International organizations welcome creation of the Social Protection Agency in Uzbekistan

This is stated  in a joint statement by the ILO, UNICEF and the World Bank.

“As leading development partners supporting social protection reform in the world and in Uzbekistan, we believe that the creation of the agency will be an important step to promote social protection in Uzbekistan and will ensure the implementation of the National Social Protection Strategy, national development goals and SDGs aimed at to reduce and prevent poverty, vulnerability and social exclusion of individuals and families throughout the life cycle,” the statement reads.

The tasks of the agency include coordination and implementation of comprehensive measures of the social protection system, prevention of vulnerability and protection of socially vulnerable groups.

Representatives of international organizations strongly believe that the established agency will be crucial in eliminating fragmentation, gaps in social protection functions and strengthening monitoring and evaluation of the system.

“Furthermore, it is encouraging that the agency will pay special attention to priorities in the field of child protection and inclusion of people with disabilities in accordance with international standards and norms. As an authorized body, this agency will ensure the development of a social protection policy that integrates social security and social services, as well as coordination of interaction with the employment sector and other services.

We hope that the agency will set the normative framework for national social protection policy, guide the development of individual programs and ensure coherence of actions, monitoring the implementation and implementation of measures based on evidence,” they said.

They also emphasized that “within the framework of the agency, we see enormous opportunities in Uzbekistan to create a social protection system that adapts and quickly responds to prolonged or sudden shocks and crises that affect the well-being of families and children and will strengthen their resilience”.

“The ILO, UNICEF and the World Bank are ready to continue to support the government of Uzbekistan in promoting the development of social protection for the benefit of all in the country,” the conclusion says.

It should be recalled that by the relevant decree of the head of state, Mansurbek Polvonzoda Olloyorov was appointed to the post of presidential adviser on social protection issues - director of the National Agency for Social Protection.

Earlier, it was also reported that social services scattered across 6 ministries will be united in Uzbekistan, and the National Agency for Social Protection will be created. This was announced on May 30 by presidential candidate Shavkat Mirziyoyev.