Project summary:

The project is a joint initiative of the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations (MELR) of the Republic of Uzbekistan and UNDP. 

The proposed project will contribute to poverty reduction through increased employment and entrepreneurship opportunities of the population, especially the youth of Fergana Valley by building entrepreneurship and future skills among students and job-seekers. This project aims at forging a new pathway for the future of work—based on continuous skills attainment, digital leapfrogging and a new balance between life and work. The development objective of the project is reskilling and upskilling of the workforce to deliver new business models in the post-pandemic era. It will target college and university graduates, young women and men in informal employment, returning migrants and other vulnerable groups and help Uzbekistan Government and private sector to craft policies and talent strategy that develop employees’ critical digital and cognitive capabilities, their technical and socio-emotional skills, and their adaptability and resilience.