Japan-built water system in Tajikistan ran only 10.9 hours a day — external review gave it the lowest 'D' rating
JICA's external evaluation gave the Khatlon water project the lowest possible rating: designed for 24-hour supply, service was limited by leaks and excessive use. Even so, Japan has signed a new grant for another district.
A water supply system built in Tajikistan's Khatlon region by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) failed to deliver the expected results. An external evaluation gave the project the lowest possible rating — 'D.'
How the project went
The system was completed in Moskva village, Hamadoni district, in June 2013. Construction took 67 months instead of the planned 31, and cost 19% more than planned. In 2017 — nearly four years after completion — residents received water for an average of just 10.9 hours a day.
What the review found
According to the external evaluation commissioned by JICA, the system had been designed to permit a 24-hour water supply, but service had been limited to a 13-hour daily schedule because of leaks and excessive consumption. The utility (Khojagii Manziliyu Kommunali, KMK) estimated losses at 35% to 50%, but without household meters it could not accurately distinguish consumption from leakage. JICA's Financial Cooperation Implementation Department disputed the rating in a separate opinion.
A new grant
Cooperation nonetheless continues: on 8 August 2024 a new grant agreement was signed for Jomi district, worth up to 2.095 billion yen (about $13 million). The project is expected to benefit more than 50,000 residents.
