AKIPRESS.COM - The Government of Uzbekistan in partnership with the UN agencies concluded its first UN Joint Programme sponsored by the Joint Sustainable Development Goals Fund.

The UN Joint Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Fund allocated $2 million for the twofold purpose of the programme: improving social protection systems to accelerate progress towards achievement of SDGs and to enhance multilateral collaboration. From the UN side, UNICEF was the leading agency of the Joint Programme.

At the onset of the UN Joint Programme, the social protection system of Uzbekistan covered only 55% of the population. It was primarily through social insurance that was reaching 44% of the population. Only one out of three persons living in poverty would receive social benefits.

Thanks to the Government and UN joint efforts more people got access to the social benefits and social services. It has been achieved through the following:

- Introduction of the Single Registry of Social Protection nationwide enabled the effective delivery of the COVID-19 response cash transfers with the overall coverage increasing from 600 000 to 1.2 mln vulnerable families.

- Development of the Draft National Strategy for Social Protection 2022-2030 with measures to improve social assistance schemes, social insurance, access of persons who face multiple barriers when seeking employment to labour market policies and social care services. The Concept of the National Strategy was approved by the President of Uzbekistan in February 2021. The Strategy is accompanied by a three-year costed Action Plan and options for fiscal space for social protection.

- Advocacy for the ratification and implementation of UN CRPD, fostering knowledge and expertise to support the planned transition to the International Classification of Functioning in the assessment of disability, to improve disability statistics collection, and to promote accessible infrastructure and public services.

The UN Joint Programme introduced advanced approaches in provision of social services like mahalla-level social work based on case management.