Last year, EHIO (ICA’s official name, which can be translated as  “Empowerment for Human Involvement Organization”) supported the women of local rural communities in developing their business, organized 30 green houses for them and conducted training on business and agriculture. All these were implemented with technical support from GIZ (German Technical Cooperation)  and financial support from DFID (Department for International Development).  This project was completed in December.

During the last four years, EHIO implemented a Civil Society development Programme by the Aga Khan Foundation in Tajikistan financed by DFID. This involved:
1. NGOs self-assessment
2. NGOs certification
3. NGOs capacity building
EHIO certified 160 NGOs in Tajikistan. This project was finished in fall of 2011.

At present, EHIO is implementing a five-year project on agriculture development within the Fergana Valley Water Resources Management project financed by the Word Bank. EHIO organizes demo plots, promotes new agriculture technologies and provides agriculture extension services in targeted districts. It is also responsible for farmers’ education in targeted rural communities.

EHIO is also implementing a Youth Theatre “Peace” programme financed by IREX/USAID, the US Embassy and the British Embassy. It carries out youth education using drama conflict transformation method as one of the ways of conflict resolution.

There are already drama circles in a number of schools. Study tours and the sharing of experience were organized in Kyrgyzstan, where the programme is also being implemented.

EHIO is also involved in the Tajikistan Stability Enhancement Program supported by MC/USAID. It conducts social mobilization and training on the following topics: household budgeting, civic education, basic advanced management and negotiation skills, and advanced consensus building and conflict management.

EHIO highlights in 2011:

1. EHIO celebrated its tenth anniversary of NGOs in October.
2. It conducted program audit/NGOs diagnostics of five Tajik NGOs in two regions, the first such experience for EHIO.
3. We had a memorable year with various business trips for employees. For example, Mansurov A. went to Turkey and Rashidov N. to Romania on a study tour of agricultural projects, IREX/USAID Project coordinator Nabieva Nargis visited the US, and EHIO director Safarova Marina visited Moldova.
4. For the first time, a full financial audit of our organization was held. We were given a positive report with recommendations.
5. Our director Safarova Marina was the only representative among NGOs in our region to be included in a tender commission for the rural growth program financed by UKAID, GIZ and the Tajik government.