IOM peace-building efforts continue

As part of its continuing peace building efforts in Tajikistan, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has launched a new programme to reintegrate some 550 former combatants, amnestied detainees, displaced persons and unemployed young people back into their communities. "The most important aspect of this programme is peace-building in local communities," Igor Bosc, IOM chief of mission, told IRIN from the Tajik capital, Dushanbe. "Tajikistan has gone through a difficult recent history so it is important such programmes exist in rural communities - in particular to promote employment among individuals that might otherwise be tempted to get involved in illegal activities." With the dual objective of peace-building on the country level, and the promotion of small businesses in rural areas, the 18-month, US $250,000 "Entrepreneurship for Peace" programme, funded by the Canadian and Norwegian governments, will target 550 individuals living primarily in the southern regions of Khatlon and Badakhshoni Kuhi. Referred to the programme through local councils, potential beneficiaries are given aptitude tests and offered professional counselling and referral services. The programme also offers training and access to micro-credit. This enables those on the scheme to start small businesses such as retail outlets, small restaurants, tailoring, bee-keeping, poultry farming and hairdressing. Following preparations in December, the effort constitutes the successful completion of an IOM pilot scheme funded by the Canadian International Development Agency, which successfully reintegrated a total of 414 ex-combatants into civilian life and created 227 small businesses since it began in 2001. "This programme was very successful, which is why we are expanding," Bosc explained. The reintegration of ex-combatants into society has remained a sensitive political issue in the mountainous Central Asian state of seven million ever since the signing of a peace accord between the government and opposition parties in 1997. Still reeling from the effects of five years of civil war, Tajikistan has the lowest gross domestic product of the 15 former Soviet republics. Employment opportunities remain very limited and an estimated 80 percent of the population continues to live in abject poverty.