THE QII PRINCIPLES IN ACTION Tajikistan Enhancing opportunities Ph oto © for female cross-border traders Ge nn ad iy R atu she nk o/W B Women entrepreneurs in Tajikistan confront disproportionate challenges in establishing and expanding their businesses compared to their male counterparts, with cross-border traders being no exception. In response, QII.1 the World Bank initiated the Fourth Phase of the Central Asia Regional SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Links Program in 2020, aiming to boost Tajikistan’s regional transport connectivity and foster cross-border trade. Complementing this program, QII.6 the Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII) Partnership provided a grant QII.5 SOCIAL GOVERNANCE to address gender disparities in cross-border trade and augment the economic opportunities for female cross-border traders. The grant- funded activities are set to incorporate gender-responsive practices within Tajikistan’s Customs Service and strengthen the capacity of women entrepreneurs involved in cross-border trade. THE DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGE Bridging the gender gap in Tajikistan holds the potential to stimulate economic growth. Women currently experience limited opportunities in employment, education, and health- care compared to men. World Bank data shows that female labor force participation stands at only 31 percent, in contrast to 52 percent for males. According to the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), women’s median monthly earnings are approximately 36 percent lower than men’s. These disparities are also evident among Tajikistan’s women entrepreneurs, including cross-border traders. They encounter more challenges in establishing and expanding their businesses than their male counterparts, primarily due to inadequate business skills, insufficient knowledge of customs regulations, and obstacles in accessing finance. PROJECT OVERVIEW In July 2020, the World Bank launched the $131 million Fourth Phase of the Central Asia Regional Links Program in selected regions. One key project component aims to stream- line the cross-border movement of goods, which includes enhancing institutional capacity JapanGov JUNE 2023 The Government of Japan and modernizing the information technology systems used strengthen the interpretation and usability of the Tajikistan by the Customs Service, emphasizing support for female Customs Code of Ethics, which is general. Training for at cross-border traders. Additionally, the project provides least 100 management and staff in customer-facing roles non-intrusive inspection equipment to facilitate cargo and will supplement the guide. The activity also supports the passenger traffic border inspections. These measures development of self-service digital systems for small-scale will help align border procedures with internationally traders, mostly women, which will help avoid face-to-face recognized norms and standards. interactions and make border crossing more efficient. The draft Customer Service Charter will be presented to the APPLYING THE QII PRINCIPLES Customs Service for review and adoption in 2023. In 2021, the Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII) The final activity involves the Custom Service’s capacity Partnership approved a grant for three activities support- to recruit and retain female employees. With only about ing the World Bank initiative. The goal is to boost economic 10 percent of the 1,093 employees in around 70 customs opportunities for female cross-border traders in Tajikistan offices across Tajikistan being female, promoting women’s by fostering a gender-responsive Customs Service and employment in border agencies will make the customs strengthening it as an institution. service more demand-driven and gender-responsive. The first activity involved conducting surveys and The review of the CS human resources (HR) policies and focus group discussions on identifying gender-specific practices from the perspective of gender equality and challenges experienced by border traders. The team equal employment opportunities is ongoing. has completed data collection through telephone surveys, The QII Partnership’s activities will enhance the capacity focus group discussions, and field visits to selected Border of Tajikistan’s Customs Service, incorporate gender- Crossing Points and finalized the report synthesizing the responsive practices, and institutionalize them. These research findings. The report provides an overview of the activities will support the country’s 2030 National existing frameworks and tools for gender integration in Development Strategy and various Sustainable Develop- trade policy and offers recommendations for strengthening ment Goals. They will also maximize the positive impact gender mainstreaming in trade policy and practice. The of cross-border infrastructure and contribute to sustain- team launched the report in May 2023 in collaboration able growth and development (QII.1). Improving processes, with the government, followed by the technical workshop tools, and norms of interaction in customs offices will to discuss the recommendations through group work. make infrastructure services available to all users while Both events were well attended by representatives of addressing gender issues (QII.5) while strengthening government agencies working on trade issues, women’s infrastructure governance (QII.6). business associations, development partners, and traders. It is important to note that no comprehensive research in Tajikistan has explored the common or gender-specific EXPECTED OUTCOMES challenges faced by cross-border traders. This report • The Customs Service will adopt and implement a seeks to bridge this significant knowledge gap and gender-responsive Customer Services Charter. potentially inform the design of some components of • Customer feedback will improve through staff the World Bank’s future lending, which is currently training on the newly introduced Customer under discussion with the government of Tajikistan. Services Charter. The second activity involves creating a gender-responsive • Female cross-border traders will be empowered Customer Service Charter, which will set minimum require- through practical knowledge and information with ments for customer care. The Charter will include a review the help of the Charter that will be disseminated of border management practices and the existing Customs online and at border crossing points. Service Code of Ethics. The Charter builds on existing • The Human Resources and Gender Action Plan border agency codes of ethics and addresses the rights will be adopted and implemented by the Customs and obligations of two parties—border agencies and Service, increasing the number of women traders. Providing a document that spells out the rights employed in the CS. and obligations of traders and customs is needed to The World Bank Group and the government of Japan established the Quality Infrastructure Investment (QII) Partnership to raise awareness and scale-up quality infrastructure investment aligned to G20 QII Principles in developing countries. The QII Partnership is managed by the Infrastructure Finance, PPPs & Guarantees (IPG) group within the World Bank Group. For more information, visit www.worldbank.org/QII or follow us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/qii-partnership.