UN MULTI-PARTNER HUMAN SECURITY TRUST FUND FOR THE ARAL SEA REGION IN UZBEKISTAN
ANNUAL 20 REPORT 20
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TABLE OF CONTENS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY...... 6 1. ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FUND...... 7 - MPHSTF Outcome 3. Local community access to affordable and healthy food and clean drinking water is secured...... 13 - MPHSTF Outcome 4. The overall health of the local population is improved, and healthy lifestyle promoted...... 19 2. FUND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE...... 24 3. FUND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE...... 34 Annex 1. HUMAN INTEREST STORIES...... 43 Annex 2. MPHSTF RESULTS FRAMEWORK...... 47 5
LIST OF ACRONYMS
AC Advisory Committee on RCO Resident Coordinator Sustainable Development Office of the Aral Sea Region RoK Republic of CFP Call for Proposals Karakalpakstan CDPs Community development RMP Resource Mobilisation plans and Partnership Strategy CPAP Continuous Positive SC Steering Committee Airway Pressure of the UN MPHSTF EIB European Investment SDGs Sustainable Bank Development Goals EmOC Emergency Obstetric Care SIC ICWC Scientific-Information EU European Union Center of the Interstate Coordination Water FAO Food and Agriculture Commission of Central Organisation Asia HMIS Health Management SMEs Small and Medium-Sized Information System Enterprises ICT Information and ToR Terms of Reference Communications Technology TRP Technical Review Panel IICAS International Innovation TS Technical Secretariat Center for the Aral Sea of the MPHSTF Basin UNESCO United Nations JP Joint Programme Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation MCH Maternal and Child Health UNFPA United Nations MIFT Ministry of Investment Population Fund and Foreign Trade UNICEF United Nations MOH Ministry of Health Children’s Fund MPHSTF UN Multi-Partner Human UNDP United Nations Security Trust Fund Development Programme for the Aral Sea Region in Uzbekistan UNODC United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime NGOs Non-Governmental Organisations VCC Village council of citizens NMCR Near-miss Case Review WASH Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene PUNOs Participating UN Organisations WHO World Health Organisation
LIST OF ACRONYMS 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In 2020,, the UN Multi-Partner Human EU contributed USD 9.1 million to the Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea Trust Fund, underscoring a high level of Region in Uzbekistan (MPHSTF), a multi- international commitment to mitigate the partnership financial and development negative consequences of the Aral Sea instrument of the Government of disaster. Just as importantly, the MPHSTF Uzbekistan, the United Nations, represents a good model of international international donors and the financial partnership, in which the Government of community, consolidated and expanded its Uzbekistan, the UN, and the international work towards a people-centred response to community have pooled their respective addressing the consequences of one of the resources and expertise to jointly deliver on world’s biggest man-made environmental the Trust Fund’s strategic objectives. This disasters. model of multilateralism is a critical step forward in the face of this environmental The MPHSTF recorded a number of crisis. successes in 2020. In particular, this report presents key achievements of the Fund, Within the Second Call for Proposals, the significant milestones for 2020, and some MPHSTF Steering Committee approved of the key achievements of the two joint an additional three Joint Programmes for programmes that were approved within the funding to the amount of USD 6 million, First Call for proposals (CFP) announced in addressing such priority areas as Youth, early 2019. Innovation, and Health Security.
The first joint programme (JP), Another achievement is the official launch implemented by the United Nations of the Advisory Committee on Sustainable Development Programme (UNDP) and Development of the Aral Sea Region United Nations Educational, Scientific and in Uzbekistan, which aims to support Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) continued coherent, sustainable development in the to “Address urgent human securities in the region and implement the concept of the Aral Sea region by promoting sustainable Aral Sea being a Zone of Environmental rural development” in support of MPHSTF Innovations and Technologies. Outcome 3. This resulted in improved access to clean drinking water, increased The year 2020 was marked by the COVID-19 income generation and employment pandemic which had far reaching health, opportunities, and support for climate and socio-economic consequences. As change adaptation measures through the the pandemic grew, mitigation measures, findings of scientific expeditions to the including movement restrictions, drained bed of the Aral Sea. became widespread and impacted on the performance of development interventions The second Joint Programme, implemented all over the world, including within the by the United Nations Children’s Fund MPHSTF. Nevertheless, COVID-19 also (UNICEF) and United Nations Population created some opportunities, including Fund (UNFPA), focuses on “Improving the boosting the development of online and quality of perinatal care service to the most digital instruments to tackle the negative vulnerable mothers and newborns.” This consequences of the Aral Sea crisis. contributed to the Fund’s Outcome 4 and resulted in improved access to perinatal Going forward, the MPHSTF will focus services through improved infrastructure on encouraging others to join this effort, and trainings of medical personnel. so that the goal of ensuring the human security of the population affected by the In 2020, the Governments of Uzbekistan, global Aral Sea disaster can be achieved Finland, Republic of Korea, and the together.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 7 I. ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FUND
Donors continued to actively support the MPHSTF in 2020, which included additional contributions of USD 9.1 million from the Governments of Uzbekistan, Finland, the Republic of Korea, and the European Union. On November 2020, the Steering Committee approved three joint programmes amounting to USD 6 million within the Second Call for Proposals, addressing such priority areas as Youth, Innovation, and Health Security. Despite the global COVID-19 pandemic and certain restrictions imposed in the country from March 2020, the first two MPHSTF joint programmes made significant progress towards Outcomes 3 and 4, including: the provision of clean drinking water to 3,491 rural people in 5 communities in Takhtakupir district;
the selection of 6 business projects for co-financing. Of these, 2 were supported (Soap production and Improvement of Dentistry services) and 8 people employed. The remaining 4 business projects are at the stage of receiving deliveries of equipment. All 6 projects provided opportunities for 35 rural people to be employed, benefiting at least 5,537 people;
on the dry seabed, 2 scientific expeditions were conducted, more than 30 plant species were identified from 1,500 different points, and these were recommended for planting on the dried seabed; improved technical and financial capacity of the Takhtakupir forestry department, which helped plant saxaul on over 3,000 hectares of land on the dried bed and created a nursery on 49 hectares of land for growing seedlings from drought-resistant plants and 58 hectares of pasture areas; 8 ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE FUND
the renovation of 3 perinatal centres in Kungrad and Beruniy districts and Nukus city. As a result, more than 8,900 mothers and 9,000 newborns directly benefited from upgraded infrastructure and improved quality of care. This led to a 40 per cent decrease in the antenatal mortality rate at the Nukus city Perinatal Center, and a nearly 30 per cent and 17 per cent decrease in early neonatal deaths at the Beruniy and Kungrad Perinatal Centers, respectively
a total of 5 medical facilities (the Regional Perinatal Center, the Karakalpak Medical Institute, and the Beruniy, Kungrad and Nukus City perinatal centers) were equipped with sets of web-conferencing equipment for face-to-face training, online learning, and coordination meetings.
On December 1, 2020, the UN, in cooperation with the Government, jointly hosted the Inaugural Meeting of the Advisory Committee to support sustainable development in the Aral Sea Region. More than 120 representatives from foreign missions to Uzbekistan, international financing institutions, UN agencies, international non-government organisations (NGOs), the private sector, and civil society organisations participated in the meeting. The creation of this Advisory Committee will enable constructive dialogue between all stakeholders on various aspects of development of the Aral Sea region.
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UNDP and UNESCO Joint Programme “Addressing the urgent human insecurities in the Aral Sea region through the promotion of sustainable rural development”
The JP’s goal is to address environmental, social, and economic insecurities in the most vulnerable communities of the Aral Sea region through comprehensive solutions to cope with environmental issues, promote access to basic services, improve living standards, and develop sustainable tourism.
