National stakeholders from all over the country get acquainted with UN – Turkmenistan Joint Programme on community-based social services

The online information session brought together over 150 participants, including the heads of the Participating UN Agencies, Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of Turkmenistan and other ministries, representatives of hakimliks, governmental and non-governmental social service providers from all regions of the country. The event was organized adhering to social distancing and other recommendations of the WHO.

The participants were informed about the ambitious steps the Joint Programme is taking to transform the social service provision system of the country. Extensive technical support of the internationally renowned companies with social service reform and training experience was also highlighted. The participants were informed about the social services inventory analysis that was instrumental in identifying gaps of the current social service provision system. Moreover, the importance of the national legislation reviews related to social service provision and the progress to date were also mentioned. The meeting was concluded by a short video with the UN Resident Coordinator and Participating UN Agency heads presenting the goals of the Joint Programme and its target groups.     

Although the information session was held online, participants in all regions of the country received hard copies of the Joint Programme project briefs due to close collaboration with the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of Turkmenistan.

As UN Resident Coordinator a.i., UNDP Resident Representatives, a.i. Natia Natsvlishvili noted in her welcoming speech,

“This is a very ambitious programme, the goals of which are quite attainable in close cooperation between UN agencies and national partners both at the national and local levels”.  

Joint programme on “Improving the system of social protection through the introduction of inclusive quality community-based social services” was signed by the United Nations and the Government of Turkmenistan in December, 2019. Participating UN agencies are UNICEF, a leading agency, UNDP, UNFPA, and UNODC and the key national partner is the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population of Turkmenistan.