Community Stabilisation and Emergencies

Tajikistan has undergone both a post-socialist and post-conflict transition, with major ruptures in society and the economy, many of which are still being felt today. A lack of employment opportunities and rising poverty, particularly in rural areas, has led close to one million Tajik citizens to work abroad, with the main destination being the Russian Federation. The absence of men in rural areas has had long-term effects on the social fabric of Tajikistan and is made more complex by the large-scale return of migrant workers who are banned from re-entering Russia, a phenomenon ongoing since 2013. The labour market in Tajikistan cannot absorb the large number of people returning to already strained communities. Districts on the border with Afghanistan are affected by instability emanating from Afghanistan which have a damaging effect on cross-border relations and community cohesion.

In addition, Tajikistan is a mountainous country prone to frequent natural hazards, such as earthquakes, mudslides, floods and avalanches. The country’s geography makes emergency preparedness and response challenging, with disasters often affecting high mountain areas and remote villages.

IOM’s work in the field of community stabilization in Tajikistan is focused in various ways on fostering cohesion and building resilience among communities adversely affected by high levels of return migration, cross-border crime, and natural hazards.

Afghanistan Response Programming

Afghanistan is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis and is on the brink of systemic collapse. Following the turbulent transfer of power in August 2021, there has been a serious reduction in access to basic services due to poor governance, a damaged economy that is headed into freefall, and increasing limits on human rights, particularly for women and girls.

As part of IOM’s Afghanistan Crisis Response Plan for 2022, IOM is implementing three regional projects as part of the Comprehensive Action Plan for Afghanistan and Neighbouring Countries.

In light of increased border crossings at the Afghan-Tajik border, the Border Forces of Tajikistan have also requested IOM’s support to upgrade sanitary controls at check points, and increase capacity of entry point staff on public health emergency response. This funding from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) has also allowed IOM to enhance emergency accommodation capacity at entry points, as well as provide direct assistance to vulnerable individuals among the Afghan population and host communities.

Funded by the EU, IOM Tajikistan are supporting the establishment of an employment opportunities database to match Afghan and host communities with jobs. Grants to small and medium enterprises will also be provided to support business development, with a specific focus on those who provide services and support to Afghan refugees. Finally, IOM is implementing “Quick Impact Projects” in collaboration with communities to support Afghan and host community women’s access to livelihood opportunities. For more information, please see here.

Emergency Response

IOM Tajikistan’s emergency preparedness and response activities are primarily aimed at capacity building, coordination and relief. IOM established the Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for the Committee for Emergency Situations and Civil Defence (CoES) in Dushanbe to ensure robust disaster response coordination mechanisms.

IOM is also responsible for the Camp Coordination and Camp Management (CCCM) sector in Tajikistan, co-chairing it with CoES. As such, IOM is responsible for the coordination of CCCM planning and response throughout the country. During emergencies, IOM provides coordination, technical missions, and capacity building related to displacement sites. Alongside other UN agencies, IOM is also a member of the Rapid Emergency Assessment and Coordination Team (REACT).

Community Infrastructure

Since 2015, IOM Tajikistan has completed 21 community infrastructure projects to improve socio-economic conditions in vulnerable border communities and also act as an important source of employment.

The decision on which community infrastructure projects are built is led by the communities themselves, in cooperation with IOM and local government structures and as a result the completed projects are used by over 20,000 people. To date, IOM has constructed or rehabilitated: markets; cold storage facilities; electricity supply systems; schools; irrigation channels; drinking water supply systems; primary medical care points; toilet blocks; and river bank reinforcements.

Community Cohesion and Cross-Border Cooperation

As well as strengthening cross-border livelihoods, IOM also facilitates community dialogues between Tajik and Afghan communities living along the border. This is achieved through cross-border exchanges of civil society groups and community leaders to discuss shared challenges and joint solutions related to life on the border.

Over 600 people have attended cross-border cultural exchanges involving musicians and performers from Tajikistan and Afghanistan. Cross-border sporting exchanges have also been facilitated by IOM, with the construction of 16 volleyball courts in remote border villages in Afghanistan which have played host to matches between Tajik and Afghan youth. These events are important in building trust and positive relations between the two sides.

Livelihood and job creation

Creating livelihood alternatives is a key part of IOM’s community stabilization work in Tajikistan and focuses on reintegrating returned migrants with re-entry bans, providing opportunities to youth, and supporting single female headed households of migrant families.

IOM has provided in-kind grants to community members in districts bordering Afghanistan in both GBAO and Khatlon regions to start new enterprises.

Many business ideas that were supported by IOM before Afghanistan’s political transition were for cross-border businesses, which helped to stimulate trade and build relationships between Tajik and Afghan communities as well as reduce incentives for smuggling goods. Cross-border community stabilization activities with Afghan communities such as trainings on handicraft production, baking and welding, were implemented as well as bringing Afghan students to study plumbing and electrical skills in Tajik vocational colleges.

A milestone in IOM’s work on reintegration of returned migrants was focused on reintegration, grievances and mental health. In 2019-2020, IOM organized reintegration programming sessions across the Tajik-Afghan border which delivered grants to returned migrants and vulnerable community members as well as mentoring and coaching, certifications on prior learning and vocational trainings at Adult Training centres.