LocationsModernizing CRs and Access to Justice: UNDP and Switzerland Partner to Bring a Brighter Tomorrow for the People and Government of Tajikistan
August 26, 2024
A civil registry employee in the Firdavsi district of Dushanbe hands a birth certificate to a woman
During a recent official visit to Tajikistan, a high-level delegation from the Government of Switzerland visited the Civil Registry Office in the Firdavsi district of Dushanbe. This office, like many others across Tajikistan, has been equipped with digital technology under the UNDP's "Civil Registration Reform Project in Tajikistan," funded by the Government of Switzerland.
The delegation from the Government of Switzerland, led by Mr. Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA), included Mr. Salman Bal, Swiss Ambassador to Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, and Ms. Salome Steib, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, along with other Swiss officials. On the Tajikistan side, Ms. Nigina Alizoda, the First Deputy Minister of Justice, the head of the Civil Registry Department of Tajikistan, and the UNDP project team welcomed the Swiss delegation.
Nigina Alizoda, First Deputy Minister of Justice, briefs Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, on the operations of Firdavsi and other civil registry offices across Tajikistan, supported by Switzerland
Nigina Alizoda, First Deputy Minister of Justice, emphasized the pivotal role of timely registration of vital records and the integration of advanced technologies across all civil registry offices. According to her, this approach facilitates swift registration and ensures the safety of essential information, establishing a comprehensive database. Such advancements significantly enhance accessibility for both citizens and civil registry staff, enabling rapid retrieval of necessary registration data from the system.
“The mobile civil registry offices are a pivotal component of the project, supported and financed by Switzerland”, Ms. Alizoda noted, “Currently, Tajikistan boasts four minivans, which deliver essential vital record registration services directly to people living in the remote areas. This innovative service addresses the logistical challenges faced by citizens unable to travel to district centers for registration purposes.”
The Civil Registry System Reform Project is a cornerstone initiative supporting the Government of Tajikistan's pursuit of sustainable development. Previously, millions of vital records, including birth, marriage, and death certificates, were registered on paper and stored in vast archives, occupying significant space and vulnerable to risks such as fire, flooding, and other natural disasters.
Recognizing these challenges, the Government of Tajikistan adopted the National CR Reform Programme 2014-2019. This forward-thinking program marked the beginning of a comprehensive modernization of the country's civil registration system, ensuring greater efficiency, security, and resilience for future generations.
Salome Steib, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, accompanies Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, as he leads the Swiss delegation in Tajikistan
"Switzerland is delighted to collaborate with UNDP in enhancing Tajikistan's civil registry system, a pivotal stride towards bolstering e-government. This partnership streamlines processes, integrates cutting-edge technology, and preserves resources, paving the way for Tajikistan's digital future and will leave no one behind," emphasized Salome Steib, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan.
Salman Bal, Swiss Ambassador to Tajikistan and Kazakhstan during a visit to the Firdavsi CR office in Dushanbe
The Civil Registry System Reform Project in Tajikistan was launched in two phases: the first phase started in January 2016 and lasted until December 2019, and the second phase started in January 2020 and is ongoing.
"Modernizing civil registries by the Government of Tajikistan is just the beginning," stated Salman Bal, Swiss Ambassador to Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. "The next stage involves extending these advancements to other ministries, facilitating seamless data exchange across government departments. In this context, this initiative marks the first step in a much larger endeavor."
The project aims to better protect the rights of women, men, and children by improving the delivery of civil registration services and increasing public access to the system.
Shakarbek Niyatbekov, UNDP Tajikistan’s Governance Cluster Team Leader and Nigina Alizoda, First Deputy Minister of Justice are briefing Ignazio Cassis, Federal Councilor and Head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, on the operations of Firdavsi and other civil registry offices across Tajikistan
"Modernization of the civil registration system," articulated Shakarbek Niyatbekov, UNDP Tajikistan’s Governance Cluster Team Leader, "will significantly enhance the quality of services provided by civil registry offices and lay a strong foundation for the development of an e-government system in the future. These are substantial steps undertaken by the Government of the Republic, and we, alongside the Swiss Government, are proud to be directly involved in this transformative initiative."
What Have Been Done So Far?
Legal Support: The amended Law of the Republic of Tajikistan “On the State Registration of the Civil Status Acts” now provides free birth registration for up to 3 months. Additionally, an electronic Civil Registration Office Information System (CROIS) was developed and installed in all civil registry offices across the country.
Interoperability: Since April 2019, the Civil Registration Office Information System has been updated to the version 2 (CROIS2). All CROs have been provided with new ICT equipment to work with the new system. Furthermore, the capacity of the Ministry of Justice's IT department, "SUE Qonuniyat," has been increased to provide technical support and maintenance of CROIS2.
Business Processes: The first front and back civil registry office was created and piloted in Kulob in 2018. Additionally, six CROs are now operating under a front and back modality in Rudaki, I. Somoni, Firdavsi, Norak, Guliston, and Vahdat.
Digitalization: An Archive Management System (AMS) has been developed and integrated with CROIS2. A pilot project for the digitalization of archives has been completed, and the continuation of archive digitalization will start soon.
Capacity Building of CR Staff: More than 500 CR staff have undergone training on front and back-office operations, computer literacy, gender, and work duty diligence.
Additionally, 301 staff members, including 245 females and 56 males, have been trained on CROIS2, covering all seven types of civil registration, reporting, data quality, digital signatures, basic information security, and more.
A website with chat support for the e-CR department has been developed to serve as a primary source of information on civil registration. An online fee calculator has also been integrated into the website. In total, 937,582 people visited this website and were informed about the benefits of timely birth registration and the importance of civil registration. A 2019-2020 Communication Strategy was developed to increase the legal education of the population on timely civil registration acts, and 43,200 brochures, leaflets, and flyers were distributed.
The Swiss delegation and civil registry employees at the Firdavsi office in Dushanbe
Rule of Law and Access to Justice Project
The Government of Switzerland’s cooperation with UNDP in Tajikistan is currently focused on two projects: the Civil Registry System Reform and the Access to Justice.
The second project aims to enhance access to justice for marginalized and vulnerable groups while strengthening governmental and civil society capacities to uphold the rule of law and support Tajikistan's adherence to international human rights conventions. Its main components include establishing the state-free legal aid system with the legal aid centers created in various regions of Tajikistan to provide free legal assistance to disadvantaged populations and raising public awareness of legal rights to empower these groups in defending their rights effectively. The project also facilitates dialogues on the rule of law between government agencies and civil society, provides capacity building for officials (including those from the Ombudsman’s office, civil registry, notary offices, and Ministry of Justice), and supports the National Rule of Law Forum in Tajikistan.
What are the Key Achievements?
Rule of Law Policy Dialogue: A platform for dialogue on rule of law policy was established under the chairmanship of the Minister of Justice. Thus, ten National Rule of Law Forums were held in Dushanbe between 2015 and 2018, with more than 1,000 participants.
Free legal aid: A national concept paper on the state system of free legal aid was developed and adopted allowing the beginning of the legal aid piloting. The new state legal aid agency (SALAC) has been created and operating since January 2016. In 2020, following the successful outcomes of the project pilot initiatives, Tajikistan adopted a new law on “Free State Legal Aid.” This law established the operational modalities and eligibility criteria for obtaining free legal aid for people living in Tajikistan. Currently, there are more than 40 state legal aid centers established and functional in the country.
Capacity Development: The program worked on capacity building at several levels, including government institutions (judges, bailiffs, civil registry (civil registry), jamoats (local government), notaries, and ombudsman's office) through trainings, study tours, functional reviews, and technical assistance.
From left to right: Lenni Montiel, UNDP Resident Representative; Salome Steib, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan; Muzaffar Ashuriyon, Minister of Justice; and Raimundas Karoblis, Head of Delegation and Ambassador of the European Union to Tajikistan,
Sustainable Partnership Over Two Decades
The Government of Switzerland is a crucial partner of UNDP, with collaboration starting in the early 2000s. The first notable project, launched in 2004, aimed to build the capacity of the Committee of Emergency Situations in Tajikistan. The project integrated Disaster Risk Reduction into regional planning, using the REACT network to coordinate efforts among state and non-governmental actors. It addressed the entire Disaster Risk Management Cycle—Prevention, Preparedness, Response, and Recovery—effectively reducing disaster risks in Tajikistan.
The current joint initiatives assisting with legal reforms in the country exemplify the fruitful collaboration between UNDP and Switzerland, highlighting the long-term partnership opportunities that have been developed.
Media inquiries: Nigora Fazliddin, Communications Analyst, UNDP Tajikistan, nigorai.fazliddin@undp.org
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