Women’s Economic Empowerment in Uzbekistan Joint Programme

The Women’s Economic Empowerment in Uzbekistan Joint Programme addresses structural barriers that limit women’s participation in economic life, including restrictive gender norms, unequal care responsibilities, and limited access to jobs, skills, and reproductive health services.

This 3-year initiative (2026–2028), with a budget of EUR 4.9 million and funded by the European Union, brings together UNFPA, UN Women, and UNICEF to advance inclusive economic growth nationwide, with targeted community engagement in Surkhandarya and Fergana regions.

The programme focuses on three interconnected priorities: expanding women’s access to decent work and entrepreneurship through skills and private-sector partnerships; transforming harmful social norms by engaging communities, religious leaders, and families; and strengthening access to rights-based reproductive health and family planning services.

By linking economic opportunity, social norm change, and reproductive health, the programme supports women— including women with disabilities— to exercise choice, balance work and family life, and fully contribute to Uzbekistan’s economic development.