Tajikistan’s Rakhsh green taxi expected to cut CO2 emissions by 1,240 tons

Tajikistan’s Rakhsh green taxi expected to cut CO2 emissions by 1,240 tons
29 / 09 / 2023
By Marwa Nassar - -

Tajikistan’s Rakhsh green taxi is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by 1,240 tons per year and cut the emissions of other pollutants that can cause severe respiratory problems.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) provided a $ 4.5 million financing package to Rakhsh Taxi for the acquisition of up to 100 electric vehicles (EVs) and the construction of 30 EV charging stations at the company’s taxi depot and selected locations across Dushanbe, under the EBRD Green Cities program.

The package also included a grant from the Bank’s Finance and Technology Transfer Center for Climate Change (FINTECC) program, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).

Rakhsh Taxi is not only trying to be greener but also more inclusive. Mavlyuda Rakhmatova is the first woman to drive an electric taxi in Tajikistan.

Rakhsh Taxi is not only becoming greener, but also promoting gender inclusion. The company has committed to increasing its female workforce by at least 20 percent and enhancing women’s skills with dedicated training. Mavlyuda Rakhmatova is proud to be the first woman to drive an electric taxi in her country.

“I used to be an architect and worked in a design studio for 33 years,” she said. “After retirement, I realized that staying at home was not for me. My family also needed financial support, so I decided to start working as a taxi driver.”

Tajikistan has made progress on increasing gender equality. Yet, large gender disparities remain. According to a World Bank report, about 69 percent of working-age women do not work for pay.

The safety of drivers and passengers is also an issue, which is why the company has committed to developing and implementing an anti-harassment policy to prevent and address violence or harassment, including any form of gender-based violence and harassment. A new digital application developed as part of the project will include a red button that passengers can activate if they feel unsafe.

“Being a woman taxi driver is not easy, but things are getting better,” Rakhmatova said. “I wish more women would consider such a job. It can open up career opportunities, but also suit someone like me who has retired, but still wants to get out, meet people and earn some money.”

Greener and more inclusive transport are set to improve quality of life for the citizens of Dushanbe in numerous ways.

اترك تعليقا

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles