EVIPNet Europe Country launch in Dushanbe, Tajikistan (2015)

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population of Tajikistan (referred to below as the Ministry of Health) renewed its strong support and interest in EVIPNet Europe and officially launched the EVIPNet pilot phase at a one-day workshop in July 2014. Participants included representatives from the Ministry of Health, WHO (regional and country offices representatives) and key stakeholders from major national health agencies.1 International development partners were represented by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The event was crucial for:

• raising awareness and getting the support of national decision-makers and stakeholders for EVIPNet Europe and its future activities in Tajikistan;
• familiarizing national key stakeholders with EVIPNet Europe's pilot phase activities and evidence-informed policy-making (EIP) methods and tools as well as develop a national working plan; and
• learning about national EIP capacity and activities.