UN Women and ACWA Power Launch Initiative to Empower Women in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — UN Women and ACWA Power Uzbekistan have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at promoting women’s empowerment in Uzbekistan.

This marks the first partnership of its kind between a UN agency and a private company in the country. Under the 12-month project, ACWA Power will allocate US$50,000 to support UN Women’s initiatives on advancing women’s economic empowerment (WEE).

The program focuses on increasing women’s participation in education and the labor market through gender equality training, leadership courses, and a pilot gender-focused curriculum at Shirin College. Additional activities will include capacity-building initiatives for preventing gender-based violence and organizing a national Women’s Empowerment Forum. UN Women, which began operations in Uzbekistan in May 2025 to support state-led gender equality initiatives, provides expert guidance and training, while ACWA Power serves as the implementing partner and project financier.

The collaboration aligns with Uzbekistan’s national reform priorities, including the Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality by 2030 and the National Program to Increase Women’s Engagement across Economic, Political, and Social Sectors for 2022–2026. These programs aim to create equal opportunities for women and enhance their participation in education, governance, and the economy.

“Partnering with UN Women allows us to implement initiatives that create safe working environments, equal opportunities, and greater representation of women in Uzbekistan,” said Dr. John Zaidi, head of ACWA Power in Uzbekistan. “By investing in educational programs and leadership development for women, we support practices that benefit schools, companies, and communities alike.”

Cheren Güven Güreş, head of UN Women’s Central Asia office, emphasized: “This partnership demonstrates how private sector engagement can accelerate progress toward gender equality. ACWA Power’s support expands opportunities for women and strengthens protective mechanisms in education and workplaces.”

The agreement underscores the growing strategic collaboration between international organizations and the private sector, showing how such partnerships can fast-track reforms in Uzbekistan.

UN Women works to advance women’s rights and gender equality, promoting changes in legislation, institutions, and social practices, reducing gender gaps, and fostering an inclusive society. ACWA Power (TADAWUL: 2082) is a major international company and leading investor in renewable energy and water desalination, employing over 4,000 staff with projects in 15 countries. In Uzbekistan, the company has invested more than US$15 billion in 15 projects across the country, including wind and solar generation, energy storage systems, and green hydrogen initiatives.