BAKU, Azerbaijan, July 22
By Klavdiya Romakayeva - Trend:
UNDP (United Nations Development Program) argues and supports Uzbekistan in advancing its ‘green’ transition and digitalization efforts, UNDP told Trend.
According to UNDP, to explore how the recovery from COVID-19 pandemic can be used to enhance Uzbekistan's transition to a ‘green’ economy, UNDP supported the government of Uzbekistan in organizing a 'Green Recovery Forum' in early March.
“The event triggered good dialogue between the government, international development agencies, the private sector, and the civil community on how to use the momentum and look for a recovery towards sustainable development, with SDGs as compass,” UNDP said.
It is reported that a number of commitments and actions were agreed during the event, the implementation of which is now on the agenda, which include close work with Uzbek government on detailed analysis and development of strategic documents and policies on green transition, support jointly with the World Bank, a coordination body on ‘green’ economy, and provision of capacity development to key ministries on various aspects of the ‘green’ development.
It was noted that complementary to it is UNDP’s support to piloting models of ‘green’ development at regional level.
“Working closely with the Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations of Uzbekistan to strengthen work prospects for college and university graduates, young people and women, informally employed persons, returning labor migrants, and other vulnerable population groups is aimed to link that massive process of skills building of the most valuable resource of Uzbekistan – its youth - to the ‘green’ economy, starting with ‘green’ and digital jobs,” UNDP stressed.
UNDP gave the example of such work, which comes from the ‘Promoting youth employment in Uzbekistan’ project, which supports growth of digital small businesses and start-ups. The Technovation Girls initiative that UNDP supports has specifically sought to train young women in marketable IT skills.
“There are many initiatives that focus on building Uzbekistan’s green economy through creating jobs that do not negatively impact the natural environment. Many models of such approach are provided by UNDP interventions. Notably these include the joint programs ‘Addressing the urgent human insecurities in the Aral Sea region through promoting sustainable rural development’ and ‘Building the resilience of local communities against health, environmental and economic insecurities caused by environmental destruction in the Aral Sea region’,” UNDP said.
In addition, UNDP noted that the efforts of the ‘Aid for trade in Uzbekistan’ and ‘Enhancing the adaptation and strengthening the resilience of farming to Climate Change Risks in Fergana Valley’ project likewise both seek to establish opportunities for employment and to build livelihoods, without threatening the environment.
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