Dushanbe, Tajikistan,  12 June 2024 – On the final day of the last leg of Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) President’s visit to three Central Asian countries, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser took a tour of several key IsDB-funded projects in Tajikistan.

Accompanied by the country’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade and IsDB Governor, H.E. Zavqi Zavqizoda, IsDB President, H.E. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, got a firsthand account of the progress in the projects underscoring the Bank's commitment to enhancing infrastructure, healthcare, and education in the region.

Dr. Al Jasser began his tour in Dushanbe with a visit to Secondary School №53, part of the US$61.5 million IsDB/GPE (Global Partnership for Education) project supporting Tajikistan's education strategy. He toured the modern facilities, including 50 classrooms, a library, a sports hall, and more, which will provide quality education for 2,400 students.

A broader project aims to construct 68 schools and five administrative buildings, enhancing access to student-friendly learning environments and supporting competency-based education reforms, assessment practices, and strengthening education data systems. Dr. Al Jasser also met with school leaders, students, and young children; the bright, eager faces of the next generation.

Later in the day, Dr. Al Jasser paid a visit to the US$53.5 million project for Improvement of Water Resources Management in the Khatlon Region. This vital initiative focuses on rehabilitating rural water supply systems, modernizing irrigation pumping stations, and constructing distribution networks. The project aims to improve livelihoods through better water management, thereby increasing agricultural production, food security, incomes, and job creation in rural areas. It is a key part of IsDB's efforts with partners to build resilience to the impacts of climate change.

The IsDB President’s tour concluded in Dangara, where Dr. Al Jasser visited the newly inaugurated US$26.9 million Regional Multifunctional Health Center, part of the Improving Maternal, Neonatal & Child Health project in Tajikistan's Khatlon region.

This modern seven-story facility includes 153 doctor rooms, five surgery rooms, a dental center, 40 laboratories, and more, all designed to provide quality healthcare for up to 700 outpatients.

With a staff of 475, the center aims to enhance maternal, neonatal, and child health services while building health workforce capacity. The health center is funded by various partners through the IsDB-led Lives and Livelihoods Fund. During his visit, Dr. Al Jasser met with health workers and observed how this IsDB project supports Tajikistan's goals under Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3) – ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all.