Photo: Collected
The European Union will provide partner organizations with grants worth 3.5 million euros ($3.7 million) for projects to support civil society in Uzbekistan, the EU Delegation in the country said on Wednesday (3 April).
"The EU funding, granted to 8 initiatives with a total value exceeding EUR 3.5 million, underscores a shared commitment to fostering empowerment of civil society particularly women and marginalised groups in the country," the delegation said in a statement.
The delegation said that eight selected projects will be implemented in 2024-2026 by the EU's international partner organizations - AFEW International, DVV International, Saferworld and the International Women's Association in Malmo.
The projects include support to environmental protection in selected regions of Uzbekistan, empowerment of civil society organizations in water resources management, promotion of gender equality and empowerment of young women, and strengthening of civil society organizations in Samarkand, Namangan and Tashkent that work with women and youth.
The EU has been stepping up developing ties with Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan in recent years. The region is of interest to the EU due to its location and connections to Russia and China, as well as its energy resources and market potential.
In October 2023, the EU and Central Asian countries held their foreign ministers’ meeting, chaired by EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell, and agreed to hold the first EU-Central Asia Summit, which will take place in Uzbekistan in April.
Messenger/Mumu
