Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 29 January 2021, a meeting was held at the Ministry of Finance on strengthening social protection in Uzbekistan, in which Deputy Minister of Finance Akhadbek Khaidarov and UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan Munir Mammadzadeh took part.

The Government of Uzbekistan, together with UNICEF, is working to improve the information system of the Unified Register, which will manage a wider range of social protection programs, including social assistance programs, aimed at preventing the consequences of crises like the coronavirus pandemic.

As part of technical assistance between the Ministry of Finance and UNICEF, more than 300 units of office equipment were transferred to the Extra-budgetary Pension Fund under the Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which will be used to improve the work of the Unified Register of Social Protection, an information system that optimizes the process of electronic distribution of social benefits. The transferred pieces of equipment will be distributed among the district and city offices of the Extrabudgetary Pension Fund in all regions of Uzbekistan, thus ensuring equal access to the system, as well as improving application processes throughout the country.

Deputy Minister of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan Akhadbek Khaidarov noted that cooperation with UNICEF is one of the key moments in the process of developing and improving the social protection system in Uzbekistan. The purpose of this program is to help strengthen the overall system of financing national development strategies, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as create favorable conditions for the introduction of new forms of public and private financing, while increasing the efficiency of the use of existing financial resources. International experience and existing potential UNICEF provides significant support to the Government of Uzbekistan in creating a comprehensive social protection system accessible to all residents of Uzbekistan, thus contributing to the increase in the inclusiveness of economic growth and the development of human capital, while accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

“We are pleased to donate this equipment to the Ministry of Finance and continue to assist in expanding the Single Register, which is expected to lead to effective management of the fair distribution of cash assistance to families and children in need,” said Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan. “Indeed, we believe that our joint efforts through the SDG Joint Fund, including the continued support of the Single Register, will lead to increased accountability and transparency of the national social protection system, as well as increased coverage and effectiveness,” he added.

The unified register of social protection was originally launched in Syrdarya region in 2019. Then, by the end of 2020, the registry was deployed in all regions of the country. Currently, the Unified Register covers social benefits for low-income families with children.

At the end of the meeting, the sides noted the important role and importance of cooperation between the Ministry of Finance and UNICEF in improving and further supporting social protection programs and the Unified Register in Uzbekistan.