Today, an event dedicated to gender equality was held. Representatives of the Forestry Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Green Project Design Institute and a number of other organizations participated in the event.

Gender equality is one of the key areas of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and is a key factor in achieving inclusive and sustainable growth. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been assisting member states in developing policies and practical measures to ensure gender equality.

In Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, the Forestry Agency and the Green Project Design Institute are implementing the project “Sustainable Management of Forests and Pastures in Drought-Prone Ecosystems in Uzbekistan” in cooperation with FAO. Within the framework of the project, a gender approach strategy was developed based on the principle of “No One Should Be Left Behind”.

Currently, 2,484 women work in the Forestry Agency system, which makes up 27 percent of the total number of employees.

The following main areas of ensuring gender equality were discussed at the event:

• Creating equal opportunities for women and men;

• Increasing the participation of women in sustainable management of agricultural resources;

• Removing barriers that lead to gender inequality;

• Ensuring equal access to resources, financing and education.

Also, within the framework of the project, activities are being implemented to strengthen land tenure rights in pastures, achieve land degradation neutrality (LDN), and introduce modern methods of pasture management.

Ensuring gender equality is important for the development of agriculture and sustainable socio-economic growth in Uzbekistan. This project creates a platform to promote positive change in society by empowering women.