UNDP and Government of Turkmenistan set to enter the new programme cooperation cycle 2021-2025

Today, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Permanent Neutrality of Turkmenistan, UNDP Resident Representative a.i. Ms. Natia Natsvlishvili and H.E. Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Rashid Meredov signed the framework cooperation agreement between UNDP and the Government of Turkmenistan enabling implementation and co-financing by parties of the new Country Programme Document 2021-2025.

Earlier, the series of signing events took place giving start to a number of new projects with various government agencies to be implemented within the next five-year programme period.

“The year 2020 has been very important for UNDP despite the challenges faced by the entire world. Together with our partners we have completed a programme cycle, reflected on our experiences and lessons learned, and planned our new strategic cooperation framework for the five years ahead. We are proud to see the rising level of support and trust that the Government of Turkmenistan expresses to UNDP through increased funding to our programme and variety of projects set forth to help promote implementation of SDGs in Turkmenistan,” said Natia Natsvlishvili, UNDP Resident Representative a. i.

The new Country Programme Document 2021-2025 which serves as the basis for the new cooperation cycle has seen endorsed by UNDP Executive Board on 3 September 2020. The new cooperation agreement includes the following priorities:

• Implementation of governance reforms towards more effective and transparent public administration, based on international standards and Turkmenistan’s commitments to rule of law, human rights and gender equality;
• Design and implementation of policy and regulatory reforms to promote economic development and better livelihoods in the non-hydro-carbon sectors of the economy, increased private sector competitiveness and trade, digitization, innovative and effective banking, and the creation of decent jobs, including for the care economy;
• Support Government and other partners to implement effective measures for climate adaptation and mitigation and management of natural resources, and disaster risk reduction;
• Strengthen health and social protection system performance to deliver higher quality and more inclusive services, with a focus on control of tuberculosis and other infectious diseases, increasing prevention and response capacities for pandemics, improving treatment for noncommunicable diseases and expanding coverage of social protection for vulnerable groups.