NO-BRC-971277882-TJK-19/0001 Norad - Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation The project’s expected effect(s) on society is: Improve the quality of life of vulnerable households in remote areas of Eastern Tajikistan and Northern Afghanistan through better regional electricity connectivity and provision. Specific objective: Improved long-term access to energy services in Viloyati-Mukhtori Kuhistoni Badakhshon (VMKB), Tajikistan and Badakhshan Province of Afghanistan by connecting the existing main grid with the smaller grid in Vanj and Darvaz districts of Tajikistan and ultimately to the National Grid of Tajikistan. The overall lack of access to electricity directly contributes to exacerbating poverty as it significantly impedes quality of life and economic development: - Women, children and youth, are often responsible for household energy resources, spend 6-7 hours a day on average collecting and preparing traditional fuel sources (primarily wood and dung). This continues to create obstacles to women and youth empowerment and their ability to pursue economic opportunities and to seek economic inclusion. - As firewood continues to remain the major source of energy, long lasting detrimental impact on the environment are clearly noticeable as firewood scarcity has already resulted in deforestation and desertification of orchards and private gardens. - The lack of electricity equally affects the quality of basic services provision since educational infrastructure remain insufficiently electrified and continue to offer very harsh studying conditions for local children, particularly during the winter months.l Expected results: Outcome 1.Long-term reliable supply of electricity ensured through climate change and disaster resilient infrastructures Outcome 2. Expanded provision of electricity supply to various entities including households, government and commercial organizations in Eastern Tajikistan Outcome 3. Access to reliable electricity provided for the vulnerable non-electrified village of Khehik in Vanj district Aga Khan Foundation Aga Khan Foundation Norwegian Government Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Actual start Planned end Planned start Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs +47 23 95 00 00 post@mfa.no https://www.regjeringen.no/en/dep/ud/id833/ PO Box 8114, Dep. NO-0032 Oslo, Norway 13.1 - Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries 15.2 - By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally 15.3 - By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by desertification, drought and floods, and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world 5 - Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls 7.a - By 2030, enhance international cooperation to facilitate access to clean energy research and technology, including renewable energy, energy efficiency and advanced and cleaner fossil-fuel technology, and promote investment in energy infrastructure and clean energy technology 19052596 13503941 4538188 35594725 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 7118945 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 11933651 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 12753941 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 750000 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs 4439560 Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs