FY2022 MOFA ODA Evaluation Results
Evaluation of Japan’s ODA to Tajikistan
| Chief Evaluator | SATO Hiroshi Chief Senior Researcher, Research Operations Department, Institute of Developing Economies, Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) |
| Advisor | TSUKADA Shunso Visiting Professor, College of Asia Pacific Studies, Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University |
| Consultant | Asia Engineering Consultant Co., Ltd. |
| Evaluation Period | FY2017 to FY2021 |
| Period of the Evaluation Study | May 2022 to February 2023 |
| Field Survey Country | Tajikistan |
Background, Objectives, and Scope of the Evaluation
Tajikistan is a geopolitically important country since it borders China, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan, and is located halfway between east and west connecting Europe and China, and halfway between north and south connecting Russia and Pakistan. The stable growth and development of Tajikistan is not only conducive to regional stability and prosperity, but is also important for world peace and development. The main objectives of this Evaluation are to assess Japan’s ODA Policy toward Tajikistan for the past five years (FY2017 to FY2021), to obtain recommendations and lessons learned for the formulation and implementation of future ODA Policy toward Tajikistan, and to fulfill accountability to the public by disclosing the evaluation results.
Summary of Evaluation Results
Japan’s ODA to Tajikistan has been efficiently utilized, as efforts have been made to maximize results through various innovations, such as addressing development issues by combining grant aid and technical cooperation, despite the limited ODA budget and available assistance schemes.
● Development Viewpoints
(1) Relevance of Policies
High relevance was confirmed for almost all verification items, indicating a high level of relevance with policy.
(Evaluation Result: Satisfactory)
(2) Effectiveness of Results
Outputs can be seen for most of the projects with confirmed completion, however in some projects in the transport and health sectors, outcomes did not appear as expected. In addition, for the Grant Aid Projects through International Organizations, there were cases where outputs could not be confirmed or outcomes were not described in the reports, therefore the effectiveness of some of the results remains an issue.
(Evaluation Result: Partially Satisfactory)
(3) Appropriateness of Processes
Appropriate aid policies were formulated in the policy formulation process. In terms of the aid implementation process, there is room for improvement in monitoring through reports on Grant Aid Projects through International Organizations. In Tajikistan, inter-donor communication is conducted on a regular basis, and Japan is active in this area. The slow decision-making and approval process of the Government of Tajikistan is affecting project formation and implementation, however preliminary steps are being taken by the Embassy of Japan in Tajikistan and JICA Tajikistan Office. Therefore, the appropriateness of the aid implementation process is high.
(Evaluation Result: Satisfactory)
*Ratings: Highly Satisfactory; Satisfactory; Partially Satisfactory; Unsatisfactory
● Diplomatic Viewpoints
(1) Diplomatic Importance
A. Significance and Importance of Supporting Tajikistan
Although Tajikistan has little direct interaction with Japan, its stabilization will contribute to world peace and security in the Central Asian region and, by extension, Japan, since Tajikistan borders Afghanistan, a destabilizing factor in the security of the international community. While Central Asia is hugely affected by Russia’s recent invasion of Ukraine, the political and economic stability of Tajikistan, which is seeking its own foreign policy, is important from the perspective of security in Asia and Eurasia. Therefore, it is diplomatically important for Japan, which aspires to a “free and open Central Asia,” to promote political, economic, and social stability in Tajikistan through Japanese ODA.
B. Importance of ODA to Tajikistan in Strengthening Bilateral Relations
Through the implementation of projects especially for Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects (GGP), awareness of Japanese ODA in Tajikistan is high and the impression of Japanese assistance is good. In addition, ODA has become an important tool in strengthening bilateral relations between Japan and Tajikistan, as President Rahmon expressed his gratitude for the Japanese assistance provided within the framework of ODA in a joint statement signed during his visit to Japan in 2018.
(2) Diplomatic Impact
A. Contribution to Peace and Security in the World Including Japan
Through the implementation of Grant Aid Projects through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), drug trafficking on the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border has been intercepted, contributing to peace and stability in Tajikistan and neighboring countries, which in turn has contributed to the peace and stability of Japan.
B. Contribution to Maintain Good Relations between Japan and Tajikistan
It is expected that good relations between Japan and Tajikistan will be maintained as young administrative officers who participated in the grant aid “Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship (JDS)” will play a central role in nation-building and become bridges between the two countries. Some JDS graduates are promoted as advisors in the Presidential Office, the center of national politics, and to the Minister of Labor, Migration and Employment.
C. Contribution to Strengthening Japan’s Presence in the International Community
Japan has expressed its support for Tajikistan’s water sector and to work with Tajikistan at international conferences for the water sector hosted by Tajikistan, which is expected to strengthen Japan’s presence in the international community.
Recommendations and Lessons Learned, Based on the Evaluation Results
Recommendations
(1) Strengthen Monitoring of Grant Aid Projects through International Organizations
The Embassy of Japan in Tajikistan, JICA Tajikistan Office, and responsible Japanese departments, which are in a position to verify the International Organizations’ monitoring of Grant Aid Projects through International Organizations, are recommended to improve the timely receipt and management framework of reports. There are many Grant Aid Projects through International Organizations in Tajikistan, and the implementing agencies are diverse. As a donor, Japan should standardize the minimum required contents to be included in the report through discussions with implementing agencies. Clarification of the reporting contents will not only facilitate monitoring of projects, but also enables objective comparisons with similar projects. Therefore, it is recommended to improve the content of the reports submitted from Grant Aid Projects through International Organizations.
(2) Complementarity between Japanese Projects and Health System Reform in the Health Sector
The Embassy of Japan in Tajikistan and the JICA Tajikistan Office are recommended to coordinate with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of Tajikistan and other donors to always confirm the position of Japan’s assistance, support and approaches for referral system, within the health system reform in Tajikistan from the complementarity perspective.
Lessons Learned
The following lessons were learned and positioned as items that can be applied in providing assistance to other countries.
(1) Combination of Different Aid Schemes
(2) Strategies for Utilizing Grant Aid Projects through International Organizations
(3) Replicability of the Pilot Project
(4) Introduction of Infrastructure that Matches the Capacity of the Partner Country
At Kushoniyon Central District Hospital in Khatlon Region