TASHKENT,Uzbekistan. August 30/Mekhrangiz Nazarillaeva/ – The 9th Annual Meeting of the Multidimensional Poverty Peer Network (MPPN) held in Tashkent, drawing global leaders, policymakers, and experts from 63 countries and over 20 international organizations to discuss key issues in the fight against poverty.
Hosted by the Center for Economic Research and Reforms (CERR) and the Agency for Mahallabay Work and Entrepreneurship Development, with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Uzbekistan and the Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative (OPHI), the three-day forum serves as a platform for exchanging insights on national experiences and international best practices in poverty alleviation.
Uzbekistan’s selection as the host country highlights the international community’s recognition of its ongoing reforms aimed at better understanding and addressing multidimensional poverty. The event underscores Uzbekistan’s commitment to improving living conditions and expanding access to education and healthcare, with $2.5 billion invested in enhancing public infrastructure.
Ravshan Gulyamov, Advisor to the President of Uzbekistan on Economic Development, delivered President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s address to the forum participants, emphasizing the country’s focus on social protection and poverty reduction. Over the past three years, Uzbekistan has seen significant improvements in living standards, with a reduction in the poverty rate from 17% to 11%.
Key figures addressing the forum include Mansurbek Olloyorov, Director of the National Agency for Social Protection, Sabina Alkire, Director of OPHI, and Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, among others. They highlighted the importance of multidimensional poverty measures and the need for regional cooperation to tackle poverty from multiple angles.
Throughout the forum, participants engaged in discussions on the use of the Multidimensional Poverty Index in national programs, innovations in poverty measurement, and strategies for enhancing regional cooperation. The event marks a significant step toward achieving the Sustainable Development Goals and reinforces Uzbekistan’s commitment to international standards in the fight against poverty.
