BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 22. The Strengthening Water and Irrigation Management (SWIM) Project financed by the World Bank (WB) and EU has been officially launched in Tajikistan on April 19, 2023, Trend reports citing WB.
The primary goal of this project is to enhance the country's water and irrigation infrastructure and management systems, ensuring sustainable and efficient use of resources in the agriculture sector.
"We are excited to see the government launch the SWIM Project in Tajikistan, which will improve water and irrigation management in the country," World Bank Lead Water Resources Management Specialist, William Young, said.
According to him, the implementation of this project is expected to accelerate the progress of water reforms at the national level, enhance the ability to plan water usage, upgrade irrigation management practices, with a focus on climate resilience and gender inclusivity, and ultimately, lead to the advancement of rural livelihoods and food security.
In 2022, the SWIM project was granted funding from the International Development Association (IDA) for $30 million and from the European Union’s grant of 16.19 million euro.
The project aims to assist the government in enhancing the implementation of water sector reforms at the national level. The primary focus is on the Vakhsh basin, which is crucial to irrigation in Tajikistan.
The cooperation between the World Bank and Tajikistan covers all main sectors of the country’s economy. Since 1996, the WB has provided over $2.82 billion in grants, credits, and funds to Tajikistan. At present, the bank is financing 26 projects worth $1.62 billion in the country.