On 17 December 2025, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Bank Arvand signed a grant agreement to invest approximately €445,000 in the REMIT PRIME Central Asia Programme, an initiative aimed at helping rural communities in Tajikistan transform remittance flows from relatives abroad into sustainable economic opportunities.
The REMIT PRIME Programme brings together IFAD, the European Union, and other partners to enhance access to remittances and foster prosperity in communities that depend heavily on them. It is part of IFAD’s global Financing Facility for Remittances and builds on the organization’s ongoing efforts in Tajikistan to promote inclusive rural development, support women’s empowerment, and strengthen climate resilience.
Radoslaw Darski, European Union Ambassador to Tajikistan, highlighted the project’s potential to turn remittance flows into a tool for growth and stability. He emphasized that by providing better financial services, supporting local businesses, and offering financial literacy training, the initiative aims to benefit over 14,000 people, particularly women, fostering long-term development in rural communities.
In Tajikistan, nearly half of rural residents rely on remittances to meet basic household needs, particularly elderly people and women. These flows sustain livelihoods, finance education, and support small businesses, making them a crucial component of rural economic stability. Pedro De Vasconcelos, Manager of IFAD’s Financing Facility for Remittances, described remittances as a lifeline that the REMIT PRIME project seeks to transform into long-term economic empowerment for thousands of families.
Over the next two years, the programme will reach more than 14,000 rural residents, with a focus on women, helping them access financial services, develop sustainable incomes, and invest in climate-resilient livelihoods. This will include strengthening rural financial delivery channels, providing matching grants and loans for climate-resilient agricultural tools, and training 8,000 individuals in financial and business literacy through both digital and in-person sessions.
Shoira Sodiqova, Chairperson at Bank Arvand, emphasized the collaboration’s goal of turning remittances into a source of development, job creation, and business opportunities. The partnership aims to improve financial resilience and support investment in a better future for rural communities.
According to the 2025 World Bank Global Findex Database, 44.8 per cent of adults in Tajikistan receive money from relatives abroad, with rural residents and adults aged 25 and above depending more heavily on cross-border remittances compared to youth and urban populations.
IFAD, a United Nations specialized agency based in Rome, invests in rural people to reduce poverty, improve food security, strengthen resilience, and enhance livelihoods through grants and low-interest loans. The European Union is a key partner promoting inclusive development, sustainable finance, and economic empowerment. Bank Arvand is a leading financial institution in Tajikistan, committed to financial inclusion and supporting rural families, entrepreneurs, youth, and women through innovative and responsible financial services.
