Imon International and Habitat Tajikistan replicates its partnership project in southern Tajikistan to serve 500 more families.

Habitat Tajikistan has implemented its first microfinance partnership project with the First Microfinance Bank Tajikistan that has enabled 30 families to improve their living condition, as well as helped them learn about the advantages of such initiatives. Habitat Tajikistan intends to establish partnership projects with microfinance institutions to offer housing improvement loans for water and sanitation, construction of new houses, home repair and reinforcement, as well as financial education on remittances.
Habitat for Humanity Tajikistan and the microfinance organization Imon International implement partnership projects which help to improve housing conditions for residents of northern and southern regions of the country. The pilot of partnership project was launched in spring of 2011 in the framework of Imon's project Bahorsiton.

Families living in the northern cities of Istaravshan, Isfara, Kanibadam and Khujand of Tajikistan were able to take out loans from Imon International to build or repair existing housing. Habitat Tajikistan, which has years of experience in building and repairing homes for low-income families, provides construction and technical assistance, helps with the projection of construction budgets, as well as prepares work schedules for construction work of partner families. Habitat for Humanity Tajikistan is also involved in the process of client selection for the loans. All the funds for the loans are provided by Imon International. Thanks to the productive partnership between Habitat Tajikistan and Imon International, 425 families in northern Tajikistan were able to build and repair their houses. In July 2011, Imon International and Habitat Tajikistan replicated this project in southern Tajikistan and plan to serve 500 more families.

“This partnership with Imon International will give Habitat Tajikistan an alternative solution for improving housing in Tajikistan. This project will help many families to improve their living conditions, receive construction-technical assistance, as well as learn basic construction skills. Each family who receives a construction loan will also receive manual, “How to build and repair your house” developed by Habitat Tajikistan”, says Farzona Rahimova, Khujand branch manager of Habitat Tajikistan.
Consumer loans and consultations for home improvement purposes are offered to individuals for building new homes, as well as for repairing and renovating existing housing. Loan amounts range from 500 TJS to 12,500 TJS for the period of 2 to 12 month.

Habitat for Humanity Tajikistan
Habitat for Humanity is an international non-profit organization dedicated to the cause of eliminating poverty housing. Since its founding in 1976, Habitat has built and renovated more than 400,000 homes worldwide.

Habitat for Humanity Tajikistan was established in 1999. To date, more than 1,000 housing interventions have been done, ranging from new house builds, completion of half-build homes, renovations and remodeling of apartment block buildings, together with volunteers and homeowners. Almost 4,300 families have been served. Find out more at www.habitat.tj

Microfinance organization Imon International
Imon International is a microfinance organization providing financial services to the most vulnerable groups of the population in Tajikistan. Its vision is that the people of Tajikistan have access to the high quality, innovative and transparent financial services. Imon International promotes sustainable economic development and improved quality of life of Tajikistan by insuring reliable access to financial services for the economically active members of population. Find out more at www.imon.tj

CONTACTS:

Farhod Nabiyulloev
Resource Development & Communications Officer
Habitat for Humanity Tajikistan
Tel: +992 37 227 74 48
e‐mail: farhod@habitat.tj