Abstract
The Tajikistan Agriculture and Water Activity (TAWA), funded by the United States Agency for International Development Central Asia (USAID/CA), is a four-and-a-half-year program (including the option period) designed to improve the nutritional outcomes of women of reproductive age and children under the age of two by increasing the yields and economic returns of household plots in Khatlon region. TAWA addresses four key project objectives through activities focused on agriculture extension services, vegetable production, orchard production, dairy production, and irrigation water management to increase, diversify, and add value to the agricultural production of smallholder farmers. This mid-term performance evaluation was commissioned to address key questions to help USAID better understand its investment in nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Tajikistan and strengthen the TAWA activity. The Evaluation Team (ET) conducted a desk review, interviews with key stakeholders in Dushanbe and Khatlon, focus group discussions with direct beneficiaries in Khatlon, and a telephone survey of 120 Women?s Groups (WGs) members. The ET found that: adoption of new farming practices and technologies is high; some WGs may become sustainable after the project ends; WGs members appreciate the training they received but are looking for content that goes beyond basic skills; and training may have produced positive nutrition and income effects. The ET recommends formalizing roles and responsibilities within WGs, increasing coordination with state institutions, and providing more quality training.