1. INNOVATIVE SERVICE
DELIVERY
MECIS 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 Organization
TAG – Technical Assistance Group
WPG – 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 NGOs
Local
service
delivery
INGOs
Govern-
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