Sustainable management protects people and their livelihoods in Tajikistan

Tajikistan is a mountainous country prone to frequent natural disasters, exacerbated by the erosion and deforestation processes. The project applies an integrated approach to sustainable Natural Resources Management and human activities in watersheds in order to reduce negative impacts of disaster risk. It will scale up best practices, partnerships and institutional agreements and sustain governance structures able to continue promoting the technologies and methods introduced at the watershed level.

To contribute to improving the living standard of the people in Muminabad district by applying integrated watershed management and through managing disaster risks.

The project will directly benefit 4,000 households (estimated at 28,000 people) in two existing watersheds and in two (or more) additional watersheds.

In the long term, the population of the district of Muminabad (81,000 people) will benefit from reduced flood risks, less spending on wood and more income from farming and livestock.

• Communities, communal and governmental institutions are empowered by the knowledge about Integrated Watershed Management (IWM), Sustainable Land Management and natural resources preservation as a means to reduce disaster risks and improve livelihoods.
• A substantial area of the lower, middle and upper mountain areas of Obishur, Chukurak and the additional watersheds are under sustainable and risk-informed land management and have better livelihoods opportunities, as a result of IWM and Energy Efeciency  technologies and approaches.
• The state of natural resources within the target watersheds is sustainably improved and preserved as a result of good watershed governance including participatory and inclusive decision-making processes and enhanced law enforcement.

Erwartete Resultate:  

• Watershed Action Plans (WAPs) for two or more new-targeted watersheds are elaborated and endorsed by all stakeholders in Muminabad. The WAPs will serve as a good governance model for NRM in other watersheds.
• At least 22 small projects, worth CHF 450,000, are implemented with a focus on five themes: (1) Pasture Management, (2) Conservation Agriculture, (3) Agro-Forestry, (4) Tree Planting, (5) Energy Efficiency and (6) Mitigation Infrastructure.
• 75% of the watershed households adopt at least one of the preventive measures within these five themes.
• An effective community-based governance mechanism is established through Pasture User Unions (PUUs) for pasture (conflict) management and regulation.
• The use of wood for energy purposes is reduced by 25%.
• An IWM/DRR/CCA knowledge management platform, linked with existing platforms, is operational.

Resultate von früheren Phasen:  

• The 19 communities in the target watersheds benefited from 34 small projects, with an overall value of CHF 513,000 implemented under the Project Trust Fund (PTF).
• 19 detailed village profiles with key socio-economic and hazard risk data are available for risk informed development.
• About 5,400 ha (85% pasture land and 15% reforested land) are under improved land management, representing 48% of the total watershed area of 11,280 ha. And around 30% less sediments are transported downstream due to planted trees and bushes acting as natural catchments for the sediments.
• Over 900 families (>6’000 people) are protected against flash floods due to 2 new constructed river dams and improved Natural Resources Management of upstream watersheds.
• More than 5,000 individuals gained improved knowledge in Sustainable Land Management (SLM) with a strong focus on pasture management and energy efficiency.
• The new established Pasture User Unions (PUUs) in all 19 villages manage their pastures based on grazing calendars and pasture management plans.
• The project Steering Committee meetings advanced into a Watershed Steering Committee under the lead of local community and authority.
• The participation of women in project activities and in decision making processes has increased from 20% in the previous phase to 46% to date.

Good practices and lessons learnt will be disseminated throughout SDC’s portfolio in Tajikistan and other donor and development partners (EU, DFID, FAO, UNDP, GIZ, AKDN) also using the Knowledge Management Network of the Universities of Central Asia and Bern, the partnership with line ministries, the Pasture Management Network and the working groups of the Development Coordination Council, which consists of national and international development agencies in Tajikistan.

Phase 3 01.12.2016 - 31.12.2019   (Completed)