Results of Joint Programme for the period 2022 have been presented at the third Coordination Council meeting

December 19, 2022
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

On December 15 2022, the third meeting of the Coordinating Council was held within the framework of the Joint Program of UNDP, UNFPA and FAO "Unleashing young people’s and vulnerable citizens’ creativity and innovation by strengthening their adaptive capacity to address the economic and food insecurities in the exposed communities of the Aral Sea region".

At the meeting, representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development and Poverty Reduction of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Deputy Representative of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Head of Department State Committee on Family and Women Affairs of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the State Committee on forestry of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Uzbekistan, representatives of UNFPA, FAO and national partners attended.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

During the meeting, the team presented goals of the project and interim results of the completed work in 2022 and also discussed the prospects for cooperation next year.

Deputy Minister of Investments and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan Mr. Badriddin Abidov noted that this program is an important initiative supporting the government's efforts to develop the Aral Sea region and noted that “despite the fact that much has been done, we believe that the work to assist the Aral Sea region should continue and the experience gained under the Joint Program should be replicated in the upcoming projects”.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

Moreover, Deputy Representative of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan Mr. Atabek Abdreymov stressed that "Access to clean drinking water, high-quality electricity supply and increasing the incomes of residents of pilot settlements were the highest priorities, where UNDP provided practical assistance" he also noted that "in terms of eliminating the consequences of the drying of the Aral Sea, forest planting was carried out directly on the drained bottom of the Aral Sea".

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

In 2022 more than 250 rural young people benefitted from development of basic entrepreneurial skills, as well as youth-developed innovations in the region.; more than 300 women received basic knowledge in IT and health.

With an aim to generate income in rural communities (emphasis on youth and women) through the promotion of innovative agricultural methods and piloting new agricultural initiatives, three cooperatives have been created and provided with technical support. These cooperatives have created over 170 new jobs among young people in Muynak, Kungrat and Buzatau. Also, “Buried diffuser” technology was piloted on demonstration sites.

More than 470 residents of 15 communities participated in community mobilization trainings and over 23,000 residents have improved access to social infrastructure. Overall 29 social infrastructure projects have been developed and more than 100,000 residents of three districts of the Aral sea region participated in trainings on computer literacy.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

Free Wi-Fi Zones started functioning in 15 communities benefitting 64,465 people, information kiosks facilitate access to more than 350 types of public services  benefitting 15,822 residents, and an electronic polyclinic platform was developed in a multidisciplinary medical association of Buzatau district covering 22,829 residents.

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This programme is funded by the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region in Uzbekistan with the support of the Governments of Uzbekistan, Norway, the European Union, Finland, South Korea and the Alwaleed Philanthropies charity organization (Saudi Arabia).