29 June 2021, Tashkent region – A round table in National Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems (AKIS) Center marked the completion of the project on “Strengthening national capacities in Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  implementation and monitoring” implemented by FAO and the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan. It was attended by FAO experts, national stakeholders and representatives of non-governmental organizations.

     Uzbekistan like other countries has confirmed its commitment to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and has accepted the requirements for achieving the SDGs at the national level. National Goals and Objectives on sustainable development for the period up to 2030 and a road map of actions for their achievement were approved via a resolution of the Cabinet of Ministers dated October 20, 2018. Implementation of the SDGs in Uzbekistan is fully consistent with large-scale reforms within the framework of the “National Action Strategy for Five Priority Development Areas in 2017-2021”. The SDGs are introduced in national and regional development strategies and programs, including the Concept of Social and Economic Development of Uzbekistan until 2030.

     The FAO project on strengthening national capacities in SDG implementation and monitoring was aimed at strengthening the capacities of the Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Statistics and other relevant stakeholders to implement SDGs efficiently, covering accessible, quality and timely data collection at the country level.

     «Implementation of this project contributed to the accelerated SDG achievement building on the key role of the food and agricultural sector in the 2030 Agenda. FAO contributed to capacity development at national partner institutions being Ministry of Agriculture of Uzbekistan, the State Committee of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Statistics and other relevant institutions in integrating SDGs into sectoral development policy frameworks, programmes and budget and in SDG reporting. National capacities in SDG indicators monitoring and reporting were strengthened as well», – said Sherzod Umarov, Assistant FAO Representative in Uzbekistan.

     Participants of the round table discussed issues related to the government’s role in ensuring food security and achieving the SDGs, gender aspects as well as issues of involving farmers and dehkans in the implementation of the Agriculture Development Strategy and Food Security Program in Uzbekistan along with the contribution of private companies.