The Joint Working Group on socio-economic impact of COVID-19 discuss the implementation of the Socio-Economic Response Plan

The UN - Government of Turkmenistan joint working group (JWG) on socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in Turkmenistan held expert level meetings across the five thematic pillars of the Immediate Socio-Economic Response Plan of Turkmenistan to the acute infectious disease pandemic, namely:

• Improving the quality and access to essential health services;
• Ensuring social protection and basic services;
• Protecting jobs, supporting small and medium enterprises;
• Macroeconomic stimulus and multilateral collaboration;
• Promoting social cohesion and community resilience.

The members of the JWG represented by national ministries, including the Ministry of Finance and Economy, Central Bank, Ministry of Trade and Foreign Economic Relations, Ministry of Health and Medical Industry, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, Ministry of Education of Turkmenistan and other ministries, as well as the UN agencies shared their updates on the progress made in the implementation of the Socio-Economic Response Plan since its adoption in July 2020 with particular focus on the impact of response measures on vulnerable groups.

The participants also discussed the possible changes within the planned activities and proposed amendments to the table of activities of the extend the Socio-Economic Response Plan, the duration of which is RP until the end of 2021.  

Thematic groups discussed the inputs from involved Government ministries and UN agencies to fill-in the monitoring table of the Socio-Economic Response Plan, which was developed by UNDP, which is the technical lead from the UN side on the implementation of Socio-economic response plan.  Follow-up actions and timelines have been agreed with regard to collection of information for completion of the monitoring table.

Concluding the meeting, participants agreed to continue the dialogue under the joint JWG and have periodic consultations between the UN Agencies, IFIs and relevant ministries on timely and effective implementation of the Socio-Economic Response Plan.