The JP aims to address environmental, social, and economic insecurities in the most vulnerable communities of the Aral Sea region through specific objectives:
Objective 1 Improving community resilience by ensuring access to clean drinking water;
Objective 1 MPHSTF Outcome 3 has a direct securing local community access to contribution to affordable and healthy food and clean drinking water
Objective 2 Enhancing the social well-being of the rural population (including women and youth) by expanding income generation opportunities and promoting the inclusive sustainable growth of tourism in Karakalpakstan;
MPHSTF Outcome 2 Objective 2 contributes to increasing employment and income generation opportunities for local communities
Objective 3 Promoting climate change adaptation actions through evidence-based afforestation initiatives.
MPHSTF Outcome 1 Objective 3 addresses to reducing stress on local communities due to the deteriorating environmental situation 14
Under Objective 1, five infrastructure Access to clean drinking water projects on water purification and became more important during the supply of drinking water were imple- COVID-19 pandemic as people needed mented in the Takhtakupir district, to improve hygiene and ensure RoK, for 3,491 beneficiaries in five preventive measures against the virus. rural communities. The improved infrastructure enhanced the health and well-being of the local The project provided access to population in the Takhtakupir district clean drinking water and improved of Karakalpakstan. relevant infrastructure. Particularly, facilities have been renovated and water purification equipment installed. The water purification and distribution station at the Tazakonis community is now fully functional. The Beltau Community Centre in the Mulk community has access to safe drinking water due to the installation of water pipeline networks. In addition to the three planned water infrastructure projects, two water projects were implemented in the Janadarya and Photo 1. Clean drinking water provided in Marjankol communities. Tazakonis community
Photo 2,3. Water purification and distribution station Photo 4. Same station in 2020 in Tazakonis in 2019
In addition to infrastructure support, It has been estimated that 150 people the JP developed a training module from five rural communities improved and brochures for the population their knowledge on necessary WASH on water, sanitation, and hygiene measures through the online training (WASH) in Russian and Karakalpak. organised. The project enhanced Electronic versions of the brochures the knowledge and skills of rural were disseminated to the heads of the inhabitants of target communities on Tazakonis, Beltau, Mulk, Marjankol, prioritising needs and the formulation and Janadarya communities for further of community development plans distribution among rural populations. during trainings. 15
Under Objective 2, six small and straw mat/board production, soap medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) production, halva-kozinaki production, were established and supported. The and dentistry services. They made The establishment of these SMEs products for local and regional created employment opportunities for markets, which enhanced food rural youth and women and increased security and strengthened economic their income. The UNDP supplied security for the target communities. businesses with production facilities These businesses include three led by and equipment. These SMEs focused rural youth and women. on fodder production, milk processing,
Photo 5. Private enterprise “UMIT-MEDICA” Photo 6. Family enterprise “Hurliman-Aru Takhtakupir district. Takhta,” Takhtakupir district
Moreover, the JP assisted business developed for five SMEs. A total of 70 owners and enhanced rural people enhanced the skills essential entrepreneurs’ knowledge and for developing businesses. skills in management, value chains, strategy formulation, and taxation. Over 30 people benefited directly Overall, 25 people (52 per cent from new jobs and over 5,000 people women and youth) improved their have access to the goods produced skills through training on value and services provided within these chains within the livestock sector, initiatives. and on the fundamentals of business planning and entrepreneurship UNESCO conducted two trainings development. Another 25 women on the development of heritage- and girls were trained on the basics based sustainable tourism and the of entrepreneurship and business development of the hospitality industry development. In the Takhtakupir in Karakalpakstan. Overall, 62 tourism, district, 20 owners of SMEs passed a nature and culture professionals, and training on strategy formulation, value- local communities, including women chain analysis, and taxation, while and youth, have been trained. relevant business strategies were 16
Two pieces of research / assessments of the development of sustainable tourism, including ecotourism, and the hospitality industry in Karakalpakstan, have been carried out. These include the elaboration of new tourism destinations and products and the formulation of a set of recommendations in the respective fields.
Under Objective 3, the JP initiated Figure 1. Areas covered by the two expeditions two expeditions to the dry seabed of the Aral Sea to analyse the current situation, resulting in a set of practical The Scientific-Information Center of recommendations presented in the the Interstate Commission for Water form of a book (and a book summary). Coordination in Central Asia (SIC The JP also provided technical support ICWC) and the International Innovation to local forestry institutions to assist Center for the Aral Sea Basin (IICAS) them in their efforts to mitigate the monitored the dry bottom of the Aral negative environmental consequences Sea. The first complex expedition of the crisis. to the dry seabed of the Aral Sea region took place from September 20 to October 20, 2019, and a second expedition was conducted in May– June 2020. The expeditions covered the southern part of the dried seabed, particularly the regions of Muynak and Adzhibay Bay (see Figure 1).
The participants of the expedition travelled 5,350 km, collected 56 soil samples (Photo 7) and described 2,142 points on various surface classes. Figure 1 contains visual maps that Photo 7. Soil surveys conducted during present the expedition routes. the expeditions
Photo 8. Three of the 74 species identified during expedition vegetation surveys of the Aral Sea seabed 17
During the expeditions, more than 74 species of higher plants were identified (Photo 8) from over 2,060 dif- ferent survey points of the dry bottom of the Aral Sea. These plants comprised 51 genera and 21 families, and represented the majority of vegetation cover.
The key findings and Photo 9. Mobile wagon houses for shift teams recommendations of the two expeditions were provided in the book and a areas (in Russian and Karakalpak summarised version. A roundtable languages). discussion was organised to present the book on ‘Monitoring of the dried Based on the assessment results, the seabed of the Aral Sea.’ Over 100 JP identified demand for 17 types of afforestation specialists of the essential machinery and equipment. State Forestry Committee and its 16 By the end of 2020, some of this branches improved their knowledge on machinery and equipment had been innovative methods of afforestation delivered to the Takhtakupir Forestry through trainings organised in Department, namely radio telephones cooperation with IICAS. for field communications, a truck for transporting seeds and seedlings, an Trained afforestation specialists are excavator-bulldozer, mobile homes expected to disseminate knowledge with diesel generators, heaters, air on innovative methods of afforestation conditioning systems, and tents, field with local farmers, dehkans, and ovens, tarpaulins, and welding units on pasture cooperative specialists. The wheels. project developed methodological guidelines on: 1) Taking inventory of These measures helped to plant forested areas using GIS technology; saxaul in over 3,000 hectares of land 2) The development and introduction on the drained bottom of the Aral Sea of a system of measures to protect (against 100–150 hectares before the the seeds of trees and shrubs against intervention), and created a nursery pests and diseases; 3) Development on 49 hectares of land for growing of measures to promote the natural seedlings from drought-resistant renewal of forestry crops in Tugai plants (against 2–3 hectares prior forests; and 4) Development and to the intervention). Additionally, implementation of innovative methods 58 hectares of pasture lands were of afforestation in drought-prone developed and 142 hectares are expected to be developed. 18 19
UNICEF and UNFPA Joint Programme “Improvement of Quality of Perinatal Care Service to Most Vulnerable Mothers and Newborns”
This Outcome captures the PUNOs’ activities to improve the quality of perinatal care service to the most vulnerable mothers and newborns.
The Government of Uzbekistan and the UN in Uzbekistan have prioritised the reduction of maternal and newborn deaths and stillbirths in line with global efforts, as embodied by Sustainable Development Goal 3. By 2030, the stated goal is to reduce the global maternal mortality ratio to less than 70 per 100,000 live births. The aim is also to end preventable deaths of newborns and children under five years of age, seeking to reduce neonatal mortality to at least as low as 12 per 1,000 live births, and under-five mortality to at least as low as 25 per 1,000 live births.
