Uzbekistan launches a youth employment assistance programme

December 20, 2022
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

From 19 to 23 December this year, the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, together with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), is conducting for teachers of the "Ishga Marhamat" monocentres a five-day training course on a soft skills programme for youth employment.

The soft skills development programme for youth employment is an international AflaYouth programme developed by international NGO Aflatoun. UNICEF, together with the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations and UNDP, adapted the programme for Uzbekistan. From the beginning of 2023, it is planned to test and phase-in the introduction of AflaYouth into the curriculum of the monocentres «Ishga marhamat» under the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

The AflaYouth programme aims to improve the employability and income-generating opportunities of girls and boys (ages 16 to 24). The programme includes three main modules: development of social and financial skills, employment skills and entrepreneurship skills. The module on social and financial skills includes the development of personal and interpersonal skills of young people to enable them to participate effectively and constructively in social and working life. The module also aims to develop the financial skills needed to make effective decisions in managing their finances. The Employment Skills module covers a number of issues, such as correct writing of CV and preparation for interviews, setting goals and finding solutions, teamwork and negotiating skills. The aim of the module on entrepreneurial skills is to develop young people’s initiative and ability to translate ideas into action.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

In order to familiarize themselves with the programme, more than 40 teachers from monocentres from all regions of the country took part in the training held in Tashkent region. The training was conducted by foreign experts Aflatoun Nivedita Outrapati Shakila and Sangina Khudododova. Teachers of monocentres were given the opportunity to improve their knowledge and skills not only in thematic areas of the programme, but also in interactive, innovative teaching methods.

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

The programme has been adapted and will be implemented in 2023 in Surkhandarya region with the financial support of the European Union. The programme will be implemented in 2023. This initiative is also implemented within the framework of the joint project of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations of the Republic of Uzbekistan and UNDP «Adapting population skills to the post-pandemic economy in Fergana Valley».

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan