30 somoni ($10) per month. Parvin applied to the WFP to support these women with flour and oil for 

six months, after which the women are confident they will increase their volume work to be able to 

provide for themselves and their families. 

Volunteerism 

Qualified volunteers 

Volunteer development is an essential component of modern society. In the Soghd oblast the number 

of volunteers is rapidly growing, not only for international organizations and local NGOs, but also for 

government agencies and social institutions. The Khujand CSSC is experienced in providing 

educational courses to train volunteers and has trained 42 volunteers in seven Counterpart modules. A 

recent survey of local NGOs working 16 Counterpart trained volunteers revealed that they are making 

a substantial contribution, providing quality services and being responsive to the program needs. 

Social Partnership 

Promotion Generates Cooperation 

Mistrust and lack of information about NGO activities has proven that local authorities are not ready 

for cooperation with NGOs. The CSSCs Shahrvand and Fidokor united their efforts to bring positive 

changes in the relationship between local government and NGOs of the Khatlon Area. They initiated 

an exhibition devoted to NGO projects and activities and invited regional and district level 

government officials. As the result the Governor showed interest in the Counterpart CAG program 

and expressed his willingness to mobilize all districts to benefit from Counterpart program through 

training. Both CSSCs were requested by Government to organize a number of trainings for 

governmental officials on a fee for service basis. 

Social partnership for sustainable development of Dushanbe 

Over the last four months the Dushanbe CSSC has worked with the Mayor of Dushanbe to organize a 

meeting with representatives of local and international NGOs, business structures, media, and 

financial institutions. While all groups work to address social problems, there is little coordination or 

information exchange between them. The goal of the meeting was to establish collaboration between 

sectors for joint problem solving and the Mayor acknowledged that NGOs possess the intellectual 

capacity to address problems effectively. As a result of the meeting participants prepared an 

agreement for social and economic partnership with a Coordination Committee of 23 people from 

different sectors as a governing body. The Mayor serves as the Chairman of the Coordination 

Committee.  

Community Mobilization 

Motivation to Move Forward 

One of the root causes of poverty in the Shitharv village in the Ishkashim District in Badakshan is the 

lack of water to irrigate new lands. At its worst, the population wasn't able to grow anything for six 

months, leaving many families to struggle to eat.  Repeated appeals to the state went unanswered. 

After going through Counterpart trainings, the initiative group Shitharv decided to take matters into 

their own hands and developed a proposal to construct a 3 km channel. The Khorog CSSC provided 

technical and consulting assistance in the design of the project, which was funded by the Aga Khan 

Foundation. Within the three months the channel was completed and 50 hectares of lands were 

irrigated. Now community members are growing potatoes, wheat and pumpkins, all of which thrive in 

the mountainous conditions. This project has resulted not only in food and products that can be sold in 

the marketplace for income, but has also ignited the community to continue to look inward to solve 

problems.  They intend to initiate school repairs over the summer vacation. 

Where There's a Will   

Many people in the capital of Dushanbe gave up hope to get gas to heat their homes in the winter, but 

not in one community. The initiative group from the urban Nazarshoev Street mobilized 37 

households to address the gas issue. They developed a proposal, funded by Counterpart, which was 

implemented in two months.  As a result 222 people now have access to gas   and without 

dependence on the government to provide it. 

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