Press Release

UN and Turkmen NGOs building partnership to respond to COVID-19 pandemic

30 April 2020

UN Agencies in Turkmenistan and CSOs of Turkmenistan have met to discuss possible ways of cooperation to mitigate potential impact of COVID-19 on most vulnerable groups. The meeting was also attended by Mr. Ryszard Komenda, OHCHR Regional Representative for Central Asia via videoconferencing.

The meeting participants were briefed about joint measures taken by the UN country team and Government of Turkmenistan to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country. In this context, NGOs were informed about the draft Country Preparedness and Response Plan on COVID-19 in Turkmenistan.

The main objective of this Plan is to prevent the introduction of infection to the country and, if it appears in the country, to prevent its further transmission and mitigate the effects of the outbreak in the country.

Participants were also informed about the establishment of UN-Government Joint Working Group (JWG) on socio-economic impact of COVID-19 and its first meeting held on 21 April 2020. It was stressed that socio-economic impact of pandemic will primarily affect the most vulnerable groups.

The key role of NGOs in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and mitigating its impact on people was specifically underlined. “We understand the importance of public organizations’ involvement in the process of fighting with COVID-19. Your role in raising public awareness of COVID-19 prevention measures and helping your communities to survive is particularly high” stressed Elena Panova, UN Resident Coordinator in Turkmenistan.

Participating NGOs gave their vision on the role of public organizations in preventing COVID-19 in Turkmenistan and outlined current and potential activities to be taken to support joint mitigation measures, in particular focusing on the support to the vulnerable groups. They have expressed expectation for more active engagement with UN on delivery of services to their constituencies. Participants discussed potential areas of cooperation including employment, human rights, disability, refugees, environment, sports and other. In particular, the possibility of implementation of social programs through introduction and expansion of social contracting was also discussed.

The meeting participants agreed to continue the dialogue in the format of individual meetings between a particular NGO and UN Agency to discuss potential joint initiatives in helping the most vulnerable to withstand the socio-economic consequences of the pandemic. The results of these consultations will be presented at the next meeting of the UN-Government of Turkmenistan JWG on socio-economic impact of COVID-19 to be held early June 2020.