The first gender concept round table

First Roundtable on Developing the Gender Concept for Uzbekistan’s Water Sector Through 2030

Ensuring gender equality is one of Uzbekistan’s key development priorities under the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy, approved by a decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The objective of strengthening the system of support for women, safeguarding their rights and legitimate interests, and increasing their social, economic and political participation fully applies to the water sector and is also enshrined in the Strategy for Achieving Gender Equality in Uzbekistan by 2030.

On 24 September 2024, Tashkent hosted a roundtable dedicated to developing the Gender Concept for Uzbekistan’s water sector through 2030. The initiative was launched by the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan following the findings of the water sector gender assessment conducted in 2021. It aims to implement recommendations for advancing gender equality in the sector.

The objectives of the roundtable were to:

assess the current state of gender equality in Uzbekistan’s water sector, taking international experience into account;
discuss the principal approaches to developing a Water Sector Gender Concept based on the principles of integrated water resources management.

The event brought together representatives of government institutions responsible for integrated water resources management and national gender policy, gender experts, specialists from non-governmental non-profit organizations, and members of the interagency working group responsible for developing the Water Sector Gender Concept.

As a result of the discussions, participants agreed on the principal approaches to developing the Water Sector Gender Concept through 2030. Most importantly, specific steps and follow-up actions were identified jointly with key stakeholders.

The roundtable was aimed at strengthening gender balance and supporting the sustainable development of Uzbekistan’s water sector, thereby contributing to more effective water resources management and greater social sustainability.