Financed by the Public Fundation under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Support Civil Society Institutions. The social order was implemented by the "SABR" National Center for Socio-Economic Development (NCSED) in cooperation with the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment of the Republic of Uzbekistan and partners in the Republic of Karakalpakstan ("Orol Oltin Merosi"), Andijan (Andijan branch of NCSED "SABR"), Bukhara (regional division of "Tadbirkor Ayol"), and Samarkand regions.
Project Objectives:
1. To further improve cooperation between state and non-governmental organizations aimed at increasing the social activity of the low-income population and reducing unemployment among them in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and the Andijan, Bukhara, and Samarkand regions.
2. To issue certificates confirming professional skills to 2,200 unemployed citizens (480 in the Republic of Karakalpakstan and 1,720 in the Andijan, Bukhara, and Samarkand regions); to create new jobs for at least 1,000 of them by providing subsidies, grants, and preferential microloans.
3. To provide ongoing assistance to graduates of Local Development Centers (LDC) and Rural Information Resource Centers (RIRC) who have started their own businesses through "Active People's Clubs" by providing business development consultations and mentoring. To strengthen the cooperation between NGOs and state organizations in the high-level implementation of social projects that help solve employment, lifestyle, and social problems of low-income families in the regions.
4. To establish a PUBLIC MONITORING GROUP in each region consisting of mahalla activists, district khokimiyats, women's committees, the youth agency, regional divisions Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment, the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and media representatives to determine the effectiveness of Local Development Centers (LDC) and Rural Information Resource Centers (RIRC) activities (modules prepared by training areas, training programs, teacher qualifications, and other short-term courses), conduct monitoring, and present the results to relevant state and non-governmental organizations and mahalla residents, as well as providing extensive coverage on social networks.
5. To create an electronic database of 2,200 graduates who acquired professional skills within the social project and identify those who are employed or self-employed.
Project Tasks:
1. To prepare equipped training rooms in Local Development Centers (LDC) and Rural Information Resource Centers (RIRC) in the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and the Andijan, Bukhara, and Samarkand regions in cooperation with the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment, the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and local government authorities.
2. To organize short-term (2-month) training courses in 20 high-demand vocational directions in LDCs and RIRCs within the Republic of Karakalpakstan, and the Andijan, Bukhara, and Samarkand regions.
3. To select and train masters for each training course based on the "Ustoz-shogird" (Master-Apprentice) tradition.
4. To provide practical assistance to LDC and RIRC graduates in obtaining certificates and securing preferential credit funds, subsidies, and grants to start their own businesses and create new jobs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment, the National Agency for Social Protection, regional banks, assistants to the khokims, and active women entrepreneurs.
5. To include those who have acquired professional skills and opened their own businesses in a unified electronic database and state register.
6. To prepare modules and programs for all vocational directions.
7. To widely promote the activities carried out under the social order on social networks and in the media.
8. To develop and approve the REGULATIONS of the PUBLIC MONITORING GROUP established to monitor the effectiveness of LDCs and RIRCs.
9. To widely promote the activities carried out in each region on social networks and in the media.
Results Achieved:
· According to the plan of measures (actions) set to achieve project goals and results, a total of 2,326 participants were involved in short-term vocational courses during the reporting period, including:
o Andijan region – 480 people,
o Bukhara region – 515 people,
o Republic of Karakalpakstan – 550 people,
o Samarkand region – 761 people (NCSED "SABR" share),
o Syrdarya region – 20 people (NCSED "SABR" share).
· Along with teaching professional skills, 35-hour training sessions were launched on the basics of business, entrepreneurship, financial and legal literacy, taxation, and accounting principles, aimed at increasing students' self-confidence to start their own businesses in the future.
· In the Republic of Karakalpakstan, a designer-consultant conducted "Master Classes" for training groups, holding discussions on increasing professional excellence, creating marketable products harmonizing modern and Karakalpak national designs, and decorating national interiors.
· In the Bukhara region, a business consultant provided 183 women with consultations on registration for starting a business, choosing a form of entrepreneurship, managing a private or family enterprise, taxes and benefits related to self-employment, organizing home-based businesses (beauty salons, confectionery), marketing products, obtaining loans and subsidies, and expanding business activities by acquiring additional equipment on preferential terms.
· Active People's Clubs were organized in each region, consisting of representatives of state organizations, active citizens, experienced craftsmen, NGO representatives, mahalla activists, and experienced entrepreneurs. Club members provided constant assistance, advice, and mentoring to LDC and RIRC graduates starting their own businesses. These clubs helped strengthen the partnership between NGOs and state organizations in solving the social problems and employment issues of low-income families.
· The "Karakalpak National Handicraft" Festival was held at the "Ishga Marhamat" Monocenter in Nukus city, Republic of Karakalpakstan. More than 120 participants attended (local craftsmen, masters of various applied arts, LDC students, officials, and other invited guests).
· Additional mobile training courses were organized in the "Ak-Zhagys," "Zholshylar," and "Naubakhar" mahallas of Nukus city, Republic of Karakalpakstan, based on their initiative.
· With the support of the Active People's Clubs, graduates who learned a trade were provided with assistance in starting their business activities and advice on improving the quality of their handmade products.
· Due to the increased demand for sewing and handicraft courses in Nukus mahallas, additional mobile courses were organized with the selfless help of experienced craftswomen (mentors).
Information on the future careers of graduates of short-term courses:
Total number of employed graduates – 1,087 people, of which the number of those who started entrepreneurial activities – 869 people.
Breakdown:
· Self-employed: 560 people
· Organized as Individual Entrepreneurs (PFT/YaTT): 11 people
· Family entrepreneurship: 12 people
· Started work at home (unregistered entrepreneurs): 286 people
· Employed in various enterprises: 218 people
· Received subsidies: 108 people
· Of which, number of grants allocated by NCSED "SABR" (Samarkand region): 3 people
· Received loans: 43 people
During the project, 20 students from the "Mevazor" and "Ishonch" MFIs of the Gulistan district were trained in two directions (confectionery and sewing) at the Local Development Center of the Syrdarya branch of NCSED "SABR," funded by the income of "SABR Microfinance Organization" LLC.