EU and UN launch gender-responsive budgeting project in Uzbekistan
Initiative aims to embed gender equality in public finance, supporting inclusive governance and economic reform
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — A new European Union-funded initiative to integrate gender equality into Uzbekistan’s public finance system was launched in Tashkent earlier this week.
The project, titled Promoting Gender Responsive Policies and Budgets (GRB): Towards Transparent, Inclusive and Accountable Governance in Uzbekistan, is being implemented by UN Women in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
According to Daryo News, the initiative seeks to ensure women and girls benefit equally from public policies by embedding gender analysis into national planning and budgeting. It supports Uzbekistan’s broader reform agenda, including the Gender Equality Strategy 2030 and Sustainable Development Goals.
At the launch, Shokhruh Ishankulov, Deputy Director of the State Budget Policy Department, said the project marks a shift toward more effective and equitable governance.
EU Ambassador Toivo Klaar emphasized that gender-responsive budgeting is essential for addressing disparities in public service access and decision-making.
UN Women’s Deputy Regional Director Elisa Fernandez Saenz highlighted the importance of holding institutions accountable for ensuring marginalized groups are not excluded from public investments. Sabine Machl, UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan, described the initiative as a transformative step in how public funds are allocated.
The GRB project began with training for 30 civil servants in late 2024, supported by initial seed funding from UN Women.
Over the next two years, the initiative will focus on institutionalizing gender budgeting practices, starting with pilot programs at the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Ministry of Agriculture.
This approach aligns with Uzbekistan’s ongoing Public Finance Management reforms and its development targets to reduce poverty and grow GDP.
GRB is seen as a practical tool to guide resource allocation in ways that close gender gaps in property ownership, employment, and access to economic opportunity.
UN Women has helped more than 80 countries adopt GRB over the past two decades. Yet globally, only 26% of countries have systems in place to track budget allocations for gender equality.
The Uzbekistan initiative underscores the need for strong political will, data-driven planning, and collaboration between government, civil society, and the private sector.
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