jamoat

Jamoat is a territorial-administrative unit in Tajikistan, roughly equivalent to a rural municipality. The name comes from the Persian word jama'at, meaning “assembly” or “community,” reflecting its function as a local governing body for a group of villages. In Tajikistan, jamoats are the lowest official subdivision of the country’s administrative hierarchy, below districts (nohiyah) and regions (viloyat or oblast).

A jamoat typically comprises several villages and sometimes a town or neighborhood. It has its own local government, usually with a locally elected jamoat council and an executive head who oversees administration. The council sets local policy, approves budgets, and directs development plans, while the executive head implements decisions and manages day-to-day services. Jamoats are responsible for basic public services such as road maintenance, water and sanitation, education and primary healthcare access, local land use, and social programs, with funding channeled through district authorities and national programs.

Because of their small scale, jamoats play a key role in rural governance and community development. They collect local data, coordinate with district authorities on infrastructure projects, and serve as the point of contact for residents seeking government services. The structure and responsibilities of jamoats have evolved through reforms in Tajikistan’s local government system.