Committee on Housing and Communal Services and UNICEF present climate-resilient Water Safety Plans for Abdurahmoni Jomi and Dusti districts

Dushanbe, 29 October 2026 – The Committee on Housing and Communal Services under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan (CoHCS) and UNICEF Tajikistan today held a national workshop to present the findings of the Water Vulnerability Assessments and the costed, climate-resilient Water Safety Plans for Abdurahmoni Jomi and Dusti districts of Khatlon region. The workshop, held in Dushanbe , brought together senior officials of CoHCS, the State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance Service (SES), the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population, district administrations and water utilities, as well as development partners including JICA and the World Bank.

The documents were developed with technical support from Risha Solutions, in partnership with CoHCS and the State Unitary Enterprise Khojagii Manziliyu Komunali (KMK). They follow the World Health Organization (WHO) approach to managing drinking water safety from source to tap, and treat climate change as a factor that multiplies every risk.

“Safe drinking water is the foundation of public health. For the first time, Abdurahmoni Jomi and Dusti have a clear, costed plan to manage risks to their water from source to tap. The Committee will review these documents and support district authorities and water utilities to adopt and implement them.” Rajabali Rasulzoda, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Housing and Communal Services under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan.

The Water Safety Plans turn the findings into practical, time-bound actions. Each plan sets out who is responsible for what, standard operating procedures for water utility staff, emergency response plans for floods, heatwaves, drought and contamination, a monitoring framework with SES, and ready-to-print operational forms. The plans also prepare both districts to operate and maintain the new water systems being built with the support of JICA in Abdurahmoni Jomi and the World Bank in Dusti.

“UNICEF remains committed to supporting the Government of Tajikistan and the Committee on Housing and Communal Services in strengthening climate-resilient and child-sensitive water services. Our role is to help bring together evidence, standards, institutional capacity and partnerships so that investment translates into safe, reliable and equitable services for children and communities." UNICEF Deputy Representative in Tajikistan, Eri Dwivedi

On 21–22 October 2026, 18 specialists from water utilities, jamoats, private water operators, SES, health services and district administrations of both districts took part in a two-day training in Bokhtar on applying the Water Safety Plans in practice.

About the project

The Water Vulnerability Assessments and Water Safety Plans for Abdurahmoni Jomi and Dusti districts were commissioned by UNICEF Tajikistan and prepared by Risha Solutions in partnership with CoHCS and SUE KMK. The work follows the WHO Water Safety Plan Manual (second edition) and supports the requirement of the Law of the Republic of Tajikistan on Drinking Water Supply and Wastewater Disposal for water utilities to develop and implement Water Safety Plans.