UN secures Turkmen Government’s consent for a joint program to improve social service system

The UNCT developed the Concept Note following the Joint Fund’s fist call for concept notes, which will focus on identifying and supporting a range of transformative initiatives on social protection measures designed to prevent all forms of vulnerabilities throughout the life cycle. Specifically, the proposed projects aims to introduce and pilot community based social services to meet the needs of the most vulnerable populations, such as persons with disabilities, the elderly, children and women, adolescents and young people. According to the Concept Note, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Population will be the main national partner. The Turkmen Parliament, Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Finance and Economy, Ministry of Interior, NGOs, local administrations and self-governance bodies will also participate in the program.

The meeting attended by the deputy ministers of the above institutions and heads of participating UN Agencies reviewed the Concept of the proposed Joint Program, and agreed with the proposed goal, components and activities of the program.

If approved, this joint program is expected to contribute to the achievement of SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 16 and 17, as well as the national goals set in the Program of the President of Turkmenistan on the socio-economic development of the country in 2019-2025, the National Action Plans of Turkmenistan on human rights (2016-2020); on the realization of the rights of children (2018-2022), on the realization of the rights of persons with disabilities to work (2017-2020), and will also contribute to the implementation of the State Youth Policy of Turkmenistan and its action plan (2015-2020).

“In case of successful approval  of the joint program, the UN Country Team will receive funding in the amount of up to $ 2 million, which will be invested to improve the social protection system in Turkmenistan. The joint program will be implemented during 2020–2021”, noted Ms.Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan.