USAID will allocate $14.4 million for projects in several areas in Uzbekistan

The US Agency for International Development (USAID) will provide several new grants to Uzbekistan, Spot reports, citing the American Embassy in Tashkent.

The funding packages became known in connection with the visit of the head of the agency, Samantha Power, to Tashkent. The money will be used to develop the economy, improve healthcare and government administration.

Thus, $3.5 million will be allocated to support certain economic sectors, in particular tourism, IT and the “green” economy. As part of the project, local companies will also be helped to implement technologies to participate in e-commerce.

The program should help create jobs, attract capital and open export markets for small and medium-sized businesses. With a special focus on inclusion, USAID will remove barriers to the participation of women and persons with disabilities in entrepreneurship.

The agency will allocate another $3.5 million to the local government support program. Within its framework, it is planned to involve government agencies, the private sector and civil society in increasing the responsibility and efficiency of district, city, and regional khokimiyats.

The initiative is designed to improve the transparency of local budgets, improve the skills of officials and provide citizens with opportunities to monitor and evaluate their work. USAID will also support the development of legislation aimed at administrative decentralization.

In addition, $4 million will be allocated to improve systems to combat epidemics, based on the experience of COVID-19. This includes updating laboratories, increasing anti-epidemic preparedness and ensuring work with the population.

USAID will also launch the TB Free Uzbekistan program to combat tuberculosis for $3.2 million. Along with prevention, diagnosis and treatment, work will be done to destigmatize patients and improve healthcare financing.