UNDP, EU, and Switzerland Help to Digitize Civil Registration in Tajikistan
May 13, 2024
On March 28, two sets of modern information and communication equipment, valued at USD 488,379, were delivered to the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan as part of the UNDP's “Civil Registration System Reform” Projects, supported by the EU and the Government of Switzerland. The equipment included 105 scanners, 221 laptops, 2 servers, 196 printers, 74 routers, and 36 uninterruptible power supplies.
“The Ministry of Justice highly appreciates the fruitful and effective long-term cooperation and interaction that has developed between us in the implementation of projects,” said Muzaffar Ashuriyon, Minister of Justice, in his opening remarks.
It is worth highlighting that the equipment serves a dual purpose. The first set aims to initiate the digitization of Civil Registry archives, significantly reducing paper usage and maintenance costs.
The second set is designed to modernize the operational structure of CR offices in remote areas under the front and back-office modality, effectively reducing citizens' waiting times.
Furthermore, the Initiative aims to safeguard civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights by ensuring that every citizen can prove their identity to exercise fundamental rights and access essential public services.
“UNDP is honored and proud to be part of the important joint efforts of our donor agencies and our state counterparts in promoting and strengthening the improved quality of civil registration services for the population of Tajikistan, particularly vulnerable people and those living in the remotest areas,” commented Lenni Montiel, UNDP Resident Representative.
The front-back-office modality promises efficiency, with dedicated zones for inquiries and document processing. For example, the distribution of 221 laptops and 196 printers will reduce the number of visits to the CR offices citizens have to make for document processing from four to two.
Salome Steib, Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office in Tajikistan, highlighted that “Our goal is to support the Government of Tajikistan in a series of reforms and actions to boost accountability, transparency, and responsiveness of public institutions.”
One hundred and five cutting-edge scanners for digitizing archives from the equipment package.
Raimundas Karoblis, Head of Delegation and Ambassador of the Delegation of the European Union to Tajikistan, articulated “A digitalized and optimized civil registry system is not only about service provision but also about enabling citizens to have proper and timely documentation that allows them to fulfill their human rights, such as the right to education and healthcare.”
UNDP, the EU, and the Government of Switzerland are proud to support the Government of Tajikistan on its path toward a digitalized future and continue their dedication and collaboration in making the Civil Registration system faster, easier, and more accessible for every Tajik citizen.