The Civil Registry System Reform Initiative, supported by the Government of Switzerland and EU Delegation, formally transferred equipment to the Ministry of Justice of Tajikistan.
Two sets of cutting-edge information and communication equipment, valued at USD 488,379, were handed over in the frame of the Civil Registration System Reform Projects implemented by UNDP. The strategic move marks a milestone in Tajikistan's progress toward modernized civil registration (CR) services, bringing transformative changes for millions of Tajik citizens.
Muzaffar Ashuriyon, Minister of Justice of Tajikistan, set the tone with a simple yet impactful statement “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.”
This equipment comes with a dual mission. The first set aims to initiate the digitization process of millions 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.
Beyond the immediate impact, 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.
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.”
“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 the civil registration services for the population of Tajikistan, particularly vulnerable people and those living in the remotest areas,” marked Lenni Montiel, UNDP Tajikistan Resident Representative.
The front-back-office modality promises efficiency with dedicated zones for inquiries and document processing. The distribution of 221 laptops and 196 printers, will significantly reduce visits for citizens from 4 to 2. 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.”
105 cutting-edge scanners for digitizing archives are also included in the equipment package, they will free the records from the paper bidders into the secure digital archive. H.E. Ambassador Raimundas Karoblis, Head of the European Union Delegation to Tajikistan said, “Digitalised and optimized civil registry system is not only about service provision but it is also about enabling citizens to have a proper and timely documentation that allows them to fulfil their human rights, such as right to education and healthcare.”
The handover ceremony isn't just a milestone; it's a promise of continued dedication and collaboration in making the CR system faster, easier and more accessible. The initiative will continue supporting the Ministry of Justice in unlocking a brighter, more efficient future for Tajikistan and its citizens.
