Project

Actions to Strengthen Systems to End Trafficking (ASSET)

Funder: U.S. Department of State

Project Timeline: October 1, 2025 - September 30, 2030

Program Areas: Human Rights & Empowerment  and Agriculture, Resilience & Water

Contact: Alex Hardin, Alex.Hardin@Winrock.org

The Actions to Strengthen Systems to End Trafficking (ASSET) project, funded by the U.S. Department of State, builds on Winrock’s technical expertise and strong partnership with the government of Turkmenistan and local nongovernmental organizations to accelerate Turkmenistan’s progress in countering trafficking in persons (CTIP) — with a specific focus on eliminating forced labor in the cotton harvest. ASSET leverages the momentum of the recently formed National CTIP Commission and the government of Turkmenistan—International Labour Organization Roadmap to strengthen local systems to identify, prosecute and prevent TIP, including forced labor, while promoting survivor-centered and trauma-informed protection mechanisms.

ASSET works nationally on policy reform prosecution and capacity strengthening while piloting a multi-sector TIP response locally. The project also strengthens trafficking prevention and services for survivors in cooperation with local organizations. ASSET engages with the Office of Prosecutor General, Turkmenistan’s Counter-Trafficking in Persons Commission’s lead agency; the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection; Office of the Business Ombudsman; selected NGOs; the private sector; and survivor leaders to achieve three objectives:

Improve systems and capacities of actors to identify and prevent TIP;
Expand access to holistic, trauma-informed TIP survivor assistance; and
Strengthen government’s capacity to prosecute TIP crimes.