DUSHANBE, Tajikistan, August 7. Tajikistan has disbursed $263,970 under the Asian Development Bank’s "Resilient Livelihoods and Empowerment of Rural Women" project as of June 30, 2025, covering 98 percent of the planned amount for the first half of the year, Trend reports via the ADB.
The project remains classified as "on track." No civil works or physical activities had started during the January-June period, which focused on preparatory stages. ADB confirmed that all social safeguard requirements were met, including the absence of involuntary resettlement or impacts on indigenous peoples.
The project, which targets rural women in the southern Khatlon region, aims to improve income, build resilience to economic shocks, and reduce vulnerability to exploitation. It focuses on improving access to resources, agricultural training, and economic opportunities, while contributing to poverty reduction, gender equality, and sustainable rural development. The $17.5 million grant agreement was signed on August 23, 2024, and became effective on October 8, 2024. Completion is expected by April 30, 2030.
Activities include capacity building and productivity support for women-led farms and female agricultural workers, improved access to agricultural value chains and digital markets, and the development of business incubation facilities, solar cold storage, and post-harvest infrastructure. The project also supports the establishment of a women’s center and shelter for survivors of gender-based violence, along with mobile and digital referral systems and improvements to social and protection services.
Implementation is ongoing in six locations: the cities of Bokhtar and Kulyab, and the districts of Pyanj, Shahrituz, Farkhor, and Vose. The Ministry of Agriculture leads the project, with the Committee on Women and Family Affairs as a key implementing partner. A dedicated project team under the ministry oversees day-to-day management and coordination.
