USAID Tajikistan Land Reform and Farm Restructuring Project Quarterly Report April–June 2015

The project focuses on three key areas: development of the land policy and legislative framework, building capacity of government officials, farmers, civil society organizations, and other rural stakeholders, and raising awareness of the target population on land rights. The project's objectives include strengthening land use rights, establishing conditions for land use rights market building, and enhancing awareness of land-related rights among legal aid centers, tashabuskors, and local farmers. The project also works with the inter-ministerial Working Group on land reform management to finalize and submit legislation for the Government of Tajikistan's approval. In the second year of the project, activities focused on enhancing the capacity of national government officials to apply international best practices in land use rights, increasing knowledge among tashabuskors, young lawyers, judges, civil society organizations, and local and state government officials on Tajik laws, regulations, and procedures related to land tenure, land use rights, and the land use rights market. The project team accomplished several tasks during the reporting period of April to June 2015. Task 1, Land Policy and Legislative Drafting, involved facilitating an off-site retreat for the Working Group members, local mortgage experts, and experts from the National Bank of Tajikistan and Frankfurt School of Finance & Management. The retreat discussed recommendations following the analysis of Tajik mortgage legislation and the status of the draft law on Dehkan Farms. Task 2, Build Capacity of Stakeholders to Capitalize on Land Reform, involved organizing a study tour to the Sughd region to familiarize participants from the Khatlon region with the experience of Sughd province in farm restructuring, creation of dehkan farms, and the process of obtaining certificates. The study tour had 22 participants, including directors from the 12 rayon State Unitary Enterprises Registration of Immovable Property, representatives from the Khatlon and republican State Unitary Enterprises Registration of Immovable Property, and a representative from the State Land Committee. Additionally, the project's grantee, Public Organization NANSMIT, conducted three trainings for 15 press secretaries to improve their communication skills and knowledge on land reform topics. The trainings aimed to increase the ability and knowledge of land reform among governmental and non-governmental journalists, and press secretaries of key Tajik ministries and agencies to properly report on progress of land reform in Tajikistan. The project's activities also focused on increasing awareness of high school students on land tenure rights in Tajikistan, increasing awareness of beneficiaries on land rights in the target regions through special land-related television, radio, and print materials, and live, short theatrical performances. The project's overall goal is to increase the number of farmers and rural citizens who exercise their rights related to farm restructuring and marketing of land-use rights, and ensure freedom to farm.