140 likes | 263 Views
Promoting East – East Cooperation. UZBEKISTAN Bratislava July 2003. Uzbekistan Development Indicators. Population 25 million Young population: 50% under 18 years HDI rank down from 95 in 2002 GHDR to 101 in 2003 GHDR
E N D
Promoting East – East Cooperation UZBEKISTAN Bratislava July 2003
Uzbekistan Development Indicators • Population 25 million • Young population: 50% under 18 years • HDI rank down from 95 in 2002 GHDR to 101 in 2003 GHDR • GDP per capita (PPP 2001) US$ 2,460 • Life expectancy at birth (2001) 69.3 years • Adult literacy rate (2001) 99.2 • Poverty (WB LAS 2002) 27% • Unemployment rate 5.8% officially, but estimated much higher because of under-employment and hidden employment
Uzbekistan –Development Challenges • Growing disparities (Decrease in incomes and increase in income disparities) • Educational achievements may not be sustained (Higher education enrolment ratios are going down (15.2 in 1990, 6.6 in 2000) • Inefficient social sector, declining quality of services and decreasing access to public services among vulnerable groups
Uzbekistan – Development Challenges • Slow economic reform (inward looking, import substitution policy, no liberalization of the exchange rate and trade, non-diversified export sector, limited investments, including FDIs) • Slow democratic reform (gaps in public accountability, centralized/authoritarian government, weak civil society, non-independent judiciary) • Human rights violations • Environmental problems (degradation of water resources, desertification, loss of ecosystem services, increased vulnerability to natural/man-made disasters)
UzbekistanDevelopment Challenges • Reforms and Government priorities • Commitment to introduce currency convertibility by November 2003 • Public Administration reform • Working with international community to implement recommendations of Special Rapporteur on Torture • ADB and Government working on strategy to improve living standards Momentum to bring knowledge and experience from Central and Eastern Europe
Uzbekistan UNDP Programme • Support to economic reform and poverty alleviation • Support to environmental management reform • Support to democratic reform
UNDP Programme Highlights • Economic reform and poverty reduction • Promotion of micro-finance sector through support to development of micro-finance schemes managed by non-banking institutions and development of micro-finance institutions, as a tool for poverty alleviation in rural areas • Promotion of SME sector through support to establishment of a network of business incubators
UNDP Programme Highlights • Environmental management reform • Provision of long-term policy and advisory support, to enhance Uzbekistan’s capacity to negotiate and implement international environmental conventions and agreements and to participate in international environmental initiatives. • Promotion of renewable energy through support to the development of the solar energy sector and piloting solar energy for electricity production in rural households • Support to drought mitigation through policy advise, emergency relief, development of water supply infrastructure, and raising policy and community awareness on water consumption and usage.
Programme Highlights • Democratic reform • Building policy advisory capacities for economic reform through support to establishment of Uzbekistan’s first think tank (Center for Economic Research) • Promotion of ICT through support to development of a policy and regulatory framework and support to development of e-governance • Promotion and protection of human rights through support to preparation of action plans for implementation of international treaties and combat of torture and strengthening of civil society • Building capacities for effective coordination of external assistance through support to development of a donor assistance database and institutional strengthening
UNDP Uzbekistan What Can We Offer • Country office in Tashkent since 1993 • 30 staff members in operations and programme • Expertise in economic development and poverty reduction, human development, human rights, gender, governance and environment • Development support services to partners (World Bank, NGOs) • Access to local networks and partnerships • Trust with Government as a neutral partner
UNDP Uzbekistan Resources • Financial resources provide seed funds for new initiatives and innovations • Top-up resources and impact by joining forces
East – East Cooperation Partnership with Central and Eastern European countries brings value-added for Uzbekistan • knowledge and experience with transition process which is beneficial for CIS countries • good understanding of development situation and transition problems/challenges in CIS countries
East – East CooperationCEE - Uzbekistan – UNDP Cooperation • SME development • Energy efficiency and energy sector reform • Usage of ICT as a tool and resource • Protection of human rights • Civil society development and community development • Public administration reform • Decentralization and local governance • Statistical capacities • Regional trade and cooperation
East – East Cooperation • Mechanisms • Twinning arrangements between institutions • Study tours and training • Expertise and policy advice • JPO/JPC, UNV and intern schemes