Second gender concept round table
Draft Gender Concept for Uzbekistan’s Water Sector Through 2030 Discussed
On 15 October, the Ministry of Water Resources of the Republic of Uzbekistan hosted a working group meeting dedicated to developing the Gender Concept for Uzbekistan’s water sector through 2030. The meeting was held as part of the third phase of the National Water Resources Management Project in Uzbekistan, implemented with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation.
The meeting brought together water sector specialists, representatives of relevant ministries, government agencies and non-governmental non-profit organizations, gender experts, and members of the interagency working group responsible for developing the Water Sector Gender Concept.
Participants noted that ensuring gender equality is identified as one of the country’s key development priorities under the Uzbekistan–2030 Strategy, approved by a relevant decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Strategy sets out a range of objectives aimed at strengthening the system of support for women, safeguarding their rights and legitimate interests, and increasing their social, economic and political participation. Achieving these objectives is also important for the agricultural sector, particularly the water management system.
To this end, work has commenced on developing the Gender Concept for Uzbekistan’s water sector through 2030. The initiative is based on the findings of the water sector gender assessment conducted by the Ministry of Water Resources in 2021.
The Concept is expected to set out measures aimed at advancing gender equality in the sector, creating conditions for women and men to exercise equal rights and opportunities, strengthening the role of women, and taking their interests and needs into account.
Drawing on international experience, the working group discussed the current state of gender equality in Uzbekistan’s water sector and the main areas for developing a Gender Concept based on the principles of integrated water resources management.
The discussions resulted in agreement on the principal approaches to developing the Water Sector Gender Concept through 2030, as well as specific steps and follow-up actions to be undertaken jointly with relevant stakeholders.