This atlas provides a series of maps illustrating the social and economic condition of the Republic of Tajikistan, including indicators on the following topics:
The main source of data is the 2000 Census of Tajikistan and the 2003 Tajikistan Living Standards Survey (TLSS). In addition some environmental data is obtained from remote sensing imagery.
This atlas is the culmination of a significant effort to deliver a snapshot of the socio-economic situation in Tajikistan at the time of the 2000 Census. The atlas arose out of a need to gain a better understanding among Government Agencies and NGOs about the spatial distribution of poverty, through its many indicators, and also to provide this information at a lower level of geographical disaggregation than was previously available, that is, the Jamoat.
Poverty is multi-dimensional and as such the atlas includes information on a range of different indicators of the well-being of the population, including education, health, economic activity and the environment. A unique feature of the atlas is the inclusion of estimates of material poverty at the Jamoat level. The derivation of these estimates involves combining the detailed information on household expenditures available from the 2003 Tajikistan Living Standards Survey and the national coverage of the 2000 Census using statistical modelling. This is the first time that this complex statistical methodology has been applied in Central Asia and Tajikistan is proud to be at the forefront of such innovation.
It is hoped that the atlas will be of use to all those interested in poverty reduction and improving the lives of the Tajik population.
The Socio-economic Atlas, including a poverty map for the country, is part of the on-going Poverty Dialogue Program of the World Bank in collaboration with the Government of Tajikistan. The Program started with support to the 1999 Tajikistan Living Standard Survey and the subsequent preparation of the Tajik Poverty Assessment. It has been continued with further support to the 2003 TLSS and the Poverty Assessment Update, as well as assistance for local expert analyses of poverty. The Program currently includes a range of activities, including the poverty mapping project which led to the Atlas. Within the World Bank, the Poverty Dialogue Program is task managed by Dr. Cem Mete.
The socio-economic atlas was developed by the University of Southampton, UK, in collaboration with Tajikistan State Statistical Committee, and funded by UK Department for International Development through the World Bank Trust Fund.
The team of the State Statistical Committee was led by Prof Mirgand Shabozov, Chairman, and comprised of Ms. Muhammadieva Bakhtya (First Deputy Chairman), Mr. Khaitov Sulton (Head of Census Division) and Ikhtior Kholmatov (programmer and census data specialist).
The University of Southampton team draws together experts from the Southampton Statistical Science Research Institute (S3RI) and the GeoData Institute. The team was led by Prof. Jane Falkingham and the overall project was managed by Dr Craig Hutton. Team members include Dr Angela Baschieri (expert on poverty mapping and the statistical analysis of census and survey data), Andrew Murdock (GIS manager) and Andrew Harfoot (GIS expert) and Jason Sadler (software design). The Russian translation of the atlas was provided by Ms Elina Lapshina.
The authors would sincerely like to thank the Government of Tajikistan for permitting access to the 2000 Census and the 2003 Tajikistan Living Standards Survey. The authors would also like to thank the following whose contribution was invaluable to the project: Lola Atabaeva, Munavara Khamidova, Munavara Jalilova who all provided additional translation for the atlas and also for the project team; Thekla Kelbert, Farroukh Nazarmaleov UN Coordination Unit for their generous support to the project team and for supplying the jamoat map in GIS format; Saodat Bazarova, Arsen Khadziev of the World Bank Dushanbe office for their support throughout.