Development programmes
In June 2002 Tajikistan has committed itself to implement the Poverty Reduction Strategy Document (PRSD). The overall goal of the strategy was to increase real incomes of the population, fair distribution of results of economic growth.
Since 2004 in line with its strategic plan and programmes the “Rights & Prosperity” NGO has conducted an independent monitoring of the Poverty Reduction Strategy Document. The organization selected two most important areas for implementation of the document – social protection and agriculture.
6 most economically retarded regions of Khatlon District were selected for monitoring. An attempt to establish a group of independent monitoring with attraction of government officials, NGOs and most active citizens from target regions was made to make the monitoring effective. The next step is to improve potential of groups. Three modules, which include such topics as monitoring and evaluation, social partnership, participation and participatory approaches and so forth, have been designed to do that.
The goal of the PRSD monitoring was to elaborate recommendations to improve implementation of the given programme as well as to collect related information to design development programme for these regions. Another goal of the organization is to attract civil society of these regions to the process of development of their regions.
Upon the results of monitorings working groups have prepared reports containing recommendations, which were submitted to the Government (Department of PRSD Monitoring under the Government of Tajikistan), local officials and were published in the media: regional and republican press. Simultaneously the “Rights & Prosperity” has conducted monitoring of the rights of farmers.
The “Rights & Prosperity” successfully advocates inclusion of issues connected with promotion of rights and interests of extremely vulnerable groups into national development strategies. Thanks to the organization, a series of land and social reform issues were included into the new draft Poverty Reduction Strategy.
Moreover, the “Rights & Prosperity” actively attracts civil sector to participation in the design and monitoring of various national and regional development programmes. In this direction the organization implements wide awareness campaign which covers the process of implementation of national programmes, attracts attention of civil society and raises most acute problems. In addition, the “Rights & Prosperity” conducts a wide range of events aimed at consolidation of civil society – meetings, roundtables, seminars and etc.
Special attention in the given programme is given to the issues of improvement of potential of public organizations in Tajikistan for establishment of civil society that would actively participate in the design and monitoring of development programmes and, thus, would contribute to the improvement of current situation of vulnerable groups.
The organization also closely cooperates with regional authorities and provides assistance in designing development programmes at regional level as an effective poverty reduction instrument.