The main goal of the JP is to ensure the population’s access to perinatal services by improving infrastructure, providing essential equipment to medical facilities and increase the quality of mother and newborn health care services.
The objective of the JP is to support the Ministry of Heath (MoH) of the Republic of Karakalpakstan to: 20
During the reporting period, UNICEF in the summer of 2020, significantly and UNFPA significantly contributed improving the perinatal centres’ to the Government’s efforts to improve infrastructure and allowing the centres the quality of perinatal services at to install and use a large set of modern secondary and primary levels in equipment covering all significant the Republic of Karakalpakstan by aspects of care for mothers and improving infrastructure, upgrading newborns. equipment, and building the capacity of medical professionals in three UNICEF and UNFPA have completed district perinatal centres (in Kungrad procurement from certified suppliers and Beruniy districts, and Nukus of the listed and specified equipment City). All three serve as inter-district that was agreed to with the Ministry of perinatal centres and admit women Health. This ensured the purchase of from neighbouring districts. high-quality equipment with sufficient warranty periods. A total of 15 pieces The following are the key milestones of equipment have been delivered to achieved by the JP: the targeted perinatal facilities, while 27 other pieces of equipment are at Renovations of the Kungrad and different stages of procurement and Beruniy perinatal centres and of the are set to be delivered and installed by Nukus City Perinatal Center were the end of April 2021. completed, which included installing a power generator, automatic voltage The project team has renovated a regulators, and new electrical wiring to training room at the Regional Perinatal ensure smooth operations. Renovation Center in Nukus, provided furniture work also included installing seven for training rooms at the Regional air conditioners, a water tank, water Perinatal Center and the Karakalpak pumps and filters, and four boilers Medical Institute, and equipped to ensure a reliable supply of cold the Regional Perinatal Center, the and hot water, which the facilities Karakalpak Medical Institute, and lacked. Renovations were completed the Beruniy, Kungrad, and Nukus City
Photo 10. Neonatal ward at the Kungrad Photo 11. Training room at the Kungrad Perinatal Center Perinatal center 21 perinatal centres with sets of web- on supportive supervision with the conferencing equipment and personal assistance of UNFPA and UNICEF. computers for face-to-face trainings, online learning, and coordination Four teams composed of leading meetings. neonatologists have been allocated to each target facility, which they More than 530 medical professionals have visited and monitored online. (350 planned for the reporting period) During each visit, teams scored each have improved their knowledge in facility’s performance based on basic emergency obstetric care, checklists, to determine if feedback newborn care, supportive supervision, and corrective actions have been and resuscitation. In particular: implemented. Support supervision focused on maternal health services, ♦ 150 neonatologists have improved newborn care services, human their knowledge and skills in resources, laboratory services, evidence-based modern newborn information availability, education practices developed by the and communication materials, and American Academy of Pediatrics. infrastructure. There were noticeable ♦ 40 healthcare providers have improvements in the supportive gained new knowledge on supervision style and adherence to Perinatal Audit. clinical standards and guidelines. Relevant qualitative and quantitative ♦ 175 midwives and obstetrician- indicators will be measured during the gynaecologists have improved end-line assessment. their knowledge and skills in delivering high-quality Emergency Three teams, consisting of three Obstetric Care (EmOC). specialists, went to the Republic of Karakalpakstan to conduct supportive ♦ 30 health professionals supervision visits to eight perinatal strengthened their knowledge and centres. Over six days of work at skills in EmOC and resuscitation. these centres, they ran on-the-job training for local specialists from A total of 70 healthcare providers and the three perinatal centres and later health managers from target facilities conducted supportive supervision at were engaged in five-day experience the remaining centres together with exchanges and learning visits to local specialists. leading national and subnational perinatal facilities in the country (in A perinatal death audit is the process Tashkent and Fergana) to learn up to of assessing factors related to date and evidence-based maternal and perinatal death. It helps to reduce newborn survival practices in the field. perinatal mortality by identifying preventable factors related to perinatal A total of 38 specialists improved deaths. their knowledge on how to conduct supportive supervision. These A total of 40 healthcare workers were national experts developed guidelines trained on how to conduct perinatal 22
death audits and rectify situations based on findings on a regular basis. Regular perinatal audits can identify factors and lapses related to perinatal deaths and assist with the implementation of appropriate interventions to reduce avoidable perinatal deaths. A total of 50 per cent (20 out of 40 cases) of all deaths Photo 12. Quality improvement trainings, on average were audited in the Tashkent target facilities during the reporting period: 34.2 percent were macerated An international consultant was stillbirths, 31.7 percent were fresh recruited to provide expert advice stillbirths, and 34.2 percent were on quality improvement plans. The early neonatal deaths. Avoidable international expert organised a series factors included poor neonatal of online trainings for healthcare resuscitation skills, incorrect use of managers and providers, to help each partographs, and delay in performing target facility develop and implement a caesarean sections. Activities quality improvement plan in 2020. implemented included three skills sessions of neonatal resuscitation, the Trainings on quality improvement introduction of Continuous Positive of perinatal health services were Airway Pressure (CPAP) for babies conducted in Tashkent and Nukus with respiratory distress, and updates in March 2020 for more than 40 on the use of partographs. healthcare workers. Under the guidance of an international con- The conduct of a Near-miss Case sultant, two national medical clinics Review (NMCR) was introduced (the Tashkent Medical Academy at four perinatal facilities in the and the Institute of Obstetrics and Republic of Karakalpakstan and at Gynecology), the three target facilities the Nukus Medical Institute. In total, (Kungrad, Beruniy, and Nukus City), 60 healthcare specialists improved and the Regional Perinatal Center in their skills in this area. It was reported Nukus, developed and implemented that on average, 20 percent (59 out their own quality improvement plans. of 300 cases) of all near-miss cases that occurred during the reporting In Karakalpakstan, two facilities period in the target facilities were reached the target of covering 100 reviewed. The analysis concluded per cent of postpartum women with that haemorrhage and hypertensive standard obstetric monitoring in the disorders were the leading causes early post-partum period to prevent of maternal near misses. Under the near-miss and maternal death cases. guidance of national experts, local In addition, two facilities increased staff defined appropriate actions to be the early initiation of breastfeeding taken to prevent future occurrences within one hour among babies born by and serious complications. caesarean section not admitted to the ICU, from 10 % to 60–70 %. 23
MPHSTF GOVERNANCE ARCHITECTURE
STEERING COMMITTEE TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT Responsible for the approval of Funds, Responsible for programme coor- decides the distribution of the funds dination, technical support of the among the implementation agencies. Steering Committee, monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of ADVISORY COMMITTEE projects within the framework of a Serves as an information-sharing unified strategy. forum once the number of donors and Participating UN Organisations PARTICIPATING becomes so large that their inclusion UN ORGANISATIONS in the steering committee would no UN agencies engaged in the longer be feasible. implementation of the MPHSTF projects. ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT Facilitates contributions and deposits to the fund and transfers these funds among the PUNOs as per the decision of the Trust Fund's Steering Committee. 24 II. FUND OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE
OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES OF THE STEERING COMMITTEE, ADVISORY COMMITTEE, AND TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT
STEERING COMMITTEE three weeks (from April 19 to May 11, 2020). In total, three proposals were As per the decision of the MPHSTF received from PUNOs amounting to a Steering Committee on December total of USD 12.45 million. 16, 2019, in February 19, 2020 the MPHSTF announced a Second Call In July 2020, the SC, represented by for Proposals covering such priority Government representatives (including areas as Youth, Innovation, and Health Karakalpak authority), donors (EU Security with a proposal submission Delegation, the Embassies of Finland deadline of April 19, 2020. and Republic of Korea, local NGOs, and the UN agencies, in its Fourth meeting The PUNOs approached the SC with conditionally approved the joint World a request to extend the Second Call Health Organisation (WHO) and MOH for Proposals deadline due to the proposal on a health system and health delay in their operations caused by facility assessment. At the same time, COVID-19. Circumstances related to the Steering Committee recommended the pandemic, such as movement that UNICEF, United Nations Office restrictions, hampered the PUNOs in for Drugs and Crime (UNODC), UNFPA ensuring adequate consultations in and UNDP, UNFPA, and Food and the Aral Sea region. The UN Agencies' Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Joint staff also had to juggle emergency Programme proposals should be COVID-response work. Given this revised to focus on programmatic, context, the SC decided to extend the sustainability, and financial aspects to Second Call for Proposals deadline for ensure high-quality proposals.
