Tajikistan : COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program

Sovereign Project | 54156-001

The proposed COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) program will support the implementation of the government's countercyclical measures, targeting the poor and vulnerable while meeting financing needs and achieving debt sustainability. The program is aligned with the overarching development objective: COVID-19 transmission reduced while minimizing economic, public, and social impacts. The effect of the program will be: COVID-19 outbreak more effectively managed, and social and economic impacts reduced. The program has three outputs: (i) health measures for COVID-19 country preparedness and response implemented, (ii) increased social assistance and food security measures implemented, and (iii) enhanced support for business entities and measures to safeguard employment implemented. The proposed CARES program grant is $50 million.

Project Details

  • Project Officer
    Miyaki, Yuji
    Central and West Asia Department
    Request for information
  • Country/Economy
    Tajikistan
  • Sector
    • Public sector management
Project Name COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program
Project Number 54156-001
Country / Economy Tajikistan
Project Status Closed
Project Type / Modality of Assistance Grant
Source of Funding / Amount
Grant 0706-TAJ: COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program
Asian Development Fund US$ 50.00 million
Operational Priorities OP1: Addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities
OP2: Accelerating progress in gender equality
OP6: Strengthening governance and institutional capacity
OP7: Fostering regional cooperation and integration
Sector / Subsector

Health / Disease control of communicable disease

Public sector management / Public expenditure and fiscal management - Social protection initiatives
Gender Effective gender mainstreaming
Description The proposed COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support (CARES) program will support the implementation of the government's countercyclical measures, targeting the poor and vulnerable while meeting financing needs and achieving debt sustainability. The program is aligned with the overarching development objective: COVID-19 transmission reduced while minimizing economic, public, and social impacts. The effect of the program will be: COVID-19 outbreak more effectively managed, and social and economic impacts reduced. The program has three outputs: (i) health measures for COVID-19 country preparedness and response implemented, (ii) increased social assistance and food security measures implemented, and (iii) enhanced support for business entities and measures to safeguard employment implemented. The proposed CARES program grant is $50 million. The program is coordinated with ADB's overall assistance package to the CAREC region, incorporating a regional cooperation aspect in responding to this global as well as regional crisis. The program will also support CAREC-2030's Operational Cluster 5 (human development), by addressing pandemic risks and controlling transboundary communicable diseases. The CARES program will also promote the adoption of international preparedness and response standards and best practices, especially those recommended by WHO, to manage pandemics and public health emergencies. Food, medical items, seeds, and fertilizers from neighboring countries will be procured as measures for the COVID-19 response.
Project Rationale and Linkage to Country/Regional Strategy

Tajikistan is experiencing significant adverse economic and social impacts from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and a rapid increase in domestic cases and deaths. Preventative measures and external factors are causing economic growth to decelerate sharply, and unemployment and poverty to increase. To mitigate these impacts and protect the fragile health system, the government adopted urgent pro-poor countercyclical measures and expenditures, including (i) a health sector and social protection response package to assist poor and vulnerable groups, and (ii) measures to ensure food security and support to businesses prone to experiencing severe effects. The proposed Asian Development Bank (ADB) program will, in the short term, support the government's COVID-19 countercyclical responses and financing needs, to help mitigate the adverse health, social, and economic impacts of the crisis, while targeting poor and vulnerable groups and ensuring gender mainstreaming. It will complement cooperation efforts to contain the pandemic in the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) region. The program, to be implemented during 2020, was developed in close coordination with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and supports fiscal sustainability in the medium term as well as economic recovery.

Tajikistan meets all six access criteria of ADB's COVID-19 pandemic response option under the Countercyclical Support Facility. The program is also aligned with ADB's Strategy 2030, including its operational priorities of (i) addressing remaining poverty and reducing inequalities, (ii) accelerating progress in gender equality, (iii) strengthening governance and institutional capacity, and (iv) fostering regional cooperation and integration. The program aligns with these priorities by strengthening the government's capacity for implementing the countercyclical responses; targeting the response measures, including social assistance, at women and poor and vulnerable groups; and coordinating with ADB's regional response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Impact

COVID-19 transmission reduced while minimizing economic, public, and social impacts
Project Outcome
Description of Outcome

COVID-19 outbreak more effectively managed and social and economic impacts reduced
Progress Toward Outcome
Implementation Progress
Description of Project Outputs

Health measures for COVID-19 country preparedness and response implemented

Increased social assistance and food security measures implemented

Enhanced support for business entities and measures to safeguard employment implemented
Status of Implementation Progress (Outputs, Activities, and Issues)
Geographical Location Nation-wide
Safeguard Categories
Environment C
Involuntary Resettlement C
Indigenous Peoples C
Summary of Environmental and Social Aspects
Environmental Aspects
Involuntary Resettlement
Indigenous Peoples
Stakeholder Communication, Participation, and Consultation
During Project Design
During Project Implementation
Responsible ADB Officer Miyaki, Yuji
Responsible ADB Department Central and West Asia Department
Responsible ADB Division Public Management, Financial Sector and Trade Division, CWRD
Executing Agencies
Ministry of Finance
Timetable
Concept Clearance -
Fact Finding 06 Apr 2020 to 22 Apr 2020
MRM 15 May 2020
Approval 18 Jun 2020
Last Review Mission -
Last PDS Update 18 Jun 2020

Grant 0706-TAJ

Milestones
Approval Signing Date Effectivity Date Closing
Original Revised Actual
18 Jun 2020 23 Jun 2020 06 Jul 2020 31 Dec 2020 - 31 Dec 2020
Financing Plan Grant Utilization
Total (Amount in US$ million) Date ADB Others Net Percentage
Project Cost 50.00 Cumulative Contract Awards
ADB 50.00 17 Jun 2022 50.00 0.00 100%
Counterpart 0.00 Cumulative Disbursements
Cofinancing 0.00 17 Jun 2022 50.00 0.00 100%

Project Data Sheets (PDS) contain summary information on the project or program. Because the PDS is a work in progress, some information may not be included in its initial version but will be added as it becomes available. Information about proposed projects is tentative and indicative.

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Evaluation Documents See also: Independent Evaluation

Title Document Type Document Date
Tajikistan: COVID-19 Active Response and Expenditure Support Program Validations of Project Completion Reports Apr 2023

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