Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 16 December 2019, the third meeting of the Steering Committee of the Multi-partner Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea region, created under the auspices of the UN, was held at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The meeting was attended by the UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, Helena Fraser, representatives of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, UN agencies, donor countries and non-governmental organizations.

The purpose of the event was to discuss the organizational and practical issues of the Trust Fund, including the announcement of the Second acceptance of applications for financing projects to mitigate the consequences of environmental disasters in the Aral Sea region.

In accordance with the decision taken at the Second Steering Committee meeting, two project applications with a total budget of US$3.1 million were approved for funding - joint applications by UNFPA and UNICEF: “Improving the access and quality of perinatal care services provided to the most vulnerable mothers and newborns "And UNDP and UNESCO:" Solving the pressing problems of human security in the Aral Sea region by promoting sustainable rural development. "

Representatives of UNICEF and UNDP made a brief presentation on the main achievements of ongoing projects.

The members of the Steering Committee listened to information on the mobilization of technical assistance funds within the framework of the Trust Fund from representatives of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, as well as the Delegation of the European Union, the Embassies of Japan and the Republic of Korea on the prospects for contributing to the Trust Fund.

One of the main items on the agenda of the meeting was the discussion of the creation of an Advisory Committee on Sustainable Development of the Aral Sea region on the platform of the Trust Fund.

The creation of the Advisory Committee as a single platform, unanimously approved by the members of the Steering Committee, will allow for a constructive dialogue between the government, civil society and development partners on various aspects of the development of the Aral Sea region.