Photo 13. The Steering Committee meeting, July 14, 2020 25
At the same meeting, a unanimous In November 2020, in line with the decision was made to approve the Steering Committee decision, the agenda and date of the first meeting PUNOs revised their proposals of the Advisory Committee on based on the comments and Sustainable Development of the Aral recommendations of the SC and re- Sea region. The establishment of submitted them for online approval. the Advisory Committee as a single After reviewing the revised proposals, platform will enable constructive the SC made a decision on online dialogue between the Government, approval of the three joint proposals civil society and development partners with the total amount USD 6 million. on various aspects of the development of the Aral Sea region.
“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”
The UNDP, UNFPA, and FAO Joint project on “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” will benefit 3,287 direct beneficiaries (including family members, a total of 10,407). A total of 1,472 direct beneficiaries who comprise rural youth and women will benefit from skills building and business initiatives and start-up projects. Moreover, the programme will enhance the capacity of 300 women and youth to apply new agricultural practices and create job opportunities for 75 young people through the establishment of agricultural cooperatives and nine demonstration plots. Finally, 120 students and 300 young people will improve their information and communications technology (ICT) capacity through digitisation initiatives, platforms, and social infrastructure projects. 26
“Investing in a resilient future of Karakalpakstan by harnessing the talents of youth and improving water, sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition during and after COVID-19”
The JP on “Investing in the resilient future of Karakalpakstan by harnessing the talents of youth and improving water, sanitation, hygiene, and nutrition during and after COVID-19” will be carried out jointly by UNICEF, UNODC, and UNFPA. Ten thousand girls aged 10-17 years will be provided with micronutrient supplements for the prevention of anaemia; 26,000 children will be dewormed; and 1,500 families will be trained on healthy lifestyles. WASH infrastructure in 15 selected schools and 20 primary health care facilities in three target districts (Muynak, Bozatau, and Kungrad) will be improved. A distance learning system will be installed in 35 medical institutions; 1,300 medical workers will be trained through this system; and 20 medical institutions will be equipped with STI diagnostics. Furthermore, 520 young people will be empowered through skills-building programmes. 27
“Towards universal health coverage and security in Karakalpakstan (UHC+S)”
The WHO project “Towards universal health coverage and security in Karakalpakstan (UHC+S)” will identify priorities for future investment in the health sector based on a mapping of population needs and means and sector capacities, and will develop an evidence-based model of service delivery, as well as a financing model.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE society organisations participated in On December 1,1, 2020, the United the meeting. Nations in Uzbekistan, in cooperation with the Government of Uzbekistan, The Advisory Committee for the jointly hosted the Inaugural Meeting Sustainable Development of the of the Advisory Committee in support Aral Sea region aims to support a of sustainable development in the coherent sustainable development Aral Sea Region. More than 120 approach for the region towards representatives from foreign missions accelerating sustainable development to Uzbekistan, international financing and implementing the concept of the institutions, UN agencies, international Aral Sea being a zone of ecological NGOs, the private sector, and civil innovation and green technologies. 28
During the meeting, representatives The donors present in the meeting of international organisations and expressed full support of the Advisory diplomatic missions, such as the Committee and informed other European Delegation to Uzbekistan, participants about their past, ongoing, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Israel, and future initiatives in the region. the United Kingdom, and Kuwait, expressed their willingness to support Participants of the Advisory joint interventions on sustainable Committee agreed to establish two development in the Aral Sea region. working groups and a technical- level working group, composed of the members of the Advisory Committee.
The Working Group on Sustainable The Working Group on Visibility of the Investments guides and oversees Aral Sea Region raises the awareness the system’s innovation approach for of the international community about sustainable development of the Aral the situation in the Aral Sea Region Sea Region building on Uzbekistan’s and communicates the results of the Sustainable Development and Poverty systems approach and joint initiatives. Reduction Strategies, as well as other relevant national and regional The Technical Group on Data and development priorities. Assessments provides evidence and rationale for portfolio analysis and sustainable investments.
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Photo 14. The Inaugural Meeting of the Advisory Committee, December 1, 2020
TECHNICAL SECRETARIAT MPHSTF requirements and the Second Call’s priorities. The Technical Secretariat supports the entire programming cycle of the To assist PUNOs and partners to MPHSTF with a work plan and budget prepare joint project proposals, several reviewed annually by the Steering virtual meetings (briefing sessions and Committee. consultations) were organised at the technical level. The briefing sessions In 2020, the Secretariat facilitated mainly focused on the CFP and its the MPHSTF’s Steering and Advisory priority areas while consultations were Committee meetings. The Secretariat provided on the criteria for funding also strengthened collaboration projects and specific items for project and communication between the evaluation. Government of Uzbekistan, PUNOs, and contributing donors. The Secretariat also provided feedback on draft proposals received from the Following the decision of the Steering PUNOs and advised on incomplete Committee on its third meeting held in applications received before the February 2020, the Fund announced submission deadline. the Second CFP covering priority areas such as Youth, Innovation, and Health PUNOs developed and submitted three Security. proposals amounting to USD 12.45 million. The Technical Review Panel The Technical Secretariat developed (TRP), consisting of independent the Call for Proposals Guidelines representatives of UN agencies, to ensure the development of the research institutes, as well as the proposals by PUNOs in line with the Jokargi Kenes (the legislative body) 30
of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, During the mission, the MPHSTF was created to ensure a qualitative Technical Secretariat conducted visits assessment and support the impartial to the project sites, held meetings with selection of project proposals. local authorities and project partners to discuss the outcomes and impacts The results of the review process of the ongoing Joint Programme. were summarised and submitted to The challenges faced during the Steering Committee to facilitate implementation, the main findings, its decision on the approval of the conclusions, and recommendations proposals for funding. The Steering were also discussed with project staff. Committee made a decision on Through feedback from monitoring approval of the three revised findings, PUNOs were able to take proposals. key recommendations into account, Furthermore, the Technical Secretariat which enabled them to demonstrate developed the MPHSTF Monitoring and an improvement in the quality of their Evaluation Guide to support the PUNOs programme implementation. involved in implementing MPHSTF- At the end of 2020, the Technical funded projects and programmes Secretariat, jointly with the to obtain the timely, qualitative, and Government of Uzbekistan, UN quantitative information required for Resident Coordinator Office (RCO) in effective monitoring and evaluation. Uzbekistan and the PUNOs, initiated The guide helps PUNOs to develop the development of the MPHSTF a comprehensive monitoring and Resource Mobilisation and Partnership evaluation system that supports the (RMP) Strategy with the overall goal management process by providing of effectively securing the resources, management and decision-makers financial and non-financial, to achieve with reliable and sound reporting. It significant results within the MPHSTF also helps with knowledge acquisition Programmatic Framework. and knowledge sharing by making The core element of the RMP Strategy sense of existing experiences and is a donor mapping and engagement lessons learned and ensures a high plan. level of accountability and compliance. The RMP Strategy will be informed In March 2020, the Team conducted a by the MPHSTF Communication, field visit to Karakalpakstan to monitor Branding and Marketing Strategy to be the progress of the implementation of developed in 2021. the projects approved by the MPHSTF Steering Committee within the First Call for Proposals. 31
RESOURCE MOBILIZATION
