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Canada’s Commitment
Country Profile
Canada’s Commitment
Canada has had a presence in Tajikistan since 1994, working with its partners to reduce instability through poverty alleviation, particularly in the rural areas. Tajikistan’s openness to cooperation with aid partners also allows Canada to contribute to regional security in Central Asia. The Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) has contributed a total of $32.1million in aid to Tajikistan since 1994.
Tajikistan recently released a draft National Development Strategy (NDS) which provides a clear set of needs and priorities for international assistance working towards the Millennium Development Goals. CIDA’s new assistance program to Tajikistan is based on the NDS and focuses on agrarian reform in the rural areas, where the majority of the population lives. CIDA’s approach is to foster local ownership and leadership. Support is expected to target democratization and public sector capacity building in rural agrarian reform as well as the promotion of rural entrepreneurship and access to markets for rural producers.
 Country Profile
Landlocked, mountainous Tajikistan is the poorest country in Central Asia: about 60% of its people live in abject poverty. Its economy declined dramatically following the collapse of Soviet subsidies in 1991, and the ensuing civil war resulted in an estimated US$7billion in infrastructure destruction.
Tajikistan's economic situation remains fragile due to uneven implementation of structural reforms, weak governance, widespread unemployment, and high external debt. Security is also at risk: the country is reputed to be a major transit route for drugs, and human trafficking is also a problem. Finally, some members of armed opposition groups in Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan continue to use Tajikistan’s territory as a safe haven. Nevertheless, the country has a functioning government and is an active participant in international development. In a zone of instability, Tajikistan has shown the potential to be a good partner for development in Central Asia.
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