The Gender Action Plan for Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) Project in Uzbekistan

Draft Gender Action Plan (GAP) was developed by Gender Expert in June 2019. GAP was discussed with SFM management, translated into Uzbek, presented and broadly shared with project FOs’ management during the workshop on June 21, 2019. Final version of GAP was endorsed by the SFM management. The Gender Action Plan addresses to improved planning and implementation of gender mainstreaming activities and increased gender analysis skills of partner government agencies and partner organization. Under the GAP, cooperation established between the relevant stakeholders: Women’s Committee of Uzbekistan; Business Women Association, the National “Hunarmand” Association of craftsmen; Tashkent State Agrarian University (TSAU); Bukhara Association of craftsmen. Three (3) training modules developed by the GE. The FGCs’ capacity in Gender equality issues is developed at a number of workshops conducted in the frames of GAP implementation, e.g. the initial workshop on Gender and Development in Tashkent (June), traditional crafts development (carpet weaving) for rural women in Dekhanabad (September), traditional crafts development (woolen quilted blankets) in Pop (November). Learning from the success in the Uzbekistan, other stakeholders were keen to follow with similar programmes, which led to the development of gender analysis skills. Monitoring and research are core component of the GAP to keep implementation on track and to inform advocacy, policy development and decision-making. Cooperation with stakeholders on research have been conducted to gain more insights and to make sure in effectiveness of the approach. It is important to emphasize that the implementation the GAP in pilots gave positive influence in increasing women's incomes, livelihood, employment.