From Student Electrician to Full Time Professional
How USAID is advancing renewable energy in Tajikistan
Almazbek Bakirov is from the remote district of Murghob of Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO), Tajikistan, a district located 3,650 meters above sea level with harsh and extreme winters. The distance from his district to the nearest major city, Khorog, the capital of GBAO, is 315 kilometers (nearly 200 miles).
“I graduated from high school in Murghob and did military service,” says the 22 year old, “But I was not able to get into university or get a job, especially without experience. My parents are retired, and our only family income is their pension.”
Almazbek realized he needed to find a way to support himself and his family and build a better life.
To do that, he applied for an entrepreneurship course at the University of Central Asia in Khorog. It was there that Almazbek heard about an opportunity to enroll in an electrician class. This skilled employment training is supported by the Local Impact project, funded by USAID and the Aga Khan Foundation, with the goal of building up local communities to implement and manage renewable energy resources.
Having some experience in repairing small electrical issues at home, Almazbek was interested in enhancing these skills and earning some income. He was accepted into the training program and underwent six months of theoretical and practical learning along with 15 other students in Khorog.
“I felt so empowered to receive this opportunity, and [a] chance to improve my life. During the training I also received money for food and transportation,” said Almazbek.
The electrician course, led by experienced teachers in the field, trained him and the other participants on how to construct, maintain, and operate utility networks and transmission lines.
Almazbek and the other students studied in an outdoor training area that housed an electrical transformer, which students could work on to gain the practical experience they would need on the job. USAID and AKF helped establish the training area. The courses were conducted by Pamir Energy, a public-private partnership with the purpose of realizing residential energy needs of GBAO and contributing to the economic and social environment in this mountainous area.
Almazbek excelled during the sessions. After graduating in September 2022, the university recommended him for an internship with Pamir Energo Service, a local company specializing in innovative energy solutions in the region.
“During my internship at Pamir Energo Service, I enhanced my skills and learned from experienced staff how to monitor electrical equipment and machinery at the UCA campus and Aga Khan Lyceum. I worked hard, and my knowledge and skills acquired during the electrician course helped me tremendously,” said Almazbek.
His hard work paid off. After the internship, the company offered him a full-time job as a capacity operator of electric machinery for a local organization.
“Now that I have a viable income, I can support myself and my family. I moved my parents from Murghob to Khorog to avoid Murghob’s harsh winters,” he explained. “My mother was able to have a needed eye surgery there with follow-up treatment. I’m so glad that I can support them now.”
Today, a second session of the electrician training course is in progress, with more than 30 students enrolled. Through initiatives like this, USAID and AKF are working to ensure that marginalized people can break the cycle of poverty and create a better life for themselves and their loved ones.
About Local Impact
USAID and AKF partner through Local Impact, a multi-year, multi-sector, and multi-country global partnership that addresses development challenges across sectors in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Afghanistan. Through this effort, AKF and USAID are working with communities to build inclusive economic growth, ensure basic livelihoods, enhance infrastructure, expand access to basic services with a focus on clean energy, empower local citizens and institutions, and promote pluralism and social cohesion.
