An online consultation session for representatives of government and non-government social service providers and new social work professionals from Ashgabat, Turkmenabat and Mary was held under the UN-Turkmenistan Joint Program “Improving the Social Protection System by Introducing Inclusive Quality Social Services at the Local Level”.

The consultations were carried out by specialists from the Bulgarian Institute for Social Activity and Practice (SAPI), national trainers, as well as representatives of UN agencies participating in the Joint Program and the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Turkmenistan.

During the event, the progress and difficulties in piloting new social services at the local level were discussed.

Particular attention was paid to the most difficult cases of users of 12 new specialized social services piloted in Turkmenistan with financial support from UN agencies.

The meeting participants shared their experiences and difficulties related to the reintegration of some service recipients into their families and communities, learned about various options for overcoming difficult life situations of social service users and received professional recommendations from SAPI.

The practice of sharing knowledge and experience should continue at all stages of the project and after the end of the pilot period, the meeting participants concluded.

This consultation session summarizes a comprehensive 10-month training program for national staff on a new model of social services in Turkmenistan, organized by UNDP in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of Turkmenistan and with the support of other UN agencies.

This capacity building event aims to support Turkmenistan's efforts to create a national model for quality inclusive social services. These services address the needs of children with disabilities who are left or at risk of being left without parental care, adults with disabilities, older people in need of support, women facing gender-based violence and youth at risk.

The joint program “Improving the social protection system through the introduction of inclusive quality social services at the local level”, funded by the Joint SDG Fund, is implemented by several UN agencies, namely UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA and UNODC and the Government of Turkmenistan.

The leading national partner is the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population of Turkmenistan, the leading UN agency of the Joint Program is UNICEF.

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