Held at Tashkent’s Youth Art Palace, the event came as a platform for NGOs, international organizations, governmental agencies and participants of SISF projects to discuss current problems, determine prospects for further action and sum up the results of activities in social areas.

The forum included sections that focused on the SISF’s key projects, which resulted in the adoption of resolutions and proposals. One upshot of the social forum is a draft appeal to the senators and deputies of the Oliy Majlis (Uzbek Parliament) with recommendations on the facilitation of access for low-income citizens to microfinance resources.

The event also included a presentation and exhibition focusing on the SISF’s and Fund Forum’s social projects as a practical model of interaction of society, business and NGOs in addressing social issues; a presentation of the SISF-UN joint programme ‘Sustаining Livеlihооds Аffесtеd bу thе Аrаl Sеа Disаstеr’.

During the sections, experts, heads of various establishments and organizations, participants and grantees of SISF projects discussed the results of activities carried out, did presentations and mapped out plans for further action. Each of the 7 sections was dedicated to SISF projects: ‘Healthy Mother – Healthy Child’, ‘Healthy Youth’, ‘Inclusive Education in Uzbekistan’, ‘School Milk’, ‘Manager’, ‘Support of Female farmers and Entrepreneurs’, ‘Alternative Energy Sources’, Providing Equipment for Medical Facilities’, and the ‘Grant Program for the Support of Social Projects of Regional NGOs in Uzbekistan’.

The social forum came as an open discussion of current problems in the implementation of projects and in the situation at large in the social sphere. More specifically, it was noted that inadequate access for the low-income segment of the population to microfinance resources may impede a successful implementation of entrepreneurs’ projects in Uzbek regions. Those gathered also spoke about the draft law “On Private Banking and Financial Institutions and Guarantees of Their Activities” currently under discussion at the Senate of the Oliy Majlis. The law contains an article that states that public foundations and NGOs cannot establish and participate in private banking and financial institutions, a condition that forum participants opined will lead to the closure of the operating socially oriented microcredit organizations and will soon result in an absence of the legal field for the creation of similar financial institutions that would provide financial education and financial services for small entrepreneurs doing business on credits that do not exceed 5-6 minimal salaries.

One notable upshot of the event was a drafting of an appeal from the social forum participants with a request to revise the draft law with an eye to creating a legal base conducive to the development of socially oriented microfinance organizations, small entrepreneurship and family business and also to the financial sustainability of public foundation and NGOs.

Facilitation of access to microloans for private entrepreneurs and small businesses helps to increase the number of jobs for the populations. The problem of unemployment is particularly acute remote areas in Uzbekistan. Therefore, the bulk of the projects discussed at the social forum were dedicated to the support of entrepreneurs and farmers in small towns and villages. Another problem that drew attention at the event is that the population is not well aware of the projects to support small business. This is why the bulk of proposals that cane during the sectional works sought to organize training sessions for budding entrepreneurs.

It was also noted that while working on projects and programs under discussion, those in charge and the participants should be aware of possible problems and challenges that may arise and should take into account financial means, opportunities available and several other aspects. As practice has shown, oftentimes difficulties and flaws occur because there tends to be discrepancy between the project “on paper” and what it is in reality. And that’s what can be said of the situation with projects to introduce alternative energy sources.

Installing and servicing this kind of equipment requires a great deal of finances that regional entrepreneurs and low-budget organizations sometimes cannot make available. This, in turn, brings about the need to send a message to investors and the population that these projects will be beneficial both to the economy and will contribute to the betterment of the environment in a particular region and to the improvement of living standards for the local population as a whole.

In response to a proposal from Oliy Majlis deputies, the participants noted that the creation of conditions for investment to the infrastructure of alternative energy sources should not be merely an item in a program, but a full project calling for big investment and resources, involvement by members of ministries and agencies, guarantees for investors and efforts to raise population awareness of the prospects and advantages of using alternative energy sources.

It was also noted that many social projects lack feedback. An example of an effective feedback mechanism is the activities of the Forum of Socially Responsible Citizens of Uzbekistan which operates information centers that citizens across the country may apply to.

Toward the end of the social forum, the participants mapped out plans for further action, based on proposals and feedback voiced. The goal of the social forum was not only to shed light on the successes in particular projects but rather to draw attention to the existing problems and seek ways of addressing them. It is this format of discussion and meetings that is seen as successful and capable of contributing to societal development.

Also, representatives of Mahalla Foundation, the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan, representatives of Petronas in Uzbekistan, the Senate and the Chairperson of the Fund Forum’s Board of Trustees, Gulnara Karimova, handed 10 certificates for the installation of alternative energy sources, 10 certificates for medical equipment and computers in rural medical posts in Karakalpakstan and Surkhandarya Region; 22 certificates to NGOs that emerged as winners of ‘The Grant Program for the Support of Social Projects of Regional NGOs in Uzbekistan’; and 14 diplomas to the winners of the contest “Modern Rural Woman”; a certificate for computers for School No 6 in Surkhandarya Region and a certificate for the installation of alternative energy sources at the Central Hospital in Muynoq District in Karakalpakstan.

The social forum was organized by The Social Initiatives Support Fund (SISF), Fund Forum, ‘Kelajak Ovozi’ Youth Initiative Centre, the Parliamentary Commission for the Management of Funds of the Public Foundation to Support NGOs and Other Civil Society Institutions, the Federation of Trade Unions of Uzbekistan, the Ministries of Economy; Higher and Secondary Special Education; Public Education; Public Health; and Labour and Social Protection of Uzbekistan, Mahalla Foundation, UNDP, UNESCO, WHO, UNFPA, and Y-PEER Youth Movement. The attendees included representatives of target groups of social projects overseen by the SISF and Fund Forum; NGOs, business entities, ministries and agencies, international organizations, diplomatic missions, the Senate and the Legislative Chamber of the Uzbek parliament.

Prior to the social forum, the Youth Art Palace hosted a youth campaign, ‘We Are For a Healthy Lifestyle’, organized The Social Initiatives Support Fund (SISF), Fund Forum, ‘Kelajak Ovozi’ Youth Initiative Centre, UNFPA, Global Fund/UNDP, with support from the Ministries of Public Health; Public Education; and Higher and Secondary Special Education of Uzbekistan, the Embassy of France of Uzbekistan, Simple Networking Solutions, Muloqot.uz social network, UCELL, and Tashkent Mayor’s Office.

The youth event was attended by over 700 people, among them members of Kelajak Ovozi YIC, college, institute and university students, ninth-graders, Uzbek NGOs, representatives of international organizations and ministries, and people living with HIV (PLHIV). Those gathered had the opportunity to learn about the activities of organizations working to prevent HIV/AIDS, view theatralised skits, watch a video on the subject and view works submitted to the youth contest ‘We Are For a Healthy Lifestyle’. Many of the works sought to help foster in the youth tolerant attitudes to PLHIV and remind everyone of their responsibility for their own health and the health of loved ones.

The contest had drawn 150 entries, with 18 applicants being honored with prizes and awards at the youth event, which came as a concluding event. Over 5,000 boys and girls have participated in training sessions, interactive competitions, quizzes and events held throughout the year across the Republic as part of the Healthy Youth Project.