Several bilateral information sessions dedicated to the SOCIEUX+ Facility were held in Tashkent and Samarkand to introduce the possibility of cooperation on social protection and employment policies in the framework of EU technical assistance. The sessions were attended by a number of potential national partners from the central and local levels including line ministries, government implementing agencies, research entities, and the local branches of a few international organizations.

Key information about the SOCIEUX+ Facility, its modalities of intervention, the formation of tailor-made actions and principles of cooperation with partner institutions were presented by Marzena Breza, Development and Technical Advisor for Social Protection at SOCIEUX+.

Participants expressed their interest in different sectors of support, especially for persons with disabilities, social services, family policies, and labour market challenges.

Since Uzbekistan is currently developing a benefits system with a focus on maternity and disability issues, the sharing of EU expertise on social protection will initially focus on support to persons with disabilities and family policy instruments.

The EU Delegation will continue following up on the results of the mission in order to strengthen dialogue with national partners mandated to work on social protection, labour and employment in Uzbekistan.

About SOCIEUX+

SOCIEUX+ EU Expertise on Social Protection, Labour and Employment is a facility for technical cooperation between public and social partners, established and co-funded by the European Union, France, Belgium, and Spain.

Based on the peer exchange model, SOCIEUX+ shares knowledge and experiences through short-term missions and activities. Since its inception in 2013, SOCIEUX+ has implemented more than 350 activities in 56 countries, with over 11,000 days of cooperation activities.

SOCIEUX+ is implemented by a partnership led by Expertise France, BELINCOSOC (Belgian International Cooperation on Social Protection), the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Administration and Public Policies (FIIAPP), and the Belgian Development Agency (Enabel).

More information: www.socieux.eu