UNICEF and Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family launched trainings for mahalla representatives

The United Nations Children’s Fund in partnership with the Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the Republican Center for the Social Adaptation of Children conducted training  sessions for staff from the social services department of the Hokimiyat, representatives from the Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family of the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as for other social service workers, whose role includes supporting families with children.

The training sessions were conducted within the framework of the UN Joint Program on Strengthening Social Protection in Uzbekistan. The program aims to support the Uzbek government in developing a national social protection strategy, an effective mechanism for interagency interaction and social protection, as well as improving social protection for people with disabilities.

“Management and mahalla workers who have acquired knowledge and skills in the provision of social services according to case management standards, will be able to provide qualified assistance to vulnerable families, especially families with children, to overcome difficult life situations caused by poverty, unemployment, disability, the consequences of labour migration and domestic violence. During the training sessions, staff members learned the toolkit for case management, and had the opportunity to apply their learning in practice in assessing families and developing plans for their withdrawal from a difficult life situation in two pilot regions,” said Tulinoy Kadirova, Chief Specialist of the Department for Strengthening Family Values of the Ministry for Support of Family and Mahalla.

The training sessions were designed to familiarize social services sector managers and the chairmen of mahallas in the pilot districts with the goals and objectives of the project, the concept of providing social services based on case management standards, and effective methods and approaches in social services. During the training sessions, managers discussed their roles in the provision of social work, and the importance of supporting and developing social work skills among professionals working directly with families. Moreover, the training sessions familiarized the administrations of districts and mahalla with the project opportunities its approach and expected results.

In June this year, the Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family of the Republic of Uzbekistan, together with UNICEF, launched a pilot project to provide integrated social services based on case management principles. The project began with a 9-day training course for specialists from the mahalla committees of the Almazar district of Tashkent city and Angren city of the Tashkent region, whose responsibilities include social work with families. The training sessions aimed at educating and supporting social work professionals working with the most vulnerable groups of the population, such as people with low incomes, people with disabilities, families with children and women. Participants acquired skills in preventative work and direct services to support families and children, reduce poverty and discrimination, facilitate access to essential services, promote social justice, and prevent violence, abuse, exploitation and family separation.

The training sessions were conducted in an interactive format, which allowed 50 participants to discuss the current situation in the field of family support including themes such as: the workload of specialists, working conditions, training prospects, and the knowledge and skills necessary for effective and high quality work with families in difficult life situations. Feedback showed that the training participants had successfully mastered the content of the program, and were now in a position to provide services to the population with a new approach.

The UN Joint Programme, sponsored by the Joint SDG Fund and implemented by the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) jointly with the Government of Uzbekistan, aims to support the Government in building and delivering a high-quality social protection system that offers all citizens of Uzbekistan – in particular, those at risk of being left behind – income security and social support throughout their lives.

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, to build a better world for everyone. For more information about UNICEF and its work for children in Uzbekistan, visit www.unicef.uz  

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