Turkmenistan and the United Nations Review Strategic Cooperation on Sustainable Development Priorities

The meeting focused on the launch of the preparations for Turkmenistan’s Third Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) the progress on which will be presented at the High-Level Political Forum under UN ECOSOC in July 2027, as well as on advancing joint UN–Government programmes in the areas of youth policy and methane emission reduction.

Opening the meeting, Mr. Rashid Meredov, Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, underscored the importance of continued strategic dialogues between Turkmenistan and the United Nations in the format of the Strategic Advisory Board that proved effective in strengthening the cooperation in the priority areas.

The participants stressed the development of the VNR presents an important stage in assessing the progress of the country towards the achievement of SDGs, deeper integration of SDGs to the national policy making and implementation, and application of best international experience in the national SDG reporting process, strengthening data availability, and enhancing national reporting mechanisms. The discussion highlighted the strong and constructive cooperation between Turkmenistan and the UN system in advancing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

In his statement, Mr. Dmitry Shlapachenko, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan, reaffirmed the UN system’s readiness to support Turkmenistan in preparing its Third Voluntary National Review. “Together, we have accumulated substantial practical experience in conducting the Voluntary National Review, and the UN system is fully prepared to support this process once again. I would like to propose that the next Review covers reporting on all SDGs adopted by Turkmenistan, given the wide-scale data availability established in recent years. I consider it important to strengthen efforts to implement the international methodologies for SDG indicators approved by the UN Statistics Division, as this will help improve the quality of national reporting and enhance Turkmenistan’s standing in the SDG Index”, he said.

The meeting also included discussions on joint UN programmes aimed at promoting youth development and youth participation, in line with national youth policy priorities and the global Youth, Peace and Security agenda, as well as on supporting methane emission reduction, contributing to climate action and Turkmenistan’s sustainable development commitments. The Government expressed its commitment to support these programmes. The participants agreed to conduct additional discussions to fine-tune the project proposals.

Signing of bilateral documents

As a concrete outcome of the meeting, the parties signed a series of Annual Work Plans for 2026, reinforcing practical cooperation between national institutions and UN agencies. The signed documents include:

• Annual Work Plan for 2026 between the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and UNFPA;
• Annual Work Plan for 2026 between the Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and UNFPA;
• Annual Work Plan for 2026 between the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan and UNICEF;
• Annual Work Plan for 2026 between the Ministry of Finance and Economy of Turkmenistan and UNICEF.

These agreements further strengthen sectoral cooperation in the areas of health, education, social development, and public finance, contributing to the effective implementation of national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Concluding the meeting, participants reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening the strategic partnership between Turkmenistan and the United Nations, advancing sustainable development, improving the well‑being of people, and supporting the country’s international obligations.