UNDP Resident Representative in Turkmenistan Narine Sahakyan congratulated the people and the Government of the country on the upcoming 2024 on the pages of the “Neutral Turkmenistan” newspaper.

In her address, she noted that UNDP has always been a reliable partner of Turkmenistan, and their cooperation is expanding every year, taking into account national priorities and global challenges.

Sahakyan emphasized the contribution of UNDP to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in Turkmenistan. In particular, this year the organization assisted in the creation of the National SDG Database and the preparation of the second Voluntary National Review on the progress of SDG implementation in the country.

Cooperation in the field of human rights also continued, including the preparation of reports for the UN and strengthening the capacity of the Ombudsman's Office.

In the health sector, UNDP provides assistance in the procurement of quality medicines for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, as well as in strengthening the capacity of the health system.

“This year, we have signed a number of new projects totaling more than 70 million USD within the framework of our efforts to strengthen the capacity of national public health systems and improve access and quality of health services. The Government of Turkmenistan finances the supply of medicines, and UNDP provides assistance in purchasing only from manufacturers, only high-quality medicines for the prevention and control of both infectious and non-infectious diseases throughout the country. Through joint efforts, we are ensuring that the national health system’s capacity is strengthened in the field of clinical and laboratory diagnosis of diseases, supporting the achievement of national goals for tuberculosis control, as well as strengthening the readiness of national public health systems to respond to global pandemics”, - Sahakyan noted.

The permanent representative also noted the growing role of UNDP as a government partner in the digital transformation of public administration. In recent years, a number of digital solutions have been successfully tested in different areas.

“Over the past few years, we have successfully piloted a number of innovative digital solutions in the field of statistics, banking, finance, customs, civil registration and other government services, which allowed us to create the foundation for signing an important strategic project with the Turkmenaragatnashyk Agency in the field of digital transformation of public administration”, - she said.

Another important area of cooperation is environmental protection and the fight against climate change. UNDP will continue to support the country in implementing environmental programs and adapting to climate change.

In addition, promoting gender equality remains a priority. UNDP intends to expand cooperation on women's empowerment.

In conclusion, Sahakyan expressed UNDP’s readiness to continue working together with the government of Turkmenistan to achieve national development goals and build a peaceful, just and sustainable future for all.