Bishkek, 23 May 2024 – The Central Asian Women Leaders’ Caucus Meeting successfully concluded today. The event, centred on "The role of women in the economies of Central Asia: leadership for promoting digital, social, and environmental innovation,” brought together women leaders from across the region to strategize and commit to enhancing women’s roles in these critical sectors.

The Regional Women Leaders’ Caucus was established in December 2020 by UNDP, UN Regional Center for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia (UNRCCA), UN Women with the aim to support women in the region in attaining more prominent political, economic, and social roles, thereby enabling them to increasingly influence decision-making processes on issues related to peace, stability, a sustainable development and regional cooperation.

The current event is organized  in partnership with the Jogorku Kenesh of the Kyrgyz Republic, Administration of the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Cabinet of Ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic, with support from UNDP, UNRCCA and UN Women in Kyrgyzstan. Chairs and Deputy Chairs of the Central Asian Parliaments participated in the Caucus: Meeting Ms. Dzhamilia Isaeva, Vice Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh, Ms. Tanzila Narbaeva, Chair of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan, Ms. Daniya Yespayeva, Deputy Chair of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of Kazakhstanб Ms. Bahar Seyidova, Chair of the Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Policy of Turkmenistan, Ms. Firuza Nurullozoda, First Deputy Chair of the Committee on Women and Family Affairs, Tajikistan.

The event marked the official start of Kyrgyzstan’s chairmanship in the Central Asian Women Leaders' Caucus   for 2024. The country has committed to leading efforts to enhance gender equality and support women's economic empowerment throughout the region.

Ms.Dzhamilia Isaeva, Vice Speaker of the Jogorku Kenesh noted that women play a key role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “In the era of global digitalization and the fight against climate change, it is necessary to promote the participation of women in the main industries. Women are not only the most vulnerable to climate change, but also important stakeholders in achieving national climate goals. Ensuring gender equality and empowering all women and girls is not only a matter of justice, but also of economic prosperity,” noted Jamilya Isaeva."

The Caucus was marked by vibrant discussions and strategic planning sessions attended by parliamentarians, government officials, representatives from international and non-governmental organizations, business leaders, and experts from Central Asian countries, such as Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The participants underscored the importance of women's leadership in driving economic innovation and sustainability in the region.

Alexandra Solovieva, UNDP Resident Representative highlighted in her opening speech: "The Central Asian Women Leaders Caucus has set a new benchmark for regional cooperation in gender equality. By empowering women in digital, social, and environmental sectors, we are unlocking vast potential for sustainable development and economic growth."

The Chair of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Tanzila Narbaeva, noted in her speech that without increasing the level of education, good results cannot be achieved, therefore, special attention must be paid to women’s education. She emphasized that in Uzbekistan, women have the opportunity to study in master’s programs at the expense of the state, and measures are being taken to increase the economic activity of women. “As a result of systemic measures, the number of women entrepreneurs has doubled, today 40% of entrepreneurs are women,” noted Tanzila Narbaeva, adding that in Uzbekistan, 100 million US dollars have been allocated to support women in business. She also noted that Uzbekistan is implementing reforms in the areas of ensuring gender equality, combating domestic violence, and criminalizing domestic violence, since without solving this problem, it is impossible to talk about women’s opportunities.

The event produced a comprehensive set of policy recommendations. These recommendations will be presented to senior political leaders in Central Asia, advocating for measures to promote regional cooperation and support for women's initiatives in the digital, creative, and green economies. 

Deputy Chair of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan Daniya Yespayeva emphasized that Kazakhstan has taken systematic measures to support women’s economic activity. “Today women are learning new skills as new forms of economic activity emerge. It is worth emphasizing that women do not lag behind the demands of the time in new trends,” stressed Daniya Yespaeva, adding that 19 centers to support women’s entrepreneurship have been opened in Kazakhstan.

Chair of the Committee on Science, Education, Culture and Youth Policy of the Mejlis of Turkmenistan Bahar Seyidova indicated that an atmosphere of trust and multifaceted cooperation has been created within the framework of the Dialogue. She drew attention to ensuring gender equality, noting that this issue is one of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals. “It is important to note that women are actively participating in economic activities, including efforts are being made to increase the potential of women,” added Bahar Seyidova.

First Deputy Chair of the Committee on Women and Family Affairs under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan Firuza Nurullozoda took part via video conferencing. In her speech, she noted that women play an important role in the economic development of Central Asian countries. “In Tajikistan there are many opportunities to increase the activity and self-development of women. Innovation and digital technologies have an impact on the lives of women, because women play an important role in the fields of science, education and trade,” she noted, adding that a conference for women and girls in science has been held in Tajikistan since 2014.

Recommendations were developed for government bodies and non-governmental institutions to implement specific tools supporting women entrepreneurs and innovators. This includes the potential creation of a Central Asian Fund for Women's Initiatives.

The Caucus successfully informed a broad range of women leaders and innovative entrepreneurs about ongoing and upcoming initiatives, networks, and platforms. This outreach encourages further participation and the formation of new collaborative projects.

The Caucus featured three thematic plenary sessions focusing on critical areas of innovation: Green Economy session moderated by Mrs. Dinara Ashimova explored the role of women in 

promoting social and environmental innovation. Speakers highlighted women's contributions to sustainable practices and green technologies amid climate change challenges.

Creative Economy led by Mrs. Aisulu Mamashova delved into strategies for supporting women innovators and artisans in the creative industries. Discussions centered on creating supportive environments and innovative approaches to local development through creative clusters and laboratories.

Digital Economy session moderated by Ms. Leila Lurova focused on enhancing women's participation in digital solutions. Key topics included digital transformation, e-commerce, financial technologies, and leveraging digital tools to address environmental issues.

The Caucus Action Plan for 2024 was approved, highlighting key priorities and strategies. This includes preparations for EXPO 2024, focusing on women entrepreneurs promoting innovations to accelerate socio-economic development in the Central Asian region.

ABOUT CENTRAL ASIAN WOMEN LEADERS’ CAUCUS

Since its establishment in December 2020, the Central Asian Women Leaders’ Caucus has been chaired by a series of distinguished leaders from the region. Each chairmanship has played a pivotal role in advancing the Caucus's mission to enhance women's political, economic, and social roles and influence decision-making processes. 

In 2021, the inaugural chair was led by Uzbekistan, where significant strides were made in fostering regional collaboration and integrating gender perspectives into national policies. In 2022, Kazakhstan took over the chairmanship, focusing on digital inclusion and supporting women entrepreneurs through innovative programs. Tajikistan's tenure in 2023 emphasized strengthening women's leadership in environmental sustainability and peacebuilding. Each chairmanship has built on the successes of its predecessors, contributing to the overall mission of the Caucus, and driving forward regional gender equality initiatives.

About UNDP:

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the United Nations' global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience, and resources to help people build a better life.

Contact Information: Ainagul Abdrakhmanova, UNDP Communications Officer at Ainagul.abdrakhmanova@undp.org