Context and challenges

In Tajikistan, the proportion of people living below the poverty line can reach 74%. This holds true in the rural province of Sughd, one of the poorest regions in the country. Living conditions in this area are extreme and during winter, economic opportunities are severely squeezed. The very short farming season (May to August) is, in addition, constrained by substantial degradation of the soils and natural resources. Moreover, the intensive gathering of wood is very timeconsuming for the women who have to undertake this arduous chore to the detriment of their education or other income-generating activities.

Objectives and solutions

The project aims to develop a sustainable process that will improve the living conditions and economic opportunities of around 1,000 vulnerable rural households, particularly those headed by women. To do so, Geres has chosen appropriate domestic energy solutions, primarily passive solar and thermal insulation techniques. Reducing the need for fuel will reduce the pressure on biomass resources. In addition, the bioclimatic techniques will be used to reinforce the means of production, preservation and distribution of agricultural products.

• Building of 250 insulated houses with the passive solar techniques, 100 passive solar greenhouses enabling vegetable production to continue in the winter season, 30 solar poultry farms, 22 bioclimatic cellars
• Establishing of 2 co-operatives to improve market access for small farmers
• Raising awareness of energy saving and dissemination of energy-efficient equipment and methods (improved cookstoves, passive solar houses)
• Mobilization and involvement of local authorities, communities and civil society in the planning of the region’s economic and social development.

Beneficiaries

• Female-headed households
• Large families in difficulty (more than five children or including disabled members)
• Unskilled farm laborers (under 30 year’s old)
• Small farmers (less than 0.04 ha per person)

Partners

Financial partners

• European Union

Technical partners

• ASDP Nau (Agency for the Support of Development Processes)
• CAMP Kuhiston (Central Asia Mountain Partnership)
• Governments of the districts of Asht and Ayn
• Mahalla community organizations