AKIPRESS.COM - On March 17, the World Bank Group’s Board of Executive Directors approved a grant of US$13.50 million to finance the Tajikistan Communal Services Development Fund Project aimed at improved delivery of basic municipal services for the population, the Bank said in a press release.

The project builds on previous World Bank financed investments and reforms in municipal sector, which have already benefited over one million residents of Dushanbe and secondary towns.

“Secondary towns in Tajikistan have large municipal infrastructure needs, with 80 percent of infrastructure requiring rehabilitation,” said Patricia-Veevers Carter, World Bank Country Manager in Tajikistan. “The new project will benefit the population of these towns, including the poor, by providing improved water, on-site sanitation and solid waste management services as well as street lighting and roads. Furthermore, given the large funding needs, the project will set up a Communal Services Development Fund, which will pool national and donor resources to support a sustained investment program in the municipal sector.”

The Communal Services Development Fund Project will support municipal and communal infrastructure improvements, as well as enhance the capacity of local governments and service providers for better service delivery for local residents. These services include clean drinking water, sanitation, solid waste management, street lighting and local roads.

Over 100,000 will benefit from physical infrastructure investments in Hissor, Konibodom, Dangara, Sarband, Vose and Fakhor. The project will also increase the efficiency of municipalities and local service providers through support in development of local investment plans, management of utility facilities, improved billings and collections and engagement of residents in management and maintenance of investments.

An important component of the project is support to the Government of Tajikistan in establishing a Communal Services Development Fund – a mechanism which will combine national and donor resources to support more efficient longer term financing and delivery of communal services for the population. The project will be implemented over the next four years by the State Unitary Enterprise “Khojagii Manziliu Kommunali”.

Apart from this new project, the World Bank’s engagement in the municipal sector of Tajikistan includes two ongoing projects – the Second Dushanbe Water Supply Project and the Additional Financing for Municipal Infrastructure Development Project to address the challenges in water, sanitation and solid waste management through institutional reforms and infrastructure investments.