Voluntary National Review for the High-Level Political Forum 2017 «Eradicating poverty and promoting prosperity in a changing world» LIVING STANDARDS IMPROVEMENT THROUGH MAINSTREAMING SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGs) INTO THE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY IN TAJIKISTAN

The Republic of Tajikistan is a landlocked country in Central Asia, with more than 93 percent of the territory covered by mountains. The population of the country is 8.5 million , 49% of them are women, and 35% are youth (under 14 years old), which makes Tajikistan one of the youthful countries in Central Asia. Tajikistan is ranked 85 as per its territory and has abundant hydropower and freshwater resources, and varied natural resources, as well as favorable conditions for growing organic food products. In addition to that Tajikistan is full of opportunities for brisk growth of eco-tourism, which is in line with the fundamental principles of human development in the context of access to natural resources. Tajikistan is ranked 85 as per Human Capital Index, 129 as per Human Development Index (2015, out of 188 countries and territories), 69 as per Gender Inequality Index (2015, out of 160 countries), 114 as per Global Innovation Index, 77 as per Global Competitiveness Index (2016) and 132 (out of 189 countries) in “Doing Business, 2016”