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Dushanbe, Tajikistan 12-13 March 2024. The FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and the Development Law Service of FAO participated in a National Cooperative Forum, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, organized by the FAO Representation in Tajikistan. The Forum was an activity under TCP/TAJ/3904/C4 - Cooperative development and strengthening of rural institutions under the Agrarian Reform Programme” and, being the first of its kind, was primarily aimed at shedding a spotlight on challenges faced by agricultural cooperatives and on opportunities for supporting them to contribute to the social and economic development goals of Tajikistan.

Cooperatives were created in Tajikistan under the Agrarian Reform Programme for 2012-2022, as they were identified as a key drivers of agrarian reform. However, since the concept of independent and voluntary cooperation is new for the country, many cooperatives face challenges, including a limited understanding of cooperative business models and an inconducive legal and policy environment.

At the Forum, participants representing governmental institutions, the cooperative movement, the private sector, civil society, international organizations and development partners working in Tajikistan, as well as different offices of FAO, gathered to exchange views and experiences on some of the key hurdles faced by agricultural cooperatives. An effort was made to seek opportunities within the existing legal, policy and institutional frameworks for supporting cooperatives to operate more effectively. In addition, the event was a valuable opportunity for stakeholders to provide their feedback on the national legal assessment report, as well as the draft proposal for amendments to the National Law on Cooperatives, which had been prepared under the above TCP.

Other themes addressed at the Forum were: the nature and role of cooperatives in society and in economic development; how to legislate for cooperatives, based on an analysis of international guidance and existing national policy. International practices and concrete country examples were presented by representatives of several countries – including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Moldova.

Lastly, a Final Statement was read out at the closing session of the National Cooperative Forum whereby the participants emphasized the importance of supporting efforts by all stakeholders to create an enabling environment for the development, promotion and emancipation of cooperatives, including through sector-specific state support measures, thereby enhancing their contribution to the economic and social development of the country.

For more information, please contact [email protected] (FAOTJ); [email protected] (FAOREU); [email protected] (FAOLEGN)

Read here the Press Release published by the FAO Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia.