The Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan (MLSP) in cooperation with The Office of the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Turkmenistan and The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Safe Migration in Central Asia program, held a meeting on the 24th of June 2022 to discuss the strengthening of inter-sectoral support to vulnerable families and children.

The meeting was held within the framework of the Joint Program on “Improving the system of social protection through the introduction of inclusive quality community-based social services”, between Government of Turkmenistan and UN.

The aim of the meeting was to create a space to inform governmental and non-governmental service providers about the national progress to make transformative changes in the current system of social service delivery in Turkmenistan and establish collaboration among social work specialists and civil society organizations to further introduce specialized services and their expansion to other regions of the country where they are not currently available.

Along with the MLSP officials, the international experience on cooperation between state social service providers, and NGOs was presented by the SDG Fund Joint Programme Chief Technical Advisor Ms. Joanna Rodgers. Additionally, best practices of cooperation between social workforce and private sector was discussed by representatives of social businesses.

The meeting was co-organized by the USAID funded “Safe Migration in Central Asia Program” Program.

As international experts noted, “Governments need the Civil Society organizations (CSOs) and Organizations of people with disabilities (DPOs) at all levels in order to reach people who are the most excluded, vulnerable and in need of support. To give them voice, mobilize resources, and to ensure that a full range of social services are developing that can meet a range of needs and social challenges”.

During the seminar, international speakers and their Turkmen colleagues considered how to accelerate and expand activities to promote sustainable cooperation in the provision of social support. The participants deliberated on necessary national policies and their effective implementation; shared international and regional experience and practices; and provided examples of successful and innovative approaches to strengthening cooperation.

Each presentation was followed by questions and answers session.

ORIENT news