INNOVATIVE SERVICE DELIVERYMECIS ECONOMIC JUSTICE COMMUNITY 0F PRACTICE LEARNING WORKSHOP

TAJIKISTAN TEAM MARCH 17-20, 2014

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Development of Technical Assistance Groups and Machinery Services in Khatlon Region, TAJIKISTAN

Agriculture and rural economic development by promoting fee based service delivery in Khatlon

• Targeted beneficiaries: 9,700 HHs and 77,400 Small Holder Farms out of which 39,600 are women

• Project period: February 2013-March 2014

• Budget: EUR 353,360

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A region still in transition from a Soviet heritage

COUNTRY PROFILE

• Population: 7.8 million; 70% reside in rural areas and 60% of population employed in agriculture

• Yet, agricultural share of GDP is only 21% and productivity remains low

• 7% arable land in Tajikistan (93% is mountainous)

• The main crops: cotton, fruits (apricots) and vegetables (tomato, onions, melon)

DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES

• Economy’s GDP depends on remittances (40%) with little private investment; remaining economy dependent upon trade of key commodities and trade in imported goods

• Mountainous, landlocked country with poor soft and hard infrastructure

• Trust in institutions including government and banks is low as a legacy of the post-independence

• Civil war (1992-1997)

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OXFAMs market driven approach

Promoting fee based agricultural services through CBOs

Improved productivity/income of HH in 36 villages

(WPGs)

Improved fee based service delivery and sector development

CBO – Community Based OrganizationTAG – Technical Assistance GroupWPG – Woman Producer Group

Leveraging local stakeholders

- Local government, private sector networking and advocacy - National level influencing through economic forums

Business linkages (100 contracts made)

-TAG model adapted: TAG-supported farmers increased cotton productivity by 10 to 25% in 2013

-Established CBOs (WPGs in vegetable VC) and link farmers with TAGs

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AAS is new system and

donor driven (4-5 NGOs and 1 based in

Khatlon)

Lack of private sector

(small scale& demand is low)

Government lack

willingness

(lack of coordination&

systematic approach)

Local stakeholders overshadowed by heavy donor presence

Key challenges: Limited donor coordination (various approaches); Small markets and low level of demand; Lack of government attention and poor government capacity

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• Coordinating with government at various levels: 2013 at local level; 2014 at national level by coordinating with Helvetas, USAID, SAS, MSDSP etc to influence policy etc

• Linking clients (to agro shops, machinery services, credit) by mobilizing farmers through village mapping

• Coordinating with Helvetas on forums and quarterly bulletin

• Coordination meetings

• Harmonised approach

• Village based experienced farmers

• CBOs and their subcommittee roles

• Local NGOsLocal

service delivery

INGOsGovern-

ment

Private sector

Project level coordination

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First phase focus on assessment and capacity building activities

First phase (2013)

• 15 Studies/ assessments

• Completed VC analysis and designed intervention on agro policy and sector issues

• Built CBO capacity: linked 100 TAGs and farmers

Approach/tools

• Shift from market driven to village advisory model to deliver services (4 models and guidelines developed)

Leveraging

• 8 cross visits and competition among CBOs and WPGs

• Organizing economic forums with Helvetas, Sarob, government and other stakeholders

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First phase lessons learned are being incorporated into design of future projects

• Market driven approach: Only linking is not effective solution for SHFs (farmers face other issues)

• Demand and supply mismatch

• Lack of coordination among the actors: private sector/ government/ NGOs

• Village advisory models show demonstration effect because of tangible results

• CBO mobilization: self help activities

• Benefiting larger targets especially women

Political and economic constraints : Soviet legacy; Lack of private sector; Land allocation and ownership is complex; Lack of resources (lack of access to inputs; credit 30%)

Sector specific constraints : Lack of sector development; Inefficient hard and soft infrastructure; limited by agricultural season

Government willingness : at grass root level

CBOs are active: Self help initiations

Increasing awareness of fee based services: Farmers likely to pay

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THANKS