In the spotlight: child wellbeing

The Fund has formulated the International Programme “Children of Aral” in close cooperation with the government agencies and NGOs. The Programme is an essential of the National Plan of Actions for implementation of the Minimum Age Convention and the Convention concerning the Prohibition and Immediate Action for the Elimination of the Worst Forms of Child Labor ratified by Uzbekistan in 2008.  

“Children of Aral” is a strategic paper with an overall goal to enhance child wellbeing in the region suffering severe environmental crisis and related socio-economic challenges. The main feature of the Programme is a comprehensive approach to child wellbeing issues. Specific sectoral issues are considered in the context of their interconnection and influence, i.e. environmental security are indissoluble with economic sustainability, child education in raising by the family and community, healthcare cannot be improved separately from environmental situation in the region and family wellbeing, etc.. The Programme covers 2-3 years and to be continued by specific activities and investment projects.

The first phase of the Programme implementation is focused on formulation of the Regional Action Plans (RAPs) for the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Khorezm and Bukhara regions. RAP formulation is funded by UNICEF and implemented under close collaboration with the leading analytical institutions, government agencies, local governments and NGOs. The project activities include analysis of child wellbeing in the aforementioned regions and elaboration of a region-specific action plan for enhancement of the child wellbeing.

Within the framework of the Programme UNICEF also supports two projects, namely “Training device for lower extremities” and “Production of IFA test-systems”.

In addition to RAPs formulation in December the Fund will conduct a training “Education for Sustainable Development”. The event is arranged under close financial and technical support of UNESCO. The kea objective of the training is to improve knowledge and skills of teachers and education officials in the Aral Sea region on the issues of sustainable development and safe living to be further integrated into common curricula. The training is arranged for education officials (Ministry of Education of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, Education Units of Khorezm and Bukhara regions, Teachers’ Training Institutions, municipal departments of public education, general schools), representatives of the regional branches of the State Committee on Nature Protection and regional khokimiyats.