The European Training Foundation (ETF) has been a partner of Turkmenistan since 1995, supporting efforts to modernise education and training systems. This cooperation is in line with the European Union's broader objectives of increasing employability, promoting access to opportunities and fostering social cohesion in Central Asia. The ETF complements the work of the European Commission and the EU External Action Service by sharing expertise and good practices from across Europe.

In 2022, the EU launched DARYA (Dialogue and Action for Resourceful Youth in Central Asia), its first-ever regional initiative supporting youth in Central Asia, implemented by the ETF. This five-year €10 million programme (2022-2027) aims to strengthen inclusion and labour market skills in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Halbibi Tachjanova, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Turkmenistan, underlined the importance of the initiative: "For Turkmenistan, the chance to create opportunities for young people is really important and also meets the needs of employers. DARYA takes into account the demographic growth of our country".

Katarína Lukáčová, human capital development expert and ETF country liaison for Turkmenistan, highlighted the country's active involvement in DARYA. "Turkmenistan is deeply committed to DARYA programme, implementing its activities. This includes integrating the EU's SCAFFOLD tool into its national system. The country is also interested in adopting evidence-based methods and innovative approaches to qualifications," said Lukáčová. "The cooperation with the key Ministries has been excellent and reflects a strong mutual commitment".

Last September, the ETF carried out a mission to its capital Ashgabat to deepen cooperation and take forward the DARYA initiatives. The delegation, led by Lukáčová and Georgios Zisimos, Head of Policy Advice Unit, focused on youth employability and skills development, as well as joint perspectives for cooperation with other international organisations.

Zisimos and Lukáčová met with senior officials from several ministries, including the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as representatives from organisations such as the State Committee of Statistics, Chamber of Commerce and the Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs. A joint meeting on education, skills and employment initiatives, co-hosted with the EU Delegation, brought together key stakeholders including UNICEF, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Zisimos noted: “These meetings highlighted Turkmenistan's priority for education, youth and employment, and its commitment to the DARYA project as a vehicle for progress. Developments in labour market skills, qualifications and teaching methods are already being integrated into the national plan. This cooperation not only supports EU priorities, but also promotes long-term regional stability and prosperity".

Recent visits by high-level EU officials to Turkmenistan underline the strengthening partnership between the European Union and Turkmenistan.

On 3 October, Jutta Urpilainen, European Commissioner for International Partnerships, visited Turkmenistan to highlight the country's role in the EU's Global Gateway strategy. During her visit, she said: "For the European Union, Turkmenistan is an important partner in Central Asia. As we celebrate 30 years of diplomatic relations, I would like to thank Turkmenistan for its constructive cooperation and for hosting today's high-level meeting of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor Coordination Platform. My visit to Ashgabat was a great opportunity to discuss a wide range of areas of cooperation with the Turkmen government - in addition to connectivity and transport, climate change and energy, as well as the process of Turkmenistan's accession to the World Trade Organisation, were also prominent topics".

Similarly, on 4 October, Terhi Hakala, EU Special Representative for Central Asia, underlined during her visit the EU's long-term commitment to the region through the Coordination Platform of the Trans-Caspian Transport Corridor: "The European Union's participation in it underlines our commitment to strengthening regional integration and prosperity in Central Asia and the Caspian region”.

As the ETF continues to implement DARYA, cooperation with Turkmenistan grows stronger. Lukáčová highlighted this growing partnership: "The integration of EU tools such as SCAFFOLD into Turkmenistan's national system and active participation in DARYA activities demonstrates the country's commitment to improving the skills and employability of young people. The ETF has also recently participated in national training event on SCAFFOLD".

The engagement is in line with the EU's broader objectives of promoting inclusive development, creating opportunities for youth and fostering regional cooperation among the five Central Asian countries, and ultimately the EU.

"Turkmen authorities have shown a strong willingness to cooperate bilaterally, and the ETF can serve as a bridge to the EU through education and skills development initiatives. This partnership holds significant promise, not only for Turkmenistan but also for the youth across the region” Lukáčová concluded.