Many of the boundaries between the Central Asian countries of the Former Soviet Union have never been demarcated. Along the border of Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan in particular, neighbors in the same village may have different nationalities and different passports. They each follow their respective country’s laws, with each country claiming the territory as their own. Likewise, many countries in the region have disputed claims to pastureland and water, two critical resources in Central Asia.
As the population in Central Asia continues to grow, resources become even more scarce. Without strong laws and policies to govern use, show boundaries around resources, and determine who can use those resources, conflict is inevitable.
Landesa has partnered with USAID to help understand and ease tensions over land and natural resources along the border of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan through community resource management.
Past programs include:
Tajikistan institution-building technical assistance project.
Land Tenure Center, SOFRECO, and the World Bank.
Landesa consulted on farm restructuring that would allow for competition with the state cotton marketing entity and its ginneries, which currently hold a monopoly. Landesa reviewed existing legal framework for the development of an agricultural land market, made recommendations on new legislation that may be required to achieve this goal, and provided advice as to a process for the development and enactment of the new legislation, regulations, and by-laws. September 1998 to November 1998.