This document summarizes progress on the UNDAF Uzbekistan 2016-2020 and outlines plans for future work. It discusses key achievements in supporting SDG localization, public finance reforms, enabling business environment, and rural livelihoods. It identifies lessons learned and proposes focusing future joint work plans on developing an SDG monitoring framework, informing labor market policies, strengthening public-private dialogue, addressing human security risks of the Aral Sea disaster, promoting exports and FDI, and improving rural livelihoods. Key implementation partners will include various government ministries and international organizations.

1. PROGRESS AND WAY FORWARD
UNDAF UZBEKISTAN 2016-2020
Joint UN-Government UNDAF
Results Group on livelihoods

2. DEVELOPMENT CONTEXT
 Reforms on liberalization of the economy in line with Action Strategy for 2017 – 2021
 Currency liberalization and unification of the exchange rate (September 2017)
 Fiscal reforms:
 Concept of Tax Reforms is adopted
 Development of Concept of Reforms of Public Finances and Pension System is launched
Liberalization of foreign economic activity:
• Customs tariffs reductions
• Deregulation of fruits & vegetables exports
• Resuming negotiations on WTO accession
Development of minimum consumer goods basket
Legislation on Investments and PPP (in process)
 President’s Decree №PP-3437 dated 18.12.2017 ‘On the introduction of a new procedures for the formation and
financing of state development programs of the Republic of Uzbekistan’
Measures on further improvement of work of labor and employment agencies (PP-3001 dated May 24, 2017)
Draft of National Goals, Targets and Indicators of Sustainable Development (SDGs) is developed and submitted to
the Government
Progress in UNDAF implementation for 2016-
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3. KEY FOCUS AREAS IN 2016 -2017
1. Support to SDGs localization and implementation
2. Public finance reforms and fiscal transparency*
3. Support to enabling business environment
4. Enhancing livelihoods in rural areas
* (Implemented within UNDAF result group №7)
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Progress in UNDAF implementation for 2016-

4. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
1. Support to SDGs localization and implementation
- The national SDG targets and indicators were drafted and proposed to national partners
(16 goals, 129 targets, 207 indicators)
-Assessment and recommendations of MAPS mission (April 23-27, 2018)
-Draft of Government Decision “On measures to implement National Sustainable
Development Goals “ is developed and submitted to the Government
2. Public finance reforms and fiscal transparency
- Citizens Budget and a series of infographics on budget and extra budgetary funds
indicators are published
-Strategy of Reforms of Public Finance Management for 2017 -2025 is development and
submitted for consideration
-Draft of Concept of transition to medium-term budgeting, as well as strengthening the
internal control system is developed
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Progress in UNDAF implementation for 2016-

5. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
3. Support to enabling business environment
- Support is provided in developing and introducing of “single window” system for rendering public services to
businesses:
 194 Single Window Centers in regions are set up; number of public services offered on ‘single window’ principle
increased from 16 to 34
- Development and launch of new online business registration service (Uzbekistan is placed 11 position in Doing
Business 2018 ranking for this indicator)
- National Global G.A.P. (good agricultural practices) standards, which are prerequisite for access to foreign
markets, are adopted
- Support to export contracts worth more than 160 mln. USD (international exhibitions Fruit Logistica, World Food
Moscow, etc.) is provided
4. Enhancing livelihoods in rural areas
- A comprehensive Needs Assessment for the Republic of Karakalpakstan was conducted
- Additional resources of more than 1,5 mln. USD are mobilized (Government inputs - 500,000 USD, Donor funds -
520, 000 USD) and parallel financing of 1.075 mln.USD are directed by UNICEF
- 14 projects on social infrastructure improvement (access to drinking water, electricity, preschool education) are
identified and being implemented. 6,831 beneficiaries (women - 53%)
- An online population database of the Aral Sea Region is developed (Republic of Karakalpakstan, Khoresm and
Bukhara regions)
- Works on creation of Multi-partner Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Region are initiated 5
Progress in UNDAF implementation for 2016-

6. LESSONS LEARNED
1. Adoption of National SDG: Despite extensive involvement of
experts, ministries and agencies, there is still a need for stepping
up the advocacy and raising awareness among policy makers and
the general public on the purpose and use of SDGs.
2. Frequent staff turnover within key national partner institutions: It is
necessary to maintain flexibility and to codify knowledge (transfer
knowledge through instructions, manuals and etc.) and strengthen
partner’s institutional capacity
3. Insufficient financial resources (resource gap): It is necessary to
strengthen building synergies, finding new donors and partners,
improve donor coordination and programme budgeting
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Progress in UNDAF implementation for 2016-

7. 7
Way Forward in UNDAF implementation for 2018-202
Expected Outputs Link to SDG UN-Government Roadmap Action Strategy 2017-2021
Output 1: By the end of 2020
National gender-responsive and
internationally comparable SDG
monitoring and evaluation
framework is developed
All SDGs 1. Supporting National SDG
monitoring and
Reporting
2. Introducing UN’s best practices in
systematic data collection and
monitoring of population’s wellbeing
90. Involving the UN in a
comprehensive environmental
monitoring and ecological mapping
of Uzbekistan
5.2. Priority areas in the implementation of
balanced, mutually beneficial and constructive
foreign policy:
… further enhancing the role and place of the
country in international arena, joining the ranks of
the developed democratic states
… strengthen international image of Uzbekistan,
making available to the international community of
the objective information about the course of
reforms in the country;
Output 2: By the end of 2020,
government agencies are better
informed of the situation, issues
and challenges in Uzbekistan’s
labour market to develop effective
employment promotion policies.
SDG 8 - Decent
work and
economic growth
40. Enhancing employment
opportunities for youth, including
college graduates
4.1. Consistent increase in real incomes of the
population:
…creating jobs and ensuring rational
employment, especially for graduates of
secondary specialized and higher educational
institutions, ensuring the balance and
development of labor market infrastructure,
reducing unemployment;
KEY FOCUS OF JOINT WORK PLANS
2018-2020LINKED TO SDGS, BASED ON MAPS RECOMMENDATIONS, UN-GOVERNMENT ROADMAP AND
DEVELOPMENT ACTION STRATEGY

8. KEY FOCUS OF JOINT WORK PLANS
2018-2020LINKED TO SDGS, BASED ON MAPS RECOMMENDATIONS, UN-GOVERNMENT ROADMAP AND
ROADMAP AND DEVELOPMENT ACTION STRATEGY
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Way Forward in UNDAF implementation for 2018-202
Expected Outputs Link to SDG UN-Government Roadmap Action Strategy 2017-2021
Output 3: By the end of 2020,
public-private policy dialogue is
strengthened for improved
business climate, development of
inclusive business models and
public-private partnership projects
in the country.
SDG 1 – End poverty
SDG 8 - Decent work
and economic growth
SDG 10 – Reduce
inequalities
13. Designing and implementing a joint
project on improving the capacity of the
country’s business ombudsperson
following international
best practices.
Enhancing the country’s protections of
the rights
and legal interests of entrepreneurs,
and improving the business
environment and doing
business climate.
3.4. Continuing institutional and
structural reforms aimed at reducing
the state's presence in the economy,
further strengthening the protection
of rights and priority role for private
property, encouraging the
development of small business and
private entrepreneurship
4.1. Consistent increase in real
incomes of the population
Output 4: By the end of 2020,
integrated, multi-stakeholder
approach aimed at mitigating
human security risks for
communities affected by Aral Sea
disaster is developed.
All SDGs Activities 83, 89 and 93 of the Road Map:
Cooperation to mitigate the Aral Sea
disaster and environmental challenges
3.3 Modernization and intensive
development of agriculture:
…adoption of systemic measures to
mitigate the negative impact of climate
change and drying of the Aral Sea to the
development of agriculture and the
livelihoods of people.

9. KEY FOCUS OF JOINT WORK PLANS
2018-2020LINKED TO SDGS, BASED ON MAPS RECOMMENDATIONS, UN-GOVERNMENT ROADMAP AND
ROADMAP AND DEVELOPMENT ACTION STRATEGY
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Way Forward in UNDAF implementation for 2018-202
Expected Outputs Link to SDG UN-Government
Roadmap
Action Strategy 2017-2021
Output 5: By the end of 2020,
policymakers and stakeholders are
better equipped with policy options
in promoting exports/foreign direct
investment (FDI)
SDG 1 – End poverty
SDG 8 - Decent
work and economic
growth
SDG 9 –Industry,
innovation and
infrastructure
SDG 10 – Reduce
inequalities
10. Expanding the cooperation
with the
UN in strengthening Uzbekistan’s
export
capacity. Initiating a joint project
in this sphere.
12. Attracting UN’s expertise to
improve
investment climate in
Uzbekistan.
III. Priority areas of economic development
and liberalization
3.1. Further strengthening of the
macroeconomic stability and the maintenance
of high rates of economic growth;
3.2. Improving the competitiveness of the
economy;
3.3. Modernization and intensive development
of agriculture;
3.5. Integrated and balanced socio-economic
development of regions;
Output 6: Livelihoods are improved
and job opportunities are created
for local communities of
disadvantaged regions through
application and promotion of
innovative agricultural practices
and comprehensive local initiatives
(access to basic services, income
generation, SME and community-
based tourism development)
Activities 83, 89 and 93 of the
Road Map: Cooperation to
mitigate the Aral Sea disaster and
environmental challenges
77. Support in development of
sustainable tourism in
Uzbekistan, particular, in
Karakalpakstan

10. PROPOSALS OF MINISTRIES AND AGENCIES FOR
WORK PLAN OF 2018-2020
Proposals Comments
Improving the criteria for assessing poverty and improving
the methodology for household surveys;
Accepted.
To be implemented within “Policy Research for Sustainable
Development” Project
increasing the efficiency of energy resources usage on the
basis of development of strategies and programs for industry
and territory development, revision of tariff and price policy
This issue is considered in the Results group on environment
within the “Market transformation for Sustainable Rural
Housing” Project
creation of enabling conditions aimed at expanding
productive employment of the population through the
expansion and support of training and retraining centers for
specialists in specific subjects
Accepted.
Reflected in the plan under Result 2. Launching a new project
with Ministry of Labour on youth employment is planned.
development of a methodology for estimating the cost of
creating 1 workplace in different industries and assessing
the quality of jobs based on methodologies used in
developed countries
Subject to further review and discussion within the “Policy
Research for Sustainable Development” Project
development and implementation of effective mechanisms
for the development of public-private partnership in public
services delivery
Accepted.
Reflected in the plan under Result3. Proposal will be
implemented within the Project “Business Climate
Improvement in the regions of Uzbekistan”
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11. PARTNERS
Government:
Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Employment and
Labor Relations, Ministry of Innovative Development, Ministry for
Foreign Trade, State Investment Committee, Statistics Committee,
Council of Ministers of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Khokimiyats,
CCI, NAPM
International organizations and Donors:
World Bank, ADB, British Embassy, Embassy of Switzerland, JICA,
KOICA, TIKA, USAID, EBRD, GIZ
UN Agencies:
UNFPA, UNESCO, UN Volunteers, ILO, UNECE, UNCTAD, UNDP
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Way Forward in UNDAF implementation for 2018-202