LocationsUNDP presented the results of the Joint Programme in the Aral Sea region to the EU Special Representative for Central Asia
October 26, 2022
On October 21, 2022, a visit by the EU Special Representative for Central Asia, Ms Teri Hakala, took place. The purpose of the visit is to get acquainted with the implementation of joint initiatives in the Aral Sea region and to meet with the beneficiaries of the UNDP, UNFPA, and FAO Joint Programme “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” funded by the Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region in Uzbekistan.
The first visit was to secondary school No. 4 in Muynak district, where Ms Teri Hakala got acquainted with the results of the programme to improve access to digitalization of school students and had a conversation with students and teachers. She also noted that knowledge in the fields of digitalization, IT, and foreign languages is in great demand in many countries. It should be noted that in 2021 the Joint Programme provided modern ICT equipment with an Internet connection, as well as furniture and necessary items. As a result, with the help of modern technology, 414 students and 71 teachers were able to get better access to IT knowledge.
Furthermore, the EU Special Representative got familiarized with the activities of the Vocational Training Center in Muynak district, which was established with the support of the Joint Programme. Ms Hakala got acquainted with the ongoing training for seamstresses, beauty salon specialists, and plumbers. The Special Representative spoke closely with women and girls and was interested in their plans for further activities after the completion of the training. In order to support the employment of youth, women, and migrant workers by improving their professional skills, providing opportunities to obtain qualifications in demanded and promising professions, as well as involving them in entrepreneurial activities, the Joint Programme provided assistance in acquiring the necessary equipment and inventory to create a Vocational Training Center for conducting short-term courses in various areas. This initiative helps unemployed youth and women find jobs by training them in various in-demand jobs and providing them with the tools they need to start their own businesses. In 2021-2022, within the framework of the Joint Programme, 30 young girls and boys benefitted from vocational training in the Muynak district and are now employed in the service sector.
The Special Representative also visited Begdullayev Zhumanazar's householdin the Zhayhun community, where she got acquainted with the work of growing crops in a 50m2 hotbed on a household plot. Ms Hakala was interested in how much harvest Zhumanazar was expecting to receive and what his future plans were. The beneficiary replied that he would leave part of the harvest for family use, and sell part, and with the profit, he plans to build another hotbed and expand his activities. The Joint Programme within the framework of supporting vulnerable groups (with a focus on youth and women) in self-employment through the promotion of innovative technologies in crop production, horticulture has provided and installed a greenhouse on the plot and organised training on horticulture for Zhumanazar.
It is worth mentioning that the launch of the UNDP, UNFPA and FAO Joint Programme "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", funded by the MPHSTF, took place in January 2021.
