Supporting Livelihoods and Socio-Economic Integration of Vulnerable Groups in Tajikistan

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This is the first Government of Tajikistan and World Bank project for Afghan refugees and host communities of Tajikistan with a focus on socio-economic integration. It will finance livelihoods and community-driven development interventions with the aim of providing meaningful opportunity for socio-economic integration of refugee and host communities in Vahdat. The project will build on the lessons learnt from the WB financed Socio-Economic Resilience Strengthening Program (SERSP) (P168062) currently under implementation: The key lessons include: (i) ensuring community members are fully aware of the available budget for social infrastructure investments from the onset to enable realistic prioritization/selection process , (ii) ensuring strong involvement of women in project activities from the onset and to organize special platforms/places for them to gather and organize meetings, (iii) ensuring livelihoods should respond to multi-dimensional local needs, through both investments in public infrastructure and the inclusion of the marginalized and (iv) conducting specialized outreach activities to reach Afghan women, delivered by women who speak Dari/Pashto and who have gained the trust of the refugee community. The proposed project will also build on the experience of World Bank’s Social Development Operations in Europe and Central Asia region with similar scope and target beneficiaries. This includes, for example other JSDF funded projects such as Kosovo Youth Development Project (also funded by JSDF), Municipalities for Youth in Kosovo Project, Social Entrepreneurship, Empowerment and Social Cohesion for Refugees and Host Communities in Turkey amongst others.The proposed project will pilot livelihood approaches developed under SERSP for different vulnerable groups (refugees and host communities) in a new location (Vahdat City where refugees have permission to stay). It is innovative in several ways. It jointly implements project activities for both host communities and refugee through inclusive consultation processes. This design will ensure that the social infrastructure investments reflect the needs of both refugees and host communities. The project will build the long-term capacity of the government (via NSIFT) to support refugee and host community projects in close collaboration with UNHCR. The project will also provide a platform to the Government to learn from the pilot and capture lessons that can inform discussions on refugee policies and programs in Tajikistan. Through the engagement of target beneficiaries, the project is designed to enhance accountability, empower women and youth from the refugee and host communities in decision-making roles, and ensure investments meet community needs. The project may also contribute to greater social cohesion between refugees and host community members in the longer-term. Component 1: Development of Livelihood Opportunities ($600,000) Component 2. Support for Local Infrastructure and Services ($1,745,000)Component 3. Project Management, Monitoring and Evaluation, and Communications ($410,000).