The international donor community foundations with an appeal to continued to actively support the contribute to the MPHSTF. MPHSTF in 2020. The governments of Uzbekistan, Finland, the Republic Regular presentations were held by of Korea, and the European Union Uzbek diplomatic missions abroad generously contributeda total of USD on the challenges of the Aral Sea and 9.1 million to the Trust Fund. A portion measures taken by the Government of these funds (amounting to USD 6 of Uzbekistan with international million) was utilised to fund the three development partners including within Joint Programmes selected as a result the MPHSTF. The diplomats called on of the Second CFP in March 2020 the international donor community to within the MPHSTF. support efforts in the region in general and the MPHSTF in particular. At the same time, some donors supported the MPHSTF within From December 21–26, 2020, the parallel initiatives that do not directly extraordinary and plenipotentiary contribute to the Trust Fund. ambassadors of Uzbekistan to 40 countries of the world, heads of Significant measures were taken diplomatic missions, and permanent by the Government of Uzbekistan, representatives of Uzbekistan to UN RCO in Uzbekistan and other international organisations, visited stakeholders to mobilise additional Karakalpakstan to get acquainted financial and technical resources from with the development initiatives the international donor community to implemented in the region by national the MPHSTF and parallel initiatives. and international partners including within the MPHSTF. The purpose of the Due to restrictions on movement visit was to inform the representatives caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, of the diplomatic corps of Uzbekistan a number of scheduled events were abroad about the latest initiatives in postponed until a later date or held via the region to support activities on online meeting platforms. raising international communities’ awareness about the Aral Sea disaster In 2020, negotiations were held with as well as mobilising donor resources potential donor countries, including for the region and the MPHSTF. the Gulf states (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain and Qatar). In December, the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Belgium In October 2020, the Government of organised a video conference with the Uzbekistan, jointly with the UN RCO participation of the Deputy Chairman in Uzbekistan, prepared and sent joint of the Council of Ministers of the appeal letters to more than 60 heads of Republic of Karakalpakstan, Minister donor countries, international financial of Health, representatives of the institutions, private companies, and European Investment Bank (EIB), WHO, 32
Ministry of Investment and Foreign was established according to the Trade (MIFT), and other stakeholders decision of the MPHSTF Steering to discuss financing of the Committee on December 16, 2019. construction of a Multi-Disciplinary The Advisory Committee is seen as a Hospital in Muynak. The EIB confirmed unified platform to enable constructive interest in participating in the project. dialogue between the Government It was also agreed to establish an and development partners to support informal working group on this issue. better coordination of sustainable development efforts in the Aral Sea In December 2020, the MIFT, jointly Region, with the aim of accelerating with the UN RCO in Uzbekistan, results on the ground. The Advisory organised an Inaugural Meeting Committee will also provide guidance of the Advisory Committee for on enhanced partnership and resource Sustainable Development of the Aral mobilisation for the MPHSTF and Sea Region in Uzbekistan, which related projects.
CHALLENGES, LESSONS LEARNED, AND OPPORTUNITIES
In March 2020, the first case The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted 1 of COVID-19 was registered in global supply chains from production Uzbekistan. After this, the country to distribution of products and underwent a strict lockdown followed services. Hence, the two Joint by a number of restrictions, such as Programmes experienced delays transportation limitations at certain in the procurement and delivery of hours. equipment to the direct beneficiaries.
Accordingly, planned activities were Due to this unprecedented scenario, switched from offline to online mode. the PUNO’s project teams had to These included meetings of the adapt to a fast-changing environment, Steering Committee and Advisory thereby taking mitigation actions Committee. The Technical Secretarial forward. cancelled resource mobilisation activities that involved travel and In the case of the UNICEF / UNFPA face-to-face meetings with a range JP, shipping lead times increased of donors and development partners. tremendously due to the prioritisation Field visits were postponed to a later of more urgent needs. This added risk date. All capacity building activities was considered as well as proposed and roundtable discussions with mitigation action(s) to address similar partners were conducted online. future scenarios.
1 Agency for Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare under the Ministry of Health of Uzbekistan 33
Furthermore, the cost of some were delayed at customs control activities changed significantly due to checkpoints. changed procurement modalities and increased transport costs. Additionally, the price of some of the equipment and items increased due Online training modalities were to transaction and transportation coupled with face-to-face training only costs. Three contracts were extended when hands-on practical skills were or amended until the end of February essential. The rest of the trainings 2021, due to the delay of services. were redesigned for an online mode. Some trainings were switched to online Since capacity-building activities were mode and several capacity-building switched to distance learning mode, and awareness-raising activities on a need for additional procurement sustainable tourism development were of web-conferencing equipment for postponed to 2021. trainees (medical staff of the project’s perinatal centres) arose. This JP requested a six-month no-cost extension until August 31, 2021. The Finally, the UNICEF/UNFPA JP Steering Committee made a decision requested a four-month no-cost to approve the extension. extension up to April 2021. Notwithstanding the challenges, UNDP / UNESCO JP operations were however, both UNDP and UNICEF- affected by the lockdown, which led JP teams duly addressed these caused delays to the implementation challenges by ensuring better internal of project activities. and external coordination throughout the projects’ life cycles. In spring and summer 2020, all field visits were cancelled and all on-ground Some opportunities for consideration activities changed to online modes of are not limited to the following: operation. There were delays with the ● Moving beyond ‘single point’ identification of project sites due to project interventions to look at limited communication with potential processes and paradigms through beneficiaries and partners, especially a UN programming lens; at the beginning of the pandemic. ● Seeking ‘innovation for development’ portfolios with more Unfortunately, the majority of project emphasis on a forward looking staff, as well as project partners, holistic approach; were affected by COVID-19 and some were hospitalised. One staff member ● Investing in more strategic and passed away. focused collaboration, especially with local and national partners; Delays also occurred in vendor and selection and contracting, in the ● Ensuring and sustaining a focus procurement of equipment, and items on the MPHSTF 5 Insecurities and from abroad (China and Turkey) leaving ‘No one behind’.
34 III. FUND FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
2020 FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE
This chapter presents financial data is also available on the MPTF Office and analysis of the Aral Sea Region GATEWAY, at the following address: Fund using the pass-through funding http://mptf.undp.org/factsheet/fund/ modality as of 31 December 2020. ARL00. Financial information for this Fund
1 SOURCES AND USES OF FUNDS
As of 31 December 2020, five con- USD 1,775,877 has been reported as tributors deposited USD 12,213,145 expenditure. The Administrative Agent in contributions and USD 96,394 was fee has been charged at the approved earned in interest. rate of 1 per cent on deposits and amounts to USD 66,476. Table 1 The cumulative source of funds was provides an overview of the overall USD 12,309,539 (see respectively, sources, uses, and balance of the Aral Tables 2 and 3). Of this amount, USD Sea Region Fund as of 31 December 8,871,098 has been net funded to six 2020. Participating Organisations, of which
Table 1. Financial Overview, as of 31 December 2020 (in US Dollars)
Annual Annual Cumulative 2019 2020 Sources of Funds Contributions from donors 3,117,765 9,095,379 9,095,379 Fund Earned Interest and Investment Income 34,975 61,419 61,419 Interest Income received from Participating - - - Organisations Refunds by Administrative Agent to Contributors - - - Fund balance transferred to another MDTF - - - Other Income - - - Total: Sources of Funds 3,152,741 9,156,798 9,156,798 Use of Funds Transfers to Participating Organisations 3,083,566 5,598,784 5,598,784 Refunds received from Participating Organisations - - - Net Funded Amount 3,083,566 5,598,784 5,598,784 Administrative Agent Fees 31,178 35,299 66,476 Direct Costs: (Steering Committee, Secretariatetc.) - 188,748 188,748 Bank Charges 28 134 162 Other Expenditures - 55,655 55,655 Total: Uses of Funds 3,114,771 5,878,620 8,993,391 35
Table 1. (contunue)
Annual Annual Cumulative 2019 2020 Change in Fund cash balance 37,969 3,278,178 3,316,148 with Administrative Agent Opening Fund balance (1 January) 0 37,969 - Closing Fund balance (31 December) 37,969 3,316,148 3,316,148 Net Funded Amount (Includes Direct Cost) 3,083,566 5,787,532 8,871,098 Participating Organisations' Expenditure 77,523 1,698,354 1,775,877 (Includes Direct Cost)
Balance of Funds with Participating Organisations 7,095,221
2 PARTNER CONTRIBUTIONS
Table 2 provides information on cumu- The table below includes commit- lative contributions received from ments made up to 31 December all contributors to this Fund as of 31 2020 through signed Standard December 2020. Administrative Agreements, and deposits made through 2020. It does The Aral Sea Region Fund is currently not include commitments that were being financed by five contributors, as made to the fund beyond 2020. listed in the table below.
