UNESCO and Uzbekistan renewed their cooperation through a major programmatic action plan for 2018-2021 during President Mirziyoyev's visit to UNESCO Headquarters in October 2018, the first such agreement in 20 years. UNESCO is currently reinforcing its cooperation with Uzbekistan, especially on systemic educational reform and the preservation of heritage.
In line with SDG4 on Quality Education, UNESCO launched in July 2020 the project "Skills Development for Employability in Rural Areas of Uzbekistan", funded by the European Union in a total amount of €9.6 million. The aim of this four-year project (2020-2024) is to enhance living standards in rural areas through better employability and to prepare women and men with relevant skills for the needs of sustainable, diversified and modernized agriculture.
"The project is very timely and relevant in terms of assisting our government reforms to promote rural people who have most affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, lost their jobs and revenues. It also helps us to nurture the young generation in the post-COVID period and increase its resilience to meet future challenges", Chairperson of the National Commission of Uzbekistan for UNESCO.
H.E. Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan
"By testing and piloting these new and innovative initiatives and approaches for a more efficient agriculture, including the training of teachers and trainers in the agriculture and irrigation sectors, the project could have the potential to serve as an example for transitioning to smart farming and precision agriculture in the region and beyond",
Ms. Stefania Giannini, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education.
"Year 2020 became the year of huge changes in secondary special and vocational education of Uzbekistan- transfer of colleges and technical schools to the line ministries. The project can have a big impact in this regards through providing support for modernizing soft and hard components at selected colleges",
Mr. Ischanov Atabay, leading expert at Ministry of Water Resources
