Tajikistan launches landmark analyses on children and youth: Situation Analysis of Children of Tajikistan and Generation 2050 in Central Asia: Tajikistan

Dushanbe, 29 May 2026 – Today UNICEF presented two major analytic studies to pave a way forward for the children of Tajikistan: The Situation Analysis of Children in Tajikistan (SitAn) and the Generation 2050 in Central Asia: Tajikistan Country Study at the high‑level national conference, chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister Ms. Dilrabo Mansuri. This conference titled Investing in Children: Foundation for Long‑Term Development of Tajikistan, was held at the Crown Plaza hotel in Dushanbe bringing together senior government officials, parliamentarians, representatives of UN agencies, development partners, civil society, academia, youth activists, and media.

The Situation Analysis provides a comprehensive, rights‑based assessment of children’s well‑being, documenting progress while highlighting persistent inequalities and systemic bottlenecks across health, education, child protection, and social services. The Generation 2050 in Central Asia: Tajikistan Country Study offers a forward‑looking perspective, demonstrating how strategic investments in children and adolescents today can generate demographic dividends, support long‑term economic growth, and strengthen social stability.

In her address, Deputy Prime Minister Ms. Dilrabo Mansuri emphasized that Tajikistan has made significant progress in advancing children’s rights and well‑being over the past decades, guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child. She noted that as the country approaches its 35th anniversary, this milestone provides an important opportunity to reflect on achievements and identify areas where children’s rights are not yet fully realized.

The situation analysis shows that with more than 40 per cent of Tajikistan’s population under 18, and a rapidly growing working‑age population projected through 2050, the country stands at a critical demographic juncture. Evidence from the two studies reinforces a clear message: investing in children and young people today is indispensable to Tajikistan’s long‑term prosperity, resilience, and inclusive development.

UNICEF Representative Arthur van Diesen reaffirmed UNICEF’s commitment to working closely with the Government of Tajikistan and partners to ensure that policy and financing decisions are informed by robust evidence and aligned with the needs of children and adolescents.

“Investing in children is not only a matter of rights - it is a matter of smart economics, backed by evidence that shows these investments deliver some of the highest returns for any country,” Arthur van Diesen said.

The conference concluded with a call for sustained, equitable, and well‑targeted investments in human capital, beginning in early childhood and continuing through adolescence and youth, to secure Tajikistan’s future development.

For further information, please contact Rukhshona Nazhmidinova, Chief Communications

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