Webinar on “Green” Budgeting and Sustainable Development Goals Held in Uzbekistan

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan continues systematic work to integrate national sustainable development goals and a “green” economy into strategic planning and budgeting, the Ministry of Economy and Finance reported.

On 18 December, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), organized an online webinar titled “Integration of Sustainable Development Goals and Green Priorities into Strategic Planning and Budgeting in Uzbekistan.”

The event brought together over 60 specialists from international organizations, as well as relevant ministries and agencies.

At the start of the webinar, Maite Garcia, an expert from the UNDP office in Mexico, presented a report on the methodology for integrated classification of sustainable development goals and the principles of green budgeting for Uzbekistan.

Currently, a methodological guide is being developed jointly with UNDP to classify public budget expenditures in terms of their alignment with national sustainable development goals and environmental objectives. At the first stage, the Ministry of Economy and Finance will conduct the classification, followed by sectoral ministries and agencies during the formulation of budget programs.

The webinar also featured thematic presentations:

“Integration of Sustainable Development Goals and Green Priorities into Planning and Budgeting Processes in Uzbekistan: International Best Practices and Recommendations” — representatives from the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic;

“Integration of Biodiversity into the Budget Process: International Experience and Recommendations for Uzbekistan” — representatives of the UNDP BIOFIN initiative;

“Assessment of Climate Public Investment Management (Climate PIMA) for Uzbekistan: Key Findings and Recommendations” — expert from the International Monetary Fund;

“Green Classification of Budget Revenues and Tax Expenditures: International Best Practices and Recommendations for Uzbekistan” — international UNDP expert.

The webinar concluded with the observation that further expanding cooperation in sustainable development and green budgeting is crucial for the successful implementation of financial and strategic reforms in the country.