small scale initiatives by civil society organizations (and local authorities) from the European Union and partner countries in the area of development.  The overarching objective of this program is poverty reduction in the context of sustainable development, including the pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals.  The program is actor-oriented. It aims at strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations as a pre-condition for a more equitable, open and democratic society through support to their “own initiatives.”

The three selected projects are as follows:

A two-year project entitled as “Enhancing Living Standards and Food Safety of Rural People through Access to Improved Veterinary Services”, implemented by the  Association of Veterinarians of Tajikistan (TVA), a civil society membership organization representing veterinary professionals and their livestock-owning clients.  The main aim of the project is to reduce rural poverty through sustained delivery of public and private veterinary services thereby reducing disease losses and making livestock more productive.  The project will assist TVA to strengthen over 800 Veterinary Field Units (VFUs) through capacity building and training, particularly in livestock production, provision of basic veterinary equipment and funds for clinic rehabilitation, improving partnership with farmers and with the State Veterinary Inspection Service, establishment of 30 new VFUs.  The project will be implemented in Khatlon, Sughd, GBAO and districts subordinate to the center.  The main beneficiaries of the project will consist in rural animal owners, including female-headed families (about 830,000 families).

The purpose of the project “Access, Self-Management and Accountability – Supporting Water User  Associations in Tajikistan''s Irrigation Water Reform"  implemented by  Welthungerhilfe is to complete previous efforts by formally putting operation and maintenance of irrigation infrastructure in the hands of water users.  The action will take place in the densely populated lowlands of Panjakent district in Zarafshon Valley.  It works with and through 21 Water Users Associations (WUAs) as well as with their umbrella organization, the Federation of Water User Associations.  These structures represent approximately 40,000 households, which rely on irrigated agriculture for their livelihood.  It is anticipated that improved organization, reduced water losses in irrigation channels as well as an enhanced capacity to operate and maintain the irrigation network will lead to a direct and measurable benefit for the population at large (about 140,000 individuals).

Handicap International''s new project is entitled "State and Non-State Actors: Capacity-building, Coordination and Cooperation towards Inclusive Development in the Republic of Tajikistan".  The strengthening of capacities of following four partnering Disabled People Organizations (DPOs) is at the core of this two year operation: National Union of Disabled People of Tajikistan, Women’s League Ishtirok, Public Organization of Deaf People of Tajikistan, Public Organization of the Blind in Tajikistan as well as their branches and Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in and around Khorog, Khujand and Dushanbe.  Their technical capacities will be further strengthened in disability and inclusion, advocacy strategies, diplomacy & communications skills, organizational capacities and accountability, through training and a learning-by-doing approach.  The unity of the disability movement will be further enhanced to reinforce dialogue and effective cooperation with local authorities and other non-state actors (NSA)  for the promotion and implementation of inclusive strategies, policies and actions.