Dushanbe, Tajikistan, August 11, 2016 – U.S. Ambassador Elisabeth Millard and Chairperson of the Committee for Women’s and Family Affairs at the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Qosimzoda Idigul Tagho welcomed participants of the Women and Water Forum.  In this forum, more than 120 partners and beneficiaries of USAID’s Local Governance Project actively discussed how rural women can and should take part in the decision making process regarding the supply and management of drinking water.  They also debated gender policy and participation of neighborhood committees in relation to delivery and management of water infrastructure projects.

As a result of plenary discussions and productive afternoon sessions, participants unanimously adopted a resolution with a number of recommendations, which will contribute to strengthening gender equality in water policy and increasing capacity and accountability of national and sub-national governments to supply clean drinking water.

Participants of the conference included officials of the Committee of Women and Family Affairs under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, and Strategic Research Center under the President of the Republic of Tajikistan and Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of the Republic of Tajikistan, among others.

The USAID Local Governance Project focuses on enhancing capacity of local governments to provide improved social services, particularly clean drinking water, and it strengthens citizen participation in local government decision-making.  To date, the project has installed 12 drinking water systems across Tajikistan, giving more than 33,000 people access to clean drinking water.