Table 2. Contributors' Commitments and Deposits, as of 31 December 2020 (in US Dollars)
Current Total Prior Years Year Jan- Total Contributors Commit- as of 31-Dec- Dec-2020 ments 2019 Deposits Deposits Deposits EUROPEAN UNION 5,565,510 - 5,565,510 5,565,510 FINLAND 1,123,367 - 1,123,367 1,123,367 NORWAY 1,117,765 1,117,765 - 1,117,765 REPUBLIC of KOREA 906,502 - 906,502 906,502 UZBEKISTAN 3,500,000 2,000,000 1,500,000 3,500,000 Other Income - - - Grand Total 12,213,145 3,117,765 9,095,379 12,213,145 36
Figure 2. Deposits by contributor, cumulative as of 31 December 2020
3 INTEREST EARNED
Interest income is earned in two where their Financial Regulations and ways: 1) on the balance of funds held Rules allow return of interest to the AA. by the Administrative Agent (Fund As of 31 December 2020, Fund earned earned interest), and 2) on the balance interest amounts to USD 96,394. of funds held by the Participating Organisations (Agency earned interest) Details are provided in the table below.
Table 3. Sources of Interest and Investment Income, as of 31 December 2020 (in US Dollars)
Prior Years as of Current Year Interest Earned Cumulative 31-Dec-2019 Jan-Dec-2020
Administrative Agent Fund Earned Interest and Investment Income 34,975 61,419 96,394 Total: Fund Earned Interest 34,975 61,419 96,394 Participating Organisation Total: Agency earned interest
Grand Total 34,975 61,419 96,394 37
4 TRANSFER OF FUNDS
Allocations to Participating Organi- 4.1 TRANSFER BY PARTICIPATING sations are approved by the Steering Organisation Committee and disbursed by the Administrative Agent. As of 31 Table 4 provides additional information December 2020, the AA has transferred on the refunds received by the USD 8,682,350 to six Participating MPTF Office, and the net funded Organisations (see list below). amount for each of the Participating Organisations.
Table 4.1. Transfer, Refund, and Net Funded Amount by Participating Organisation, as of 31 December 2020 (in US Dollars)
Prior Years as of 31-Dec-2019 Current Year Jan-Dec-2020 TOTAL Participating Re- Net Re- Net Re- Net Organisation Transfers Transfers Transfers funds Funded funds Funded funds Funded
FAO 180,000 180,000 180,000 180,000
UNDP 1,312,414 1,312,414 1,740,000 1,740,000 3,052,414 3,052,414
UNESCO 151,487 151,487 151,487 151,487
UNFPA 639,322 639,322 380,250 380,250 1,019,572 1,019,572
UNICEF 980,344 980,344 3,098,027 3,098,027 4,078,371 4,078,371
UNODC 200,507 200,507 200,507 200,507
Grand Total 3,083,566 3,083,566 5,598,784 5,598,784 8,682,350 8,682,350
Figure 3. Transfers amount by Participating Organisation for the period of 1 January to 31 December 2020 38
5 EXPENDITURE AND FINANCIAL DELIVERY RATES
All final expenditures reported for 5.1 EXPENDITURE REPORTED BY the year 2020 were submitted by the PARTICIPATING Organisation Headquarters of the Participating In 2020, USD 5,598,784 was net Organisations. These were conso- funded to Participating Organisations, lidated by the MPTF Office. and USD 1,668,017 was reported in Project expenditures are incurred expenditure. and monitored by each Participating As shown in table below, the Organisation, and are reported as cumulative net funded amount is per the agreed upon categories for USD 8,682,350 and cumulative inter-agency harmonized reporting. expenditures reported by the The reported expenditures were Participating Organisations amount submitted via the MPTF Office's online to USD 1,745,539. This equates to an expenditure reporting tool. The 2020 overall Fund expenditure delivery rate expenditure data has been posted of 20 percent. on the MPTF Office GATEWAY at http://mptf.undp.org/factsheet/fund/ ARL00.
Table 5.1. Net Funded Amount, Reported Expenditure, and Financial Delivery by Participating Organisation, as of 31 December 2020 (in US Dollars)
Expenditure Net Participating Approved Prior Delivery Funded Current Year Organisations Amount Years as of Cumulative Rate, % Amount Jan-Dec-2020 31-Dec-2019 FAO 180,000 180,000 0 UNDP 3,052,414 3,052,414 46,006 946,853 992,859 32.53 UNESCO 151,487 151,487 59,811 59,811 39.48 UNFPA 1,019,572 1,019,572 2,150 66,693 68,842 6.75 UNICEF 4,078,371 4,078,371 29,367 594,660 624,027 15.30 UNODC 200,507 200,507 0 Grand Total 8,682,350 8,682,350 77,523 1,668,017 1,745,539 20.10 39
5.2. EXPENDITURE REPORTED BY PROJECT
Table 5.2 displays the net funded and the financial delivery rates by amounts, expenditures reported Participating Organisation.
Table 5.2. Expenditure by Project within Sector, as of 31 December 2020 (in US Dollars)
Total Total Sector / Project No. Participating Project Net Funded Delivery Approved Expen- and Project Title Organisations Status Amount Rate, % Amount diture
2. Employment & Income Gen
FAO 180,000 180,000 JP - Youth On 00125229 n Vulnerable UNDP 1,740,000 1,740,000 Going Citizens UNFPA 180,000 180,000
2. Employment & Income Gen: Total 2,100,000 2,100,000
3. Food & Water Aral Sea UNDP 1,312,414 1,312,414 992,859 75.65 MPTF - On 00117259 Human Going UNESCO 151,487 151,487 59,811 39.48 Insecurity 3.Food & Water: Total 1,463,900 1,463,900 1,052,670 71.91
4 Health Aral Sea UNFPA 639,322 639,322 68,842 10.77 MPTF- On 00117258 Perinatal Going UNICEF 980,344 980,344 624,027 63.65 care
JP - UNFPA 200,250 200,250 0 Investing On 00125228 UNICEF 3,098,027 3,098,027 0 Karakalpak- Going stan UNODC 200,507 200,507 0
4. Health: Total 5,118,450 5,118,450 692,869 13.54
GRAND TOTAL 8,682,350 8,682,350 1,745,539 20.10 40
5.3. EXPENDITURE REPORTED BY CATEGORY
Project expenditures are incurred Effective 1 January 2012, the UN and monitored by each Participating Chief Executive Board (CEB) modified Organisation and are reported as these categories as a result of IPSAS per the agreed categories for inter- adoption to comprise eight categories. agency harmonized reporting. In All expenditure incurred prior to 1 2006 the UN Development Group January 2012 have been reported in (UNDG) established six categories the old categories; post 1 January against which UN entities must report 2012 all expenditure are reported in the inter-agency project expenditures. new eight categories. See table below.
