International Alert has successfully concluded two EU-funded projects in Tajikistan, one on secular-religious dialogue and the other on the promotion of peaceful behaviour among young people. We held conferences with local stakeholders in the country to review the successes, recommendations and lessons learnt from both projects.
In May we held a conference in Dushanbe on our project, “Dialogue for a policy on the relationship between the state and religion in Tajikistan”, with local partner the Public Committee for Development of Tajikistan. The project was designed to encourage locally-owned and inclusive secular-religious dialogue, and develop recommendations to assist future policymaking. Based on the project’s experiences over two and a half years, and ideas generated at the conference, a policy concept will be officially handed-over to the government, designed to inform future policymaking on this critical issue.
Meanwhile in April we held a conference in Kayrakkum on our project, “Mainstreaming of youth policy against radicalism”, with local partner the Association of Scientific-Technical Intelligentsia of Tajikistan (ASTI). The 18-month project involved a youth training programme, capacity development for local government employees working in youth affairs and education, and the compiling of local feedback on the region’s social development programme for youth. It was carried out in six pilot communities in two districts of the Sughd region – Asht and B. Gafurov.
Both projects were funded by the European Union through the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR).