As the USAID Land Reform Project in Tajikistan comes to a close this month, there has been an increase in publicity for its achievements. An article highlighting a recent event to celebrate the project’s accomplishments and the work of the Tajik government in advancing land reform was featured in local media and a Feed the Future press release. Feed the Future is the U.S. Government’s global hunger and food security initiative. In Tajikistan, as elsewhere, effective land policy and secure land rights are important factors in achieving Feed the Future’s goals of improving food security and reducing hunger and poverty.
According to the article, “in Tajikistan, Feed the Future seeks to address hunger and poverty by accelerating inclusive agricultural growth and improving the nutritional status, particularly of women and children, in 12 districts in the Khatlon region.” The Land Reform Project helps address these issues by providing the Government of Tajikistan with technical assistance and training on developing land legislation and implementing market-based land reforms by facilitating acquisition of land formerly held by state collectives. It also provided training for local government officials, judges and lawyers on land rights issues and developed public outreach and information services focused on strengthening and protecting farmers’ land use rights.