Cental asia
TAJIKISTAN
Tajikistan became a GCERF partner country in 2024. GCERF-funded programmes will begin soon.
- Sughd Region
- Districts of Republican Subordination (DRS)
- Khatlon Region
Background & Context
Understanding Violent
Extremism in Tajikistan
Tajikistan was among the first post-Soviet states to face violent extremism, initially emerging during the 1992–1997 civil war. While early threats were limited, including no suicide attacks until 2010, recent years have seen a marked escalation. Extremism has evolved in four phases: conflict and political Islam (1991–1997), peacebuilding and ideological spread (1998–2012), increased radicalisation and foreign fighter mobilisation (2013–2016), and reintegration efforts (2017 onwards). Current strategies prioritise the rehabilitation and reintegration of returnees, reflecting the government’s shift from security-focused responses to more preventive and community-based approaches.
GCERF'S UNIQUE INVESTMENT MODEL
Country
Support Mechanism
GCERF pioneers a unique model of investment designed to promote a whole-of-society approach and ensure the sustainability of our programmes. Under this model, in each partner country, we support national governments in establishing a steering committee called the Country Support Mechanism (CSM).
In Tajikistan, the CSM has been co-created and co-designed with the General Prosecutor’s Office comprising also officials from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, State Committee for National Security, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Health and Social Protection to provide strategic direction for the programmes, ensure results, and progressively inherit ownership of funding community-level efforts to prevent violent extremism.
Key Drivers of Violent Extremism
Socioeconomic marginalisation
Widespread poverty and unemployment limiting economic opportunities and increasing social and economic exclusion.
Discrimination, exploitation and mistreatment of migrant labourers
Poor working conditions, unequal treatment, and labour rights abuses increasing the vulnerability and marginalisation of migrant workers.
Rise of religious conservatism and foreign ideological influence
Growing influence of conservative religious movements and external ideologies shaping social attitudes, values, and political discourse.