2012 CEB Expense Categories 1. Staff and personnel costs 4. Contractual services 2. Supplies, commodities and 5. Travel materials 6. Transfers and grants 3. Equipment, vehicles, furniture and 7. General operating expenses depreciation 8. Indirect costs
Table 5.3. Expenditure by UNDG Budget Category, as of 31 December 2020 (in US Dollars)
Expenditure % of Total Category Prior Years as Current Year Programme TOTAL of 31-Dec-2019 Jan-Dec-2020 Cost
Staff & Personnel Cost (New) 5 135,449 135,454 8.34 Supplies, Communication, 1,451 559,522 560,973 34.53 Materials Equipment, Vehicles, Furniture, - 242,362 242,362 14.92 Depreciation Contractual Services 27,482 411,352 438,834 27.02 Travel 14,509 33,801 48,311 2.97 Transfers and Grants 26,355 85,884 112,239 6.91 General Operating 2,649 83,545 86,194 5.31 Programme Costs Total 72,451 1,551,915 1,624,366 100.00 Indirect Support Costs Total 5,072 116,102 121,173 7.46 GRAND TOTAL 77,523 1,668,017 1,745,539 41
6 COST RECOVERY
Cost recovery policies for the Fund are of the Fund. In the reporting period guided by the applicable provisions USD 35,299 was deducted in of the Terms of Reference, the MOU AA-fees. Cumulatively, as of 31 concluded between the Administrative December 2020, USD 66,476 has Agent and Participating Organisations, been charged in AA-fees. and the SAAs concluded between the ● Indirect Costs of Participating Administrative Agent and Contributors, Organisations: Participating based on rates approved by UNDG. Organi-zations may charge 7% indirect costs. In the The policies in place, as of 31 current reporting period December 2020, were as follows: USD 116,102 was deducted in ● The Administrative Agent (AA) indirect costs by Participating fee: 1% is charged at the time Organisations. Cumulatively, of contributor deposit and indirect costs amount to USD covers services provided on that 121,173 as of 31 December 2020. contribution for the entire duration
7 ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
In order to effectively provide fund Organisations, interest income and administration services and facilitate other expenses. In addition, the monitoring and reporting to the UN Gateway provides an overview of the system and its partners, the MPTF MPTF Office portfolio and extensive Office has developed a public website, information on individual Funds, the MPTF Office Gateway (http://mptf. including their purpose, governance undp.org). Refreshed in real time every structure and key documents. By two hours from an internal enterprise providing easy access to the growing resource planning system, the MPTF number of narrative and financial Office Gateway has become a standard reports, as well as related project setter for providing transparent and documents, the Gateway collects accountable trust fund administration and preserves important institutional services. knowledge and facilitates knowledge sharing and management among UN The Gateway provides financial Organisations and their development information including: contributor partners, thereby contributing to commitments and deposits, approved UN coherence and development programme budgets, transfers to and effectiveness. expenditures reported by Participating 42
8 DIRECT COSTS
The Fund governance mechanism may allocations are referred to as 'direct approve an allocation to a Participating costs'. In the reporting period, direct Organisation to cover costs associated costs charged to the fund amounted with Secretariat services and overall to USD 188,748. Cumulatively, as of coordination, as well as Fund level 31 December 2020, USD 188,748 has reviews and evaluations. These been charged as Direct Costs
Table 8. Direct Costs
Net Funded Delivery Participating Organisation Expenditure Amount Rate
UNDP 188,748 30,337 16% Total 188,748 30,337 16% 43
ANNEX 1. HUMAN INTEREST STORIES
CLEAN DRINKING WATER IMPROVES THE LIVES OF TAKHTAKUPIR’S FIVE COMMUNITIES
household, help the children with their "Now the food is tastier, and we studies, and dream of giving them drink tea with pleasure. After all, access to good education. Recently, it is known that not a day goes by they received access to drinking water. in the east without a cup of tea, especially in cold weather. And when the water is clean, you don't “Usually, we went to the well have to worry about your health every day to fetch water. The filter anymore," says Maria from the Taza cleaning the water got broken Konys community. She invites us to several years ago, so we had to have a cup of hot tea with milk, a use what we received from the famous tradition in Karakalpakstan. pot. It became harder during the coronavirus quarantine period. Now every house has its water supply," The Taza Konys community of the says Kurban. Beltau Rural Citizens’ Assembly is located in the North of Karakalpakstan – Takhtakupir. Here, people know first- Kurban and Maria are activists in their hand the importance of every drop of community. Kurban worked all his water. After all, the disappearance of life as an operator at the water plant the Aral Sea led to a whole range of and understands all aspects of the social, economic, and environmental current situation well. In November problems, which negatively reflected 2019, within the framework of the first on the well-being and health of the project funded by the UN Multi-Partner inhabitants of the entire region. Trust Fund for Human Security for the The COVID-19 outbreak also made Aral Sea region, “Addressing the urgent significant changes to daily life, human insecurities in the Aral Sea underlining the importance of region through promoting sustainable consistent access to clean water for rural development,” the UNDP initiated good health. a series of community mobilisation workshops in the Takhtakupir district. Maria Konysbaeva, 43, is a housewife. During the meeting, residents raised Together with her husband Kurban the issue of access to drinking Kasimov, they are raising three water. In the community, the water children. Olzhas is a student of the distribution system has been out of 10th grade, Albina is in the 9th, and order for several years. In agreement the youngest, Elzhas, has finished with the Water Supply Management the 3rd grade. Together they run the authorities, the District Water Supply 44
"I am glad that now I can devote more time to my children, their studies, and other activities. I don’t worry about health either. Due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, we need to wash our hands often. My children have also been taught to do this. But in cold weather, it was difficult to fetch water. So, now the water comes by itself. We're extremely delighted! We also have Photo 15. Beneficiary of the Tazakonis community enjoys clean drinking water. meters installed at our houses. It became easier to keep track of the Department, the Khokimiyat of the water consumed. For us, every drop Takhtakupir district and members of is priceless,'' said Maria. the community initiative group, it was decided to reconstruct the existing systems and establish water supply in about 3,500 residents of remote all houses. communities.
In December 2020, a commissioning With the support of UNDP personnel, ceremony for the water supply network a series of trainings were held to raise took place. Aside from the work on awareness among the local population the reconstruction of water supply on sanitation and hygiene issues to systems in five communities in the prevent waterborne diseases, as well Takhtakupir district, the JP installed as the spread of the COVID-19 virus. equipment for water purification with the capacity to filter up to 8 cubic It is clear that access to water for the metres per hour for the Marzhankol population, as well as adherence to VCC and up to 10 cubic meters/h for sanitation and hygiene practices, are the Zhanadarya VCC. This initiative critical to maintaining sustainable provided clean drinking water to rural development. 45
GULNARA’S LIFE
Gulnara was born on December 2, 2020 after only 30 weeks of gestation. She weighed just 1,000 grams. After two months in an incubator at the Neonatal Intensive Care ward of the Nukus City Perinatal Center, she now weighs 2.450 kilograms.
Photo 17. Gulnara’s mother at Nukus perinatal center.
