Strengthening Civil Registration System in Tajikistan to minimize impact of COVID-19

October 8, 2020

DUSHANBE, 8 October 2020 – UNDP started the second phase of the Civil Registry System Reform Project in Tajikistan  aiming to help the country transition to integrated digital registration system to facilitate access to civil services for the population and ensure improved service delivery.

Ministry of Justice hosted the first Steering Committee meeting to commence project activities in this direction. Challenges caused by COVID-19 and response and adaptation strategy within the project implementation framework were among key issues discussed at the meeting co-chaired by H.E. Mr. Muzaffar Ashuriyon, the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Tajikistan and Dr. Pratibha Mehta, the UNDP Resident Representative.

“Soon after starting the Phase-2 of the project, the world was hit by COVID-19 pandemic, challenging all the countries, including Tajikistan, to find unconventional ways to deliver services to avoid exposing people to infection” - Dr. Pratibha Mehta said in the opening speech.

The project aims to support the protection of civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights by making civil registry institutions and mechanisms more responsive to the populations’ needs through automatization, refined capacity development approaches, awareness raising. Building strategic partnerships with other institutions, such as the Agency on Statistics under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan, the Agency on Social Insurance and Pensions, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior is pivotal for developing an integrated and unified system.

Among other developments, the project highlighted a gradual transition from a handwriting to electronic printing of certificates in Civil Registry offices of Dushanbe and Districts of Republican Subordination, successful piloting of archives digitalization and amendments to relevant laws.

“We highly appreciate our fruitful, efficient and multiyear cooperation between the Ministry of Justice and partners in the implementation of number of  important projects, including support to Civil Registry System Reform in Tajikistan which is consistent with the SDG-16 and helps to build accountable institutions and access to justice for all” -  H.E. Mr. Muzaffar Ashuriyon said in his opening remark.

Representatives of UNDP, Swiss Agency Development Cooperation in Tajikistan, and the Heads of Civil registry offices participated in the event. The meeting was partially attended online, given the persisting health-related challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. The second Steering Committee Meeting in the framework of the Civil Registry System Reform in Tajikistan- Phase II project within next six months.

Civil Registry System Reform in Tajikistan (Phase II) project is a four-year project funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.

For additional information, please contact:

Rukhshona Nazhmidinova, UNDP Communications Analyst in Tajikistan, e-mail: rukhshona.nazhmidinova@undp.org

Firuza Sharipova, Firuza.sharipova@undp.org, Project Communication Associate