Want To Help Disabled Tajikistanis Fight Climate Change? Biden Could Pay You $1 Million for Your Advice.

The Biden administration plans to use taxpayer funds to support disabled people in Tajikistan to become influential “climate leaders,” according to a grant notice by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The $1 million project aims to involve disabled Tajikistanis in the development of the nation’s climate change policies and empower them to have an impact on climate change response in their country. The effort is part of USAID’s broader $150 billion climate strategy, which seeks to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in the climate workforce through taxpayer-funded programs for underrepresented populations.

The project, however, drew criticism from Republicans who believe that Biden’s foreign climate spending is unnecessary. They argue that American tax dollars should go towards supporting Americans, rather than overseas activists. Despite this, the Biden administration has emphasized combating climate change as a central policy goal, with Biden issuing an executive order in January 2021 to promote bold and progressive action to tackle the crisis.

USAID has had a presence in Tajikistan through its office in the nation’s capital, Dushanbe, even as China has invested in the country, including a military base in 2021, and joint military drills with the nation in 2022. However, the USAID grant proposal makes it clear that the project will not involve significant infrastructure or construction activities, but will focus on empowering Tajikistanis with disabilities to influence the outcomes of current and future infrastructure or construction activities in their country.