Ladies and Gentlemen!

It gives me great pleasure to present this most recent edition of the guide “Development Partner Profiles 2009-2010”. For over six years this guide has been published in Tajikistan promoting effective external assistance mobilization and management.

Foreign aid continues to play a significant role in supporting the Government of Tajikistan in implementing its development programme.  This year the Government is  working on a new Poverty Reduction Strategy for 2010-2012. Once implemented, the strategy is expected to contribute significantly towards the country’s successful achievement of its Millennium Development Goals. This will require increasingly coherent and effective actions by all stakeholders.  
Transparency of information on external assistance is not only important to avoid duplication, rationalize allocation and better coordination of activities. It is also key to establish mutual trust that is essential for effective cooperation.  It is worth noting that lately demand for information on foreign aid has been growing. We are grateful to all organizations that contributed towards preparation of this guide.  We hope to continue our collaboration to make information on external assistance programmes accurate and available. Aid transparency is important inter alia for the results of these shared efforts can be duly appreciated by the people of Tajikistan and the international community.
Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness contains commitment by developed and developing countries to adhere to a series of principles of effective aid, including mutual accountability.  Accessibility of information regarding activities of all stakeholders is a pre-requisite for making mutual accountability in Tajikistan a reality.

Publication of this guide aims to compliment efforts already taken to improve aid effectiveness in the country.  In November 2009 the Government of Tajikistan and its development partners signed the Joint Country Partnership Strategy (JCPS) for 2010-2012. JCPS is a comprehensive document that lays the basis for strengthening collaboration between the donor community and the Government. 

We hope this guide will be helpful to facilitate further dialog on effectiveness of foreign aid in Tajikistan and on the specific role each stakeholder is expected to play in the process.

Sincerely,