Uzbekistan’s Ambitious Goal: To Decrease Poverty Rate from 11% to 7% in Three Years
Uzbekistan Focusing on Poverty Reduction and Social Protection System Improvement
The Al Harir newspaper from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East recently highlighted Uzbekistan’s commitment to reducing poverty and enhancing its social protection system. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev presented measures on August 14 to address these issues, aiming to decrease the poverty rate from 11% to 7% within the next three years.
The current system faces challenges in effectively improving outcomes due to a lack of clarity in identifying impoverished families, lifting them out of poverty, and efficiently allocating resources. To address these issues, a new approach will be implemented, focusing on balanced development in poverty reduction and social protection.
Criteria for identifying poverty and creating a targeted list of individuals will be established, including those in the “Single Social Protection Registry” and those at high risk of poverty. Approval of these families will involve voting by neighborhood committees and activists, with social services and support provided by “Human” centers.
A unified questionnaire will be developed to assess factors contributing to poverty in social protection and employment fields, categorizing families into three groups based on their needs. Each family will receive tailored support to help them overcome poverty and become self-sufficient.
Uzbekistan allocates 14 trillion UZS annually for poverty reduction efforts, with programs monitored at the neighborhood, district, regional, and national levels. Public oversight will be strengthened to ensure the effective implementation of these initiatives. The country is committed to achieving significant progress in reducing poverty and enhancing its social protection system in the coming years.