“We fight every day to help babies survive, even the ones weighing 1,000 grams,” said Dr. Jeyran Sherieva, the neonatologist doctor Photo 16. Newborn baby girl Gulnara after trained during the recent ‘Helping two months in the incubator, Nukus perinatal Babies Breathe’ training held by center. UNICEF, who oversaw Gulnara’s care. “Before, babies weighing less Gulnara’s mother was admitted than 1.1 kilograms had minimal with a history of miscarriage. chances to survive. We thought She suffered from multiple health they were too small to have a conditions, including jaundice, arterial chance at survival. We didn’t hypertension, and intoxication, have the equipment, skills, or which led to premature labour. knowledge we needed,” concluded The head of the department, Dr. Dr. Sherieva. Kahramon Kabulov, who performed an emergency caesarean section to assist with Gulnara’s birth, explained that Gulnara would have had slim Within the framework of UNICEF and chances for survival just a few years UNFPA work, the JP assisted three before. Due to up-to-date, evidence- perinatal facilities in Karakalpakstan based, and advanced newborn care (in Nukus City, Kungrad, and resuscitation protocols developed by Beruniy) to enhance the capacity the American Academy of Paediatrics of neonatologists, obstetricians, and recommended by WHO and and resuscitation specialists to UNICEF, and the latest equipment and strengthen staff capacities through upgraded infrastructure, maternity comprehensive training and support. staff can now save preterm babies like UNICEF and UNFPA also equipped Gulnara. the perinatal centre’s new Neonatal 46
Intensive Care Unit with the latest At the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, medical equipment (ventilators, little Gulnara is getting better every oxygenators, laryngoscopes, and day. She can now see light and hear others) and training equipment. Today sounds, and uses her own strength many more premature babies that to drink her mother’s breast milk. come through the perinatal centre Once she reaches 2.5 kilograms, have a real chance of survival. she will be released to go home. Her parents have been trained on how to best care for her and are looking “The new equipment and techno- forward to her arrival at home. They logies help more children survive say everything is ready for her, and and prevent complications through that she will know nothing but love. their proper application,” – said It is expected that once the target Dr. Kabulov. “Leading national perinatal centres receive the status experts have helped us utilise the of second level referral facilities in new equipment and practices to 2021, they will extend their specialised the greatest level. I am so happy service to mothers and newborns from with our accomplishments.” neighbouring districts as well. 47
in 2020 in 2020 (cumulative) Results Achieved Achieved Results Achieved Results
Frequency Frequency
MOV Means of Verification (MOV) Verification
Baseline Baseline
reduced is
Output Indicators
Outputs deteriorating environmentaldeteriorating situation The stress the to The local due communities on
– – – 1
ANNEX 2. MPHSTF RESULTSFRAMEWORK 3 SDG 8 SDG 11 SDG OUTCOME 1: ANNEX 2. MPHSTF RESULTS FRAMEWORK ANNEX 2. MPHSTF RESULTS
48
Results Achieved Achieved Results
Frequency
MOV
Baseline
tput Indicators Ou
Outputs 2 3
49
Results Achieved Achieved Results Achieved Results
Frequency Frequency
MOV Means of Verification (MOV) Verification
Baseline Baseline
Output Indicators
are increased are
Outputs for local communities for communities local 4 5 6 OUTCOME 2: The employment and income generation opportunities opportunities income and generation 2: TheOUTCOME employment
50
Results Achieved Achieved Results Achieved Results
Frequency Frequency
MOV Means of Verification (MOV) Verification
Baseline Baseline
Output Indicators
Outputs and clean drinking water secured water drinking clean and 7 -
OUTCOME 3: Local community access to affordable and healthy food food healthy and to affordable access community 3: Local OUTCOME 51
8 9
52
Results Achieved Achieved Results Achieved Results
Frequency Frequency
MOV Means of Verification (MOV) Verification
Baseline Baseline
improved, improved, is
Output Indicators
Outputs Outputs and healthy lifestyle promoted lifestyle and promoted healthy
10 11 - - OUTCOME 4: The overall health of the local population local of the health overall The 4: OUTCOME 53
teacher’s of availability
12 13
54
erio erio erio o be ate i i ate be o i ate be o Results Achieved Achieved Results Achieved Results the e t re orti re orti the e t re orti the e t
ro ect ce er ce er Frequency Frequency the ro ect the ro ect the ro ect ce a year ce a year t the e of e tthe of e tthe
MOV re ort re ort Means of eco o ic s rvey s rvey eco o ic s rvey eco o ic ro ect re orts ro ect re orts ro ect re orts ro ect Verification (MOV) Verification ocio ocio
Baseline Baseline
are are improved,
co ity co ity
i frastr ct re i frastr ct re Output Indicators a o te sta ar s for the for the a o te sta ar s of co str ctio a esi a b il i s resi e tial i to ta i facilities social ecolo ical the acco t act al of co itio s eo ra hic a the ral re io ea social of i co str cte facilities e iththe accor a ce eet that ro ects sta ar co itio s local re i rove a e of of the s ort ith schools the
Outputs Outputs with particular focus on vulnerable groups such as women, women, as such groups vulnerable on focus particular with children and youth e ate ho si ho si e ate local the for a ro riate is co itio s livi rovi e ocial co ity a re i cl i services a e catio school 5: The living conditions of local populations populations of local conditions living 5: The
14 15 ri i ater ri i as li efie at ral - - OUTCOME OUTCOME of the o latio ith i crease access to social a a social to access i crease ith o latio the of services co itio s ho si livi to ositively res o i o latio s of
55
re orti erio erio erio erio erio erio o be ate i i ate be o i ate be o o be ate i i ate be o i ate be o i ate be o Results Achieved Achieved Results Achieved Results the e t re orti re orti the e t re orti the e t the e t re orti re orti the e t the e t re orti the e t
e of e
ro ect ro ect ro ect ce er ce er ce er ce er Frequency Frequency the ro ect the ro ect the ro ect the ro ect the ro ect the ro ect the ro ect ce a year ce a year ce a year ce a year t the e of e tthe of e tthe t the the t of e tthe of e tthe
s rvey
MOV re ort re ort re ort re ort re ort Means of eco o ic s rvey s rvey eco o ic s rvey eco o ic eco o ic s rvey s rvey eco o ic s rvey eco o ic eco o ic assess e t e e e t e e e t ro ect re orts ro ect re orts ro ect re orts ro ect rai i recor s rai i recor s rai i Verification (MOV) Verification ocio ocio ocio ocio ocio
Baseline Baseline
improved, improved,
are are
le eer to eer eer to eer le
co ity co ity
i frastr ct re i frastr ct re Output Indicators school e catio al e catio al school a o te sta ar s for the for the a o te sta ar s of co str ctio a esi a b il i s resi e tial i to ta i facilities social ecolo ical the acco t act al of co itio s eo ra hic a the ral re io ea social of i co str cte facilities e iththe accor a ce eet that ro ects sta ar co itio s local re i rove a e of of the s ort ith schools the of e rol e t of chil re by by chil re of e rol e t of re i stit tio s are that of s rveye eo le of ality the ith satisfie e catio school a e bers co ity of school covere chil re yo th thro h the ith ro ra e e catio s ort of the o latio s of se by isa re ate their to ositively res o i local the i i volve e t syste over a ce local of re rese tatives of i a thorities artici ati o s ecialtrai i co rses local sec rity h a etc la i evelo e t are that of s rveye eo le blic local ith satisfie e s ri a elivery service stability social
ee s of of ee s io for io
Outputs with particular focus on vulnerable groups such as women, women, as such groups vulnerable on focus particular with children and youth e ate ho si ho si e ate local the for a ro riate is co itio s livi rovi e ocial co ity a re i cl i services a e catio school leis re o ort ities a a o ort ities leis re e cat lifes ill are yo th a chil re i rove over a ce local he the a ressi for syste sec rity h a i rove is the o latio 5: The living conditions of local populations populations of local conditions living 5: The
14 15 ri i ater ri i as li efie at ral 16
- - OUTCOME OUTCOME of the o latio ith i crease access to social a a social to access i crease ith o latio the of services co itio s ho si livi to ositively res o i o latio s of