Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The Integrated Rural Development project (Phase II) has been launched on October 17, 2024. The project is implemented by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan with participance of the Islamic Development Bank and in cooperation with UNDP.

“Through our joint effort in advancing sustainable rural development in Uzbekistan we have made remarkable progress in empowering rural communities, enhancing infrastructure and addressing critical needs in areas such as education, healthcare, and basic services. Our main aim is to improve the life quality of rural people”, - Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan stressed in her welcoming remarks.

On March 28, 2024 a Presidential Decree was adopted to launch the second phase of the "Integrated Rural Development" project aimed at socio-economic improvement of life in remote areas of Uzbekistan. To accomplish the set tasks the Ministry of Economy and Finance with participance of the IsDB is launching the Integrated Rural Development Project (Phase II), which would cover 157 makhallas in 21 districts of Samarkand, Kashkadarya and Surkhandarya regions in 2024-2028. The project is worth $293.5 million.

“The Islamic Development Bank is glad to be entrusted by the Government of Uzbekistan to be a strategic partner in implementation of the Sustainable Rural Development project, and we hope to successfully continue this partnership with the Government of Uzbekistan and UNDP. In the first phase of the project we have completed the community development plan in the Aral Sea region, and now we are moving on to the construction of the rural infrastructure. It is gratifying that we are launching the second phase of the project with such results”, - said Wahyu Wijayanto, Operations Team Leader of the Islamic Development Bank Regional Hub in Almaty, Kazakstan.

The new project is aimed at improving the living standards of rural residents by improving road and transport infrastructure, engineering and communication networks, power supply systems, and application of resource-saving and environmentally friendly technologies in construction and renovation of social facilities such as kindergartens, secondary schools and rural clinics.

It is also planned to empower and strengthen the capacity of the local community of architects, engineers, local authorities and other stakeholders in designing and implementing community development plans using suitable green and energy efficient as well as digital solutions.

The project is expected to empower communities to identify their development priorities, needs, through community development planning which will serve as the basis for the implementation of construction and investment projects.

As noted during the opening event, the project will contribute to reducing rural poverty through inclusive and sustainable growth. As a result of the project, it is planned to improve the living conditions of more than 622 thousand people from rural areas.

For reference, the first phase of the project, operating since 2022 to this day, has the same objectives and covers construction and renovation of facilities of remote areas aimed to improve the quality of life of the rural population in 170 makhallas of 20 target districts of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Khorezm, Bukhara and Navoi regions, and the professional skills of the population. At the moment, with the active participation of the local population, 900 subprojects have been selected for further construction or renovation during 2024-2025.