Energy efficient housing solutions for rural communities in Tajikistan

Living in a country of extremes, rural communities living in Tajikistan’s mountainous terrain are faced with turbulent weather, high poverty, poor health conditions and inadequate housing facilities. High energy waste leads to increasing environmental problems due to deforestation, and affects socioeconomic stability.

The OSCE Office in Tajikistan partnered with the Group for the Environment, Renewable Energy and Solidarity (GERES) to address these issues and organized a workshop for the promotion of energy efficient solutions for the housing sector in Tajikistan on 24-25 November. The workshop focused on improving living conditions for rural communities with smart and affordable housing designs, and aimed to reduce energy vulnerability, carbon emissions and biomass utilization while improving health, comfort and stability in these vulnerable communities. Around sixty participants representing international and local NGOs, local authorities, government bodies, private sector, international organizations and financial institutions discussed ways to ensure the public gains access to energy-saving measures, energy-efficient equipment and energy efficient homes. A field trip was also organized to gain practical insight into environmental concerns. The outcomes of the workshop will be published together with a practical manual enabling rural communities to apply some of these measures themselves.