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USAID Information:
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Uzbekistan
SNAPSHOT
Date of independence: 1991
Capital: Tashkent
Population: 26.5 million (2006)
Income per person: $610 (yr)
Source: World Bank Development Indicators 2007
USAID IN UZBEKISTAN
http://centralasia.usaid.gov
CONTACTS
Regional Mission Director
William Frej
USAID/Central Asia
41 Kazibek bi St,
Almaty, Kazakhstan 050010
Tel: 7-327-250-79-12
James Bonner
Country Program Officer
USAID
3 Moyorqorghon St, 5th Block
Yunusobod District
Tashkent, Uzbekistan 700093
Tel: 998-71-120-63-09
Bob Wallin
Central Asia Team Leader
Tel: 202-712-0141
Email: bowallin@usaid.gov
Children like Jasur Tursunaliev, who has cerebral palsy, are routinely turned away by Uzbek schools which are not equipped to provide for special needs. Fortunately for Jasur, his local Community Education Committee, established through a USAID education program, was ready to help. Jasur was connected to other students who taught him to read and write, and the committee successfully lobbied for his school admission. A wheelchair from USAID helped the new student get around with confidence.
"I dream that my son will find his place in life and become a worthy man," says Jasur's mother, who holds great hopes for her son's future.
Overview
Uzbekistan's large population, strategic location north of Afghanistan, and extensive natural resources (which include gold, uranium, natural gas, and agricultural land) make it a potential force for economic growth and stability in Central Asia. Uzbekistan is also the only Central Asian country that shares borders with all other Central Asian nations, as well as Afghanistan. Development of an independent, stable, prosperous, and democratic Central Asia is vital, and Uzbekistan, as the most populous country and the geographic and strategic center of Central Asia, plays a pivotal role in the region. The Government of Uzbekistan has moved warily toward a market system and has made progress controlling inflation and budget deficits, but structural reforms are still needed. The USAID program in Uzbekistan supports economic reforms, public health, agriculture, and civil society.
Programs
Economic Growth: Supporting Agribusiness Development
Over the past 15 years, USAID has helped strengthen the country’s central bank, create a network of credit unions for financing of small entrepreneurs, and establish private sector structures. Due to U.S. assistance, over 300 small enterprises increased their productivity and sales by 60 percent on average, while 140,000 rural residents of northwestern Uzbekistan now receive potable water in their homes. Currently, USAID assistance focuses on increasing incomes for farmers by helping agricultural products reach their markets and improving storage, transportation, and packaging of agricultural goods. Farmers also receive support to manage irrigation networks in the central regions of Bukhara and Djizak, the eastern region of Namangan, and the southern region of Samarkand. Data from 2006 and 2007 indicate that these farmers have increased their profits by 36 percent on average.
Investing in People: Improving Access to Quality, Primary Health Care
USAID's technical assistance helps the nationwide roll-out of activities related to high-quality primary health care, evidence-based medicine, and per capita financing. The per capita provider payment system now finances nearly 93 percent of rural primary health care facilities across all 13 oblasts. This year, the reform should be extended to 220 remaining rural facilities. Programs train health providers on facility supervision, clinical protocols, antenatal care, delivery management, and integrated management of childhood illnesses. USAID also supports health promotion at the community level. Eighteen hospitals (about 10 percent of all maternity hospitals and maternity units within larger hospitals) across the country have been certified as baby friendly, and nearly 400,000 women have improved their child care and health practices.
USAID assists with implementation of the Directly Observed Treatment Short-course (DOTS) strategy for tuberculosis (TB) control, including electronic surveillance activities and improvement of TB laboratory capacities. The current treatment success rate in the country is 73 percent, close to the regional average of 75 percent. USAID supports the Government of Uzbekistan in implementing a grant from the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, and Malaria and trains health professionals in counseling, testing, and HIV/AIDS treatment. Officials are trained on the utilization of HIV surveillance data for programmatic and policy decision making. Support for a "youth power center" network aims to prevent drug use by vulnerable young people. Through 2007, the network has taught 76,000 youth about the harmful effects of drug use and HIV/AIDS; the model is being replicated by other donors. USAID also supports the Government of Uzbekistan’s efforts to combat avian influenza.
Governing Justly and Democratically: Promoting a More Active Citizenry
USAID's programmatic portfolio includes a three-year project to improve local capacity through citizen education and NGO strengthening. Since its inception in 2007, the project has enhanced the ability of NGO leaders to engage with the media on critical civic issues, brought together political groups to improve communication with constituents, and worked with organizations addressing women's issues and the rights of the disabled. USAID also assists human rights supporters by helping build regional response teams to document and report on progress on human rights issues. Through information campaigns, hotlines, services for trafficking victims, and capacity development assistance to local organizations working in this field, USAID helps to prevent trafficking and to protect those who become victims. To promote housing reforms, USAID strengthens capacities of regional housing associations, promotes market services in the housing sector, and helps amend legislation governing the housing sector.
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