DUSHANBE, February 17, 2016 – The Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan, Abdusalom Qurboniyon and the World Bank Country Manager for Tajikistan, Patricia Veevers-Carter, today signed an agreement to finance the Public Finance Management Modernization Project II (PFM-II). The project is financed from the International Development Association in the amount of US$10 million and from the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) in the amount of US $9.8 million.
“As part of our efforts to support quality public services for Tajikistan’s population, we are glad to finance this new project, together with DFID, which should further strengthen the efficiency, accountability and transparency of public expenditure in Tajikistan,” said Patricia Veevers-Carter, World Bank Country Manager for Tajikistan.
“The UK is pleased to continue supporting the Government of Tajikistan improve its public financial management,” noted Peter Fernandes Cardy, Head of DFID in Central Asia. “Our US $9.8 million grant, provided through the World Bank, will help the Government deliver its budget more effectively, accountably and transparently. This will help provide better public services to Tajik citizens.”
The Public Finance Management Modernization Project-II will continue supporting the Government of Tajikistan in improving the effectiveness, control and accountability of public expenditure. The project will support modernization of the automated financial management systems to strengthen the budget planning, budget execution, treasury, accounting and financial reporting functions across government entities. It will also strengthen accounting and financial reporting capacities of selected state-owned enterprises. The project will focus on strengthening the regulatory and institutional framework for public procurement and support implementation of an e-Procurement system. In addition, the project will help the Tajik Chamber of Accounts to develop and implement an appropriate audit methodology to carry out compliance and performance audits. In line with the Government’s E-Government Concept, the project will also provide support in strengthening the regulatory framework for e-Government services in Tajikistan, as well as in developing a pilot of selected e-Government services.
The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan will implement the PFM-II until 2021.
The Public Finance Management Modernization Project-II is designed to complement the efforts and activities carried out under the World Bank-financed Public Financial Management Modernization Project and Public Sector Reform Project. These projects helped to strengthen the national capacity in human resources management, budget preparation and execution, improved the automation of financial operations and IT capacity of the Ministry of Finance, and supported the introduction of a Financial Management Information System.
The World Bank’s active portfolio in Tajikistan involves 22 projects (including regional projects) with a net commitment of US$ 383.2 million. It is aimed to support economic growth through private sector development, and to increase investment in better public services for people, such as education, health, municipal services and social protection. The World Bank Group is committed to continue supporting Tajikistan as it strives to improve the lives of its people and meet the aspirations of its young and growing population.
