About the project SPPA

Second Project on Poverty Alleviation is completed

National Social Investment Fund of Tajikistan (NSIFT) completed the second Project on poverty alleviation, which operated on the republic level. We shall tell you in short about the project implementation and whether the objectives of the NSIFT have been achieved.
So, when the Credit agreement between the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and the International Development Association (World Bank) came into operation on 30 of September 2002, NSIFT started implementation of the second Project on poverty alleviation. Since NSIFT work demands a special approach to the project implementation, conducting of an independent regional research was required to make a correct decision. In this regards, the regional research was conducted in 68 cities and regions of the country by independent nongovernment organizations.
After regional researches community researches were conducted in order to select and identify difficulties of the communities for further project implementation. It allowed the Fund to confirm selection of the target communities and simultaneously make a decision on their investment. At this stage committees for community development were established in the communities.
The concept of the second Project on poverty alleviation stipulated provision of further achievements of goals on poverty reduction, assisting the poor population to get access to the basic infrastructures and services, as well as giving them an opportunity to earn income.
It should be noted that, in the second Project NSIFT generally worked in accordance with the program of community development, carrying out micro projects by three categories: community projects, sponsored projects and innovative projects. Community projects were focused on rehabilitation of the basic social and economic infrastructures; sponsored projects, which are a separate category of community projects, were focused on rendering assistance to separate vulnerable groups of the population which had no potential opportunities to participate in preparation and implementation of the project. Innovative projects were focused on rendering services and support of micro-enterprise.
Within the period of implementation of the Second Project the National fund approved more than 400 micro projects, out of which 328 were financed with funds of IDA (the World Bank), others –by the DFID grant (Great Britain).
The typology of micro projects covered almost all infrastructures of social sphere: education, health, water supply, power supply, gas supply, rehabilitation of roads and bridges, development of animal industry, beekeeping, environmental improvement, and etc.
The micro projects implemented in the Second Project covered about one and a half million people. During implementation of the projects 3760 workplaces were created, 890 of which were permanent work places. Within the second Project NSIFT directly worked with informal community groups for implementation of the micro projects, directed to rehabilitation and development of social and economic infrastructures. The purpose was that the selected communities would show initiative in resolving problems, by taking greater responsibility, and ensuring sustainability of the implemented projects.
The SNIFT paid more attention to the institutional development of communities. Its strategic objective in the second Project was capacity building of the community organizations in the form of partnership focused on improvement of living conditions of poor people. Organization and conducting of training for the representatives of communities and community organizations, aimed at institutional development of the local capacity to organize and implement projects, was stipulated as part of the implemented micro projects.
Training was conducted systematically, according to the approved plan which included the subjects corresponding all cycles of micro projects. Especially important stages in the cycle of micro projects were such as election of the committee for community development (CCD). Development of the community depends on election of the CCD members, that is, when young, vigorous people, who wish to work voluntarily for the community development are elected to the CCD membership, the community will develop. Role of NSIFT at this stage is not only to organize and carry out some training seminars and trainings for development of skills and knowledge of the CCD members, but also to further support the community.
Other important direction of the NSIFT work in the second project was improvement of the system of monitoring and evaluation, and also strengthening of relations with the government and local authorities. International consultants supported the realization of this goal. They developed the strategy of monitoring and evaluation with participation of communities, prepared the operational management on monitoring and evaluation, and improved the information systems management.
Information and resource center was opened in Dushanbe to support community organizations, where local and international consultants conducted a number of seminars on monitoring and evaluation with participation of the representatives of the committees for community development and initiative groups.
It should be noted that NSIFT work was highly assessed by the experts from the World Bank during their mission in Tajikistan. The majority of the interrogated members of communities, users of micro projects, pointed out that the level of their life improved greatly owing to NSIFT. Rewarding NSIFT on quality – 2002 Geneva prize “Era of Quality” in the category “gold” is another proof of fruitful work of the organization, recognized and worthily evaluated at the international level.
It should be noted that the NSIFT has worked as an independent organization, capable to carry out any goals and objective. Material and technical base of NSIFT is created; all its subordinate divisions in the regions of the country are provided with highly skilled specialists. Necessary conditions for adequate work in NSIFT branches are created in Sogd, Khatlon and Gorno-Badakhshan regions. The organization is not limited to the achieved results; it is opened for cooperation with all interested partners, both in Tajikistan and beyond the republic, the activity of which is focused on poverty alleviation. Now, when the second Project is completed, NSIFT conducted an independent assessment of the work on impact of the project on beneficiaries.
Second Project on Poverty Alleviation in the Republic of Tajikistan (Project WB 2002-2006)
Project cost $ 21,5 mln., 328 projects were realized

Technical data on 328 completed MPs