GoAL WaSH Tajikistan
Contact details:
UNDP Tajikistan:
Mr. Firuz Odinaev, UNDP GoAL WaSH/HRBA Campaign Project Coordinator
firuz.odinaev@undp.org
Ms. Nargizakhon Usmanova, UNDP Program Associate
Nargizakhon.Usmanova@undp.org
Mr. Sukhrob Khoshmukhamedov, Assistant Resident Representative/Programme
Sukhrob.Khoshmukhamedov@undp.org
Global GoAL WaSH Manager:
Mr. Alastair Morrison
Phone: +46-(0)8 522 139 99
Email: alastair.morrison@siwi.org
Scope of the project
The aim of the Tajikistan GoAL WaSH project is to assist 4 selected jamoats (local municipalities) - the Ayni and Rarz jamoats of Ayni district, and the Chorkuh and Vorukh jamoats of the Isfara district - to meet their responsibilities in the provision of safe and reliable water services. This will be achieved through the design and implementation of a participatory awareness campaign. The project is implemented in close collaboration with existing UNDP Communities Programme interventions and through the involvement of local NGOs.
The project is carried out using a human rights based approach to water governance. The objective is to raise public awareness in the identified target areas on the rights and responsibilities in water usage.
The project is carried out using a human rights based approach to water governance. The objective is to raise public awareness in the identified target areas on the rights and responsibilities in water usage.
The challenges addressed
Tajikistan faces serious problems in meeting the MDGs, particularly in the rural areas, and there is very limited awareness, both at the local government level and among citizens, on the fundamental rights and responsibilities connected with water usage and supply. The vast majority of the population is unaware that they have a right to affordable and safe potable water. Even less well known are the redress mechanisms that can be used to obtain compensation when water access is denied.
Tajikistan is a small mountainous country, rich in fresh water sources. The challenges lie not in the availability of water resources, but in the lack of proper water management. According to the national document "Water Sector Strategy 2007 - 2020", only 52 percent of the population in the rural areas of Tajikistan, which account for 75 percent of the entire population, have access to drinking water. The rest of the population draws water from various sources (springs, wells with hand pumps, irrigation ditches, canals), which often do not meet the sanitary standards. This makes access to potable water one of the major development challenges in Tajikistan.
Tajikistan is a small mountainous country, rich in fresh water sources. The challenges lie not in the availability of water resources, but in the lack of proper water management. According to the national document "Water Sector Strategy 2007 - 2020", only 52 percent of the population in the rural areas of Tajikistan, which account for 75 percent of the entire population, have access to drinking water. The rest of the population draws water from various sources (springs, wells with hand pumps, irrigation ditches, canals), which often do not meet the sanitary standards. This makes access to potable water one of the major development challenges in Tajikistan.
The activities
The following activities are carried out within the project:
• A review of the relevant regulatory environment for the target municipalities.
• An assessment of the ownership and management structures of drinking water suppliers.
• A constraints analysis for public water utilities.
• An attitude survey on the public understanding of rights-holders and duty-bearers regarding water supply and sanitation.
• The implementation of an awareness campaign on water rights and responsibilities, including workshops, mobile theatre shows, media activities, as well as quizzes and photo contests for school children.
Upon completion, the project will provide recommendations on how the awareness campaign might be improved and expanded in a sustainable way.
• A review of the relevant regulatory environment for the target municipalities.
• An assessment of the ownership and management structures of drinking water suppliers.
• A constraints analysis for public water utilities.
• An attitude survey on the public understanding of rights-holders and duty-bearers regarding water supply and sanitation.
• The implementation of an awareness campaign on water rights and responsibilities, including workshops, mobile theatre shows, media activities, as well as quizzes and photo contests for school children.
Upon completion, the project will provide recommendations on how the awareness campaign might be improved and expanded in a sustainable way.
The achievements
• The understanding of “right holders” and “duty bearers” of water supply and sanitation in the 4 jamoats in the Ayni and Isfara districts has been assessed.
• Members of 720 households acquired knowledge and improved awareness on the rights to water and sanitation through series of trainings.
• A well-known and national recognized theatre studio has delivered 36 plays on raising awareness on water rights and responsibilities and reached large proportions of the population in the 4 target jamoats.
• The publications – including posters, leaflets, and wall and desk calendars – have been developed, printed and disseminated among all categories of beneficiaries.
• “Duty bearers” – including regulators, operators and service providers – improved their awareness of roles and responsibilities and key water governance issues through participation in a one-day workshop.
• Messages regarding rights to water and sanitation have been spread out through publishing articles. 700 newspaper copies have been distributed in rural areas.
• More than 1,500 residents got improved access to safe drinking water, and more than 2,000 residents obtained improved sanitation as a result of the implementation of community demo-projects of water supply systems and the collection of domestic waste water.
• Members of 720 households acquired knowledge and improved awareness on the rights to water and sanitation through series of trainings.
• A well-known and national recognized theatre studio has delivered 36 plays on raising awareness on water rights and responsibilities and reached large proportions of the population in the 4 target jamoats.
• The publications – including posters, leaflets, and wall and desk calendars – have been developed, printed and disseminated among all categories of beneficiaries.
• “Duty bearers” – including regulators, operators and service providers – improved their awareness of roles and responsibilities and key water governance issues through participation in a one-day workshop.
• Messages regarding rights to water and sanitation have been spread out through publishing articles. 700 newspaper copies have been distributed in rural areas.
• More than 1,500 residents got improved access to safe drinking water, and more than 2,000 residents obtained improved sanitation as a result of the implementation of community demo-projects of water supply systems and the collection of domestic waste water.