Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in partnership with UN agencies, has completed the first joint program funded by the Joint Fund for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Three agencies – the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) together with the Ministry of Finance reported on the results in the field of social protection achieved under the Joint Program in 2020-2021.

“Over these two years, we have made a lot of efforts aimed at forming the basis for reforming the social protection system in Uzbekistan. The consultations and technical assistance received within the framework of the Joint Program gave a good impetus and laid a solid foundation for the development of the social protection system." - said Mr. Jamshid Abruev, Deputy Minister of Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The United Nations Joint SDG Fund has allocated US$ 2 million to achieve two goals under the program: improving the social protection system in order to accelerate the process of achieving the SDGs, as well as expanding multilateral cooperation. On the part of the UN, the program was headed by UNICEF.

"Three UN agencies have combined their knowledge and experience to support the Government in laying the foundation for a strong social protection system. High results have been achieved over these two years and more than two million people have directly benefited from this joint work. Much more needs to be done to ensure comprehensive social protection for all, leaving no one behind. We are ready to continue to support the Government of Uzbekistan in its efforts to strengthen the social protection system, including in the successful implementation of the new Social Protection Strategy and the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," said Mr. Munir Mammadzade, UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan. 

Thanks to the joint efforts of the Government and the UN, more people have gained access to social protection and social services. This was achieved by: 

The introduction of the Unified Register of Social Protection throughout the country has allowed increasing the number of applications for social benefits per month by five times, from 80,000 to 400,000, and the coverage of social benefits - from 600,000 to 1.2 million people.

Development of a National Social Protection Strategy for 2022-2030, which includes measures to improve social assistance schemes, social insurance, access of persons facing multiple obstacles in finding a job to conditions on the labor market and social protection service. The concept of the National Strategy was approved by the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan in February 2021.

Promoting the ratification and implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, facilitating the accumulation of knowledge for a smooth transition to the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health, collecting statistics on disability, accessible infrastructure and public services.

Moreover, the Joint Program has introduced advanced approaches in the provision of social services, such as social work at the mahalla level, based on case management.

These achievements marked the beginning of a long road to ensuring the right to social protection for all segments of the population. The participating UN agencies called for further support to the Government of Uzbekistan in carrying out reforms of the social protection system, implementing the tasks set out in the National Social Protection Strategy, implementing planning and provision of social services and social benefits, building the capacity of departments to coordinate and implement social protection schemes, guaranteeing openness to certain groups of the population, including persons with disabilities and informal workers.