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

0

2 000 000

4 000 000

6 000 000

8 000 000

10 000 000

12 000 000

14 000 000

16 000 000

1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

years

US

$ non-core resources

core resources

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