Residents of the Aral Sea region to receive support from Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund

Tashkent hosted the first council meeting of the Board of the Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region on Jan. 24, UzA reported.

It was attended by representatives of ministries and agencies of the country, the UN and its structures, donor organizations.

The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Chairman of the State Investment Committee Sukhrob Kholmurodov and UN Resident Coordinator/UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan Helena Fraser.

According to S. Kholmurodov, Uzbekistan acts as the first donor of the Trust Fund, organized under the auspices of the UN. Norway and Japan also expressed their desire to become donors. Currently, work is underway on expanding the ranks of donors. In particular, over 80 applications for financial resources of various countries were sent.

At the meeting, areas of activity, a program strategy and other relevant Trust Fund fundamentals were considered.

The Fund will serve as the only platform for development of international cooperation on improving the ecological and socio-economic situation in the Aral Sea region, mobilizing funds from the donor community. And its program strategy is aimed at solving environmental, economic, food, social problems, as well as problems related to ensuring the population’s health in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and Khorezm region.

It is planned to collect funds for these purposes in the amount of 123.3 million USD. On the basis of these funds, a number of major projects will be implemented until 2023. This period may be extended according to proposals.

Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan for Ecology and Development of the Aral Sea region Jusipbek Kazbekov addressed the meeting.

Members of the technical and working group of the fund were unanimously approved at the meeting.