Uzbekistan Expands International Cooperation in Social Protection

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — During the International Summit in Qatar, Usman Sharifkhodjaev, Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection of Uzbekistan, held a series of meetings focused on improving the social protection system and expanding international cooperation.

In the morning, he met with Ivana Zhivkovich, Assistant Secretary-General of the UN and Director of the Regional Bureau of the UN Development Programme for Europe and the CIS. The discussion covered the expansion of social priorities in the Country Program 2026–2030, the World Bank “Human” Project, and the “Vision-2030” initiative.

Later, he met with Ivan Vidiš, Advisor to the Minister of Labor, Pension System, Family and Social Policy of Croatia, to discuss the integration of social programs, expansion of day-care and support services, and improvement of social insurance mechanisms.

Additionally, Sharifkhodjaev held a dialogue with Laura Boffils, Director of the Department for Humanitarian Assistance and Sustainable Development of the UK Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Commonwealth and Development. The parties agreed to strengthen cooperation in child protection, support for persons with disabilities, assistance to women affected by violence, and the development of inclusive education.

The meetings concluded with an emphasis on how such international exchanges contribute to modernizing Uzbekistan’s social protection system, implementing advanced global practices, and providing comprehensive support to vulnerable populations.