Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Today, on 5 August, a summer school for young demographers began in Tashkent Region, focusing on the theme "Using Demographic Data for the Socio-Economic Development of Uzbekistan."

The event was organized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) in collaboration with the Scientific Research Institute of "Family and Gender" under the Committee on Family and Women’s Affairs of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The primary goal of this event is to strengthen the professional capacity of young specialists in demography and to develop skills in creating long-term demographic forecasts for the Republic of Uzbekistan. This Summer School builds on years of collaboration and aims to further expand and develop scientific and practical ties.

Leading scholars, professors, and international experts in demography are participating in the summer school with reports and presentations. These summer schools are traditionally organized as part of the activities of the demographic laboratory established with the assistance of UNFPA at the Scientific Research Institute of "Family and Gender."

According to the World Bank, human resources in developed countries account for 68% to 76% of the total national wealth. This indicates that in the modern world, human potential is a key factor in economic growth, and the effectiveness of using other development resources (financial assets, production, and natural resources) depends on its state. By demographic indicators, Uzbekistan is among the countries in the "first demographic dividend" stage.

The UN’s "World Population Prospects" study forecasts that by 2048, the majority of Uzbekistan’s population (27.6 million people) will be of working age (15 to 64 years old). The dominance of the working-age population in the overall demographic structure, along with an annual addition of approximately 600,000 young people to the workforce, necessitates the creation of new jobs and employment opportunities.

In her opening remarks, UNFPA’s Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, Nigina Abaszada, emphasized that this fourth summer school is an important platform for training ministry and agency staff in the use of demographic data and enhancing the capacity of demographers working in the country.

Nodira Egamberdieva, Director of the Scientific Research Institute of "Family and Gender," highlighted the importance of this event for improving the qualifications of specialists and enhancing collaboration between various organizations and agencies.

The summer school has become a significant milestone for the professional demography community in Uzbekistan and has played a crucial role in the development of demographic science in the country. Participants of the summer school gained a rare opportunity to deepen their knowledge and skills in demography, with a particular focus on analyzing the demographic situation in Uzbekistan and its regions, identifying key challenges and trends facing the country.

Throughout the summer school, participants will work in groups, conduct practical exercises with demographic data, and discuss the impact of demographic processes on the country’s economic development, labor market, and social protection system.

The program also includes presentations of group work results and discussions on the next steps for using demographic data in strategic planning.