Joint Steering Committee (JSC) Session on the presentation of UNDAF Evaluation Report in Tajikistan for 2016-2022

On July 28, 2021, under the co-chairmanship of the Minister of Economic Development and Trade Zavqizoda Zavqi Amin and the UN Resident Coordinator in Tajikistan Sezin Sinanoglu, with the participation of heads of ministries and agencies, representatives of UN agencies - members of the UNDAF in Tajikistan, a session of the JSC was held to present the results, conclusions and recommendations of the final evaluation of UNDAF in Tajikistan for 2016-2022.

Zavqizoda Z. A. noted that the Founder of Peace and National Unity - Leader of the nation, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Emomali Rahmon, in his Message to the Majlisi Oli, noted with a comprehensive analysis the significant achievements of the socio-economic development of the country, identified priority areas for the development of the national economy sectors for 2021 and the next seven years.

In particular, as a result of the measures taken by the Government in cooperation with UN agencies and other development partners to ensure sustainable and balanced economic growth in 2016-2020, the average annual GDP growth was at least 7%, and GDP increased 1.6 times. The share of exports in foreign trade turnover increased from 20 to 31 percent, and the share of imports decreased from 80 to 69 percent. As a result, over the past five years alone, the country has produced import-substituting products worth more than 44 billion somoni, which has significantly reduced the dependence of the consumer market on imported products.

Two units of the “Rogun” HPP were put into operation, the total volume of electricity production in the country reached 21 billion KW/h. As a result, the country took the 2nd place in the international assessment on access to electricity. During this period, more than 1,500 km of highways, 190 bridges, 50 km of railways and transit capabilities of the country were expanded, and Tajikistan ranked 50th in the World Economic Forum's assessment on the quality of road infrastructure and 37th in the efficiency of railway maintenance among 141 countries of the world.

The monetary income of the population increased by 1.9 times and the number of entrepreneurs by 1.6 times. The poverty rate decreased by 31.3% to 26.3%, according to the World Bank's assessment of the rate of poverty reduction, Tajikistan joined the ranks of the top 10 countries in the world. The longevity of the population increased by 1.4 years and reached 75.2 years. The mortality rate of mother and child during this period decreased by 13.1 and 26.9%, respectively.

In 2020, in order to fulfill the recommendations and instructions of Leader of the Nation, an Action Plan was adopted to prevent and reduce the impact of possible threats of infectious diseases, such as coronavirus (COVID-19), on the national economy and is being implemented.

As a result, in 2020, the growth of industrial production by 9.7%, agriculture by 8.8% and exports by 19.8% created the basis for the country's economic development by 4.5%.

Ms. Sezin Sinanoglu congratulated the Government of the Republic for achieving significant development during the implementation of the UNDAF program, expressing gratitude for effective cooperation and achieving joint results to support the population of Tajikistan. At the same time, she expressed the UN's readiness to continue fruitful cooperation in the process of developing and implementing the new UNDAF program, which will begin in 2023.

The head of the evaluation group, Mr. Tomislav Novovich, and Ms. Tatyana Nikitina, Head of the UNDAF coordination, monitoring and evaluation group, presented the results, conclusions and recommendations of the Final Evaluation of the UNDAF for 2016-2022 and the departmental response with evaluation recommendations, and an exchange of views and favorable proposals took place in connection with these issues.

The members of the Joint Steering Committee, at the expense of representatives of development partners, ministries and departments of the republic, confirmed the final reports of UNDAF and the departmental response and expressed their readiness to increase further assistance and support in the direction of ensuring sustainable socio-economic and environmental development.

At the end of the session, the Joint Steering Committee made appropriate decisions on the issues on the agenda and expressed readiness to strengthen fruitful cooperation with UN agencies.