The USAID Tajikistan Land Reform and Farm Restructuring Project (LRFRP) strives to support the continuing progress of dehkan farm restructuring and recognition of property rights leading to a market in land-use rights. LRFRP activities are focused on providing assistance and support to the Government of Tajikistan (GoT) through: (1) development of the land policy and legislative framework; (2) building capacity of government officials, farmers, civil society organizations and other rural stakeholders to capitalize on land reform; and (3) raising awareness of the target population on land rights. To ensure sustainability of the project, LRFRP strengthens land-use rights and establishes conditions for land-use rights market-building. The project also works with legal aid centers (LACs), tashabuskors (local activists), and local farmers to enhance their awareness of land-related rights through technical training, legal assistance, and public outreach efforts.
This report covers the third quarter of project Year 3, April – June 2016. The report includes key LRFRP achievements during the period. During the reporting period the project accomplished the following:
Task 1. Land Policy and Legislative Drafting
- Between April-June 2016, LRFRP involved International Land Tax Expert Gulzat Namatbekova to analyze current land tax legislation in Tajikistan. On April 26, 2016, LRFRP organized a round table called “Taxation and other required payments of dehkan farms, including agricultural lands of the RT” for 24 participants to present analyses on taxation issues in Tajikistan and recommendations.
- On May 6, 2016, the project conducted a conference on the Law on Dehkan Farms for members of the WG, representatives from international organizations, Legal Aid Centers, farmers, and media representatives to present the details of the Law on Dehkan Farms.
- On June 1, 2016, LRFRP organized a seminar on the Law on Dehkan Farms for more than 50 Local Government Officials to discuss main details of the Law on Dehkan Farms.
- Between April-June 2016, LRFRP provided technical assistance and equipment (such as computers, printers, and scanners) to increase the capacity of the employees of the second Model Registration Office to implement the registration process in compliance with new registration
rules. - On June 15, 2016, LRFRP and the State Unitary Enterprise on Registration of Immovable Property (SUERIP), hosted the official opening ceremony of the Model Registration Office of Immovable Property #2 in the Dusti District.
- On April 14, 2016, LRFRP hosted and an Intergovernmental Working Group (WG) meeting on land reform management to promote land legislation.
- On May 26, 2016, LRFRP organized an outside retreat for the members of the WG to discuss the final draft of amendments to the Civil Code.
Task 2. Build Capacity of Stakeholders to Capitalize on Land Reform
- During the reporting period, tashabuskors and LACs conducted 405 focus group discussions, 129 roundtables, 112 trainings, and 22 seminars for 95 local officials, and provided 5,344 legal consultations to farmers.
- On April 6-8, 2016 and June 14-16, 2016, LRFRP facilitated ToT for LAC and tashabuskors about the new Law on Dehkan Farms and Arbitrage courts.
- On May 12, 2016 and June 13, 2016, LRFRP organized a Female Tashabuskors Exchange Forum in Shahritus and Bokhtar districts for 56 active women tashabuskors of Khatlon region to share and exchange their experiences working with women farmers.
- On April 21, 2016 and May 20, 2016, through a grant agreement, the project conducted a training for 37 journalists and press secretaries from the State Land Committee and Ministry of Agriculture in the targeted districts of Khatlon region on using social media and other new multimedia tools for communications and reporting.
- Between April-June 2016, LRFRP updated and printed brochures on: “Women’s right to land” (1,500 copies in Tajik and 200 copies in Russian languages); “Taxation of Dehkan farms” in Tajik language; “Inheritance of Dehkan farms” was republished with total amount of 8,000 copies in Tajik language;
- Between April-June 2016, LRFRP developed and printed brochures on: “The main goals of the new Law on Dehkan Farms” (4,000 copies in Tajik and 1,000 copies in Russian languages); “Comments to the Law on Dehkan Farms” (2,000 copies in Tajik and 500 copies in Russian languages); and “Termination of land use rights” (4,500 in Tajik and 500 in Russian languages).
- On May 19, 2016, LRFRP organized a training for Legal Aid Centers and practicing attorneys on “Procedure for preparation of application to the Court.”
- On June 30, 2016, the project conducted a presentation of the textbook “Land Law of Tajikistan” for 60 representatives from Ministry of Education, universities, and state agencies. In June 2016, LRFRP updated and printed the textbook “Land Law of Tajikistan” (1,500 copies in Tajik and 500 copies in Russian languages).
Task 3. Land Rights and Farm Restructuring Public Information and Awareness
- Between April-June, 2016, LRFRP and grantee Tajagrofond conducted trainings for 609 schoolteachers on how to incorporate land reform topics in legal studies curriculum in 12 districts. 609 trained teachers conducted classes to increase awareness of land reform and land-use rights among youth for 15,225 students in the 12 FTF districts of the Khatlon region.
- Local media broadcasted three ten-minute TV programs and six fifteen-minute radio programs to highlight land reform in Tajikistan.
- The project produced three editions of the Agroinform newsletter and disseminated 15,000 copies to students, farmers, state employees, and other project beneficiaries.
- The project updated the LAC website on a monthly basis.
Task 4. Support the provision of legal advice and other assistance to promote farm restructuring and the development of a market in land-use rights
- On April 1, 2016, LRFRP hosted a conference with the participation of 50 women leaders, farmers, and representatives of Government agencies to recognize the role of women in the process of land reform in Tajikistan.
- On April 28, 2016 and June 17, 2016, LRFRP, through a grant to PO “Nansmit”, organized a training for 34 employees from 12 Legal Aid Centers on writing and implementing communication strategies.
- On June 24, 2016, LRFRP organized a round table on Restructuring of Dehkan Farms in Khatlon region to discuss farm restructuring process in the Republic of Tajikistan and Khatlon region.