Brief Description of the Program and Its Objectives

The Targeted Social Assistance Program is one of the important social programs of the Republic of Tajikistan, implemented based on the Law “Targeted Social Assistance” (effective from January 1, 2018). The main purpose of the program is to support low-income citizens (families) and ensure their social protection.

Main Objectives:

• Ensuring access to targeted social assistance for low-income citizens (families)
• Reducing poverty indicators in society
• Improving living conditions of vulnerable population groups
• Ensuring fairness in the distribution of social assistance

Program Operating Principles:

• Fairness in beneficiary selection
• Transparency in the distribution process
• Effective control by local commissions
• Maximum use of modern technical means

Description of Beneficiary Categories and Service Eligibility Criteria

Main Beneficiary Categories:

1. Low-income citizens (families)
   • Low-income families with incomes below the established minimum.
   • Low-income families with two or more able-bodied family members are granted conditional targeted social assistance for a period of 6 months.
   • Low-income families with two or more disabled members.
   • Low-income families with children under 16.
   • Low-income families with family members over 80 years old who is a recipient of social security pension
2. Categories excluded from income calculation:
   • Persons who are fully under government supported
   • Persons performing military service
   • Persons serving sentences in correctional institutions

Service Eligibility Criteria:

Assistance amounts for 2025:

• Effective January 1, 2025, the amount of the targeted social benefit for one low-income family and citizen from the date of appointment for twelve months shall be 11 (eleven) calculation indicators and, in addition:
  • 2 (two) calculation indicators for each child under 16 years of age;
  • 2 (two) calculation indicators for one low-income family consisting of two or more persons with disabilities who are not covered by state support in social service institutions or boarding schools;
  • 2 (two) calculation indicators for senior citizens over 80 years of age from a low-income family receiving a social pension and not covered by state social service institutions, paid quarterly in the amount of 25 percent of the established amount.

List of Current Regulatory and Methodological Documents

Regulatory Documents:

1. Law of RT “On Targeted Social Assistance” No. 1396 of 24.02.2017 (effective from January 1, 2018)
2. Government Resolution of RT No. 488 of 30.08.2024 “On the Procedure for Determining Targeted Social Assistance, Setting Its Amount and Low-income Citizens (Families) in the Republic of Tajikistan”

Legal Regulatory Documents on Targeted Social Assistance:

1. Resolution No. 488 of 30.08.2024 – On the Procedure for Determining Targeted Social Assistance
2. MHSP Order No. 509 of 07.08.2025 – “On the methodology for determining poverty of families and individuals and indicators determining the well-being of the population for receiving of social assistance”
3. Technical Guidelines:
   • Order No. 908 of 25.12.2024 – On approval of guidelines for appointment and dismissal of supervisors
   • Order No. 04 of 28.01.2025 – On approval of supervisor job descriptions
   • Order No. 67 of 03.02.2025 – On temporary guidelines for appointment and dismissal of social workers
   • Order No. 6 of 5.02.2025 – On job descriptions of social workers at local self-government authorities
   • Order No. 869 of 12.12.2024 – On the procedure for conducting credibility checks

Contact Information for Consultations

Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population of RT: Address: Dushanbe, Rudaki Street, 69 Phone: (992) 372 21-15-32 Email: info@moh.tj Website: www.moh.tj

State Agency for Social Protection of Population of MHSP: Address: Dushanbe Consultation Phone: (992) 372 446100057 Working Hours: Monday-Friday: 08:00-17:00

Social protection departments and units of cities and districts: Working Hours: Monday-Friday: 08:00-17:00

• Dushanbe: 4 districts (992) 987 41 0000
• Rasht district: 13 cities and districts (992) 918 65 6538
• Sughd Region: 18 cities and districts (992) 927 61 1411
• Khatlon Region: 25 cities and districts (992) 930 55 5268
• GBAO: 8 cities and districts (992) 933 533 8356

Regional targeted social assistance coordination centers: Working Hours: Monday-Friday: 08:00-17:00

• Targeted social assistance coordination center of Dushanbe city (992) 111 11 8863
• Targeted social assistance coordination center of Rasht district (992) 930060644
• Targeted social assistance coordination center of Khujand city (992) 937 41 9666
• Targeted social assistance coordination center of Kulob city (992) 987 500065
• Targeted social assistance coordination center of Khorog city992) 934113102

Statistical Indicators and Brief Program Implementation Results

Funding Volume for Low-income Families:

Years 2020-2025:

• 2020: Total amount –  86.2 mln. somoni | Number of families – 215,538 | 8 indicators (464 TJS)
• 2021: Total amount – 110.0 mln. somoni | Number of families – 238,972 | 8 indicators (480 TJS)
• 2022: Total amount – 116.2 mln. somoni | Number of families – 218,357 | 8 indicators (512 TJS)
• 2023: Total amount – 154.2 mln. somoni | Number of families – 218,604 | 9 indicators (612 TJS)
• 2024: Total amount – 234.2 mln. somoni | Number of families – 234,313 | 10 indicators (720 TJS)
• 2025: Total amount – 273.2 mln. somoni | Number of families – 222,903 | 11 indicators (825 TJS)

Important Results:

1. Program Development:
   • Increase in funding from 2020 to 2025 by more than 3 times
   • Expanding subsidy allocations while concurrently enhancing primary budgetary metrics (augmented from 8 to 11 core budget indicators).
2. Organizational Activities:
   • Establishment of 5 regional targeted social assistance centers throughout the country
   • Establishment of a unified national registry of targeted social assitance and implementation of the electronic system “ASIST”.
   • Establishment of local commissions within municipal and district executive authorities and their ongoing supervision.
3. Social Achievements:
   • Assistance in improving difficult living conditions and support for low-income families in urban and rural areas of the country.
   • Providing conditions for low-income families to ensure their children’s access to education in general education institutions.
   • Gradual reduction of the poverty level in the country (poverty rate to be decreased from 21.2% to 11.2% over the past 7 years).