The city of Nukus, Republic of Karakalpakstan - from 9 to 14 August 2021, UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, together with the Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family, is conducting training for facilitators on the theme of ‘’Fundamentals and skills of female entrepreneurship to bolster socio-economic activity of women in society”. Over the course of 18 days, competitively selected female leaders, will be taught the skills to further personal potential and abilities, as well as that of other women in their communities. The trained community leaders are expected to help other women in their communities to gain confidence, work in a team, and start a business in the long run, at the same time, improving the facilitator’s ability to create new entrepreneurship opportunities.

This training is part of a joint program run in collaboration with UNFPA, UNDP and FAO, ‘’Unleashing young people’s and vulnerable citizens’ creativity and innovation by strengthening their adaptive capacity to address the economic and food insecurities in the exposed communities of the Aral Sea region’’ with support from the Ministry for Support of Mahalla and Family. The program is part of wider activities, funded by the UN Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan, to address challenges caused by the drying up of the Aral Sea and the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the three northern regions of Karakalpakstan: Muynak, Bozatau and Kungrad.

The training is expected to increase the economic activity of women, stimulate the development of entrepreneurship among vulnerable women through special training programs to build capacity and teamwork skills; strengthen confidence, social skills and knowledge of family planning; explore aspects of gender equality, family budget planning, entrepreneurial skills and business plan development, as well as the creation of an income-generating individual or family business.