On June 15, 2022, in Dushanbe, under the leadership of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Ziyozoda Sulaimon, the inaugural meeting of the Project Steering Committee for the “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project” took place. In accordance with the project management guidelines, the Deputy Prime Minister serves as the chairperson of the Project Steering Committee. The committee is entrusted with the following broad responsibilities: (i) development of guiding policy principles and provision of overall supervision and strategic guidance; (ii) review of project progress towards achieving the project’s objectives; (iii) review and approval of Annual Work Plans and Budgets (AWPBs) consolidated and submitted by the Project Management Unit (PMU); (iv) review and approval of the Annual Project Implementation Report prepared by the PMU and oversight of corrective actions for implementation; and (v) ensuring interagency coordination, harmonization, and donor alignment. The Project Steering Committee will hold its meetings twice a year, with a primary focus on reviewing and approving the Annual Work Plans and Budgets and monitoring the project’s effectiveness based on annual and semi-annual reports.

During his opening remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Ziyozoda Sulaimon approved the composition of the Project Steering Committee. The meeting also featured introductory speeches by Mr. Teklu Tesfaye, representing the World Bank, and Mr. Oleg Guchkeldiev, representing the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Tajikistan.

The meeting agenda included a progress report on the implementation of the “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project”, delivered by Mr. D. Satori, Director of the State Institution “Agriculture Entrepreneurship Development” Mr. B. Kurbanov, Deputy Director and Project Coordinator, and Mr. I. Muradov, Chief Accountant.

In conclusion, Deputy Prime Minister Ziyozoda Sulaimon, as the Chairman of the Project Steering Committee for the “Strengthening Resilience of the Agriculture Sector Project”, highlighted that any challenges encountered during project implementation would be addressed with the support of the ministry and relevant departmental structures, taking into account recommendations for improving project performance