Key development objective of Uzbekistan for long and mid term perspective is acceleration of economic growth with simultaneous maximization of benefits for the poor and socially vulnerable groups of population. Acknowledging the importance of this task, the Government of Uzbekistan initiated a process of mid-term Welfare Improvement Strategy (for 2007-2010) formulation in Uzbekistan in March 2006.

Elaboration of Welfare Improvement Strategy (WIS) is undertaken by Sectoral Working Groups (SWG), involving representatives of key line ministries and agencies, national analytical centers, private sector and civil society. Methodological assistance to SWGs is rendered by a group of international experts with valuable experience in consultation of developing countries and countries with transitional economies on issues concerning elaboration of national development strategies and welfare improvement.

Poverty is a complex problem, requiring realization of a number of policies directed at: increasing employment opportunities, enabling obtaining of sufficient real incomes; increasing quality and accessibility of public services for all groups of populations, first of all – education and health; further development of forms and methods of social protection. In this context, WIS is expected to become a strategic document, defining key goals and objectives for development of the country, general policy directions and concrete instruments for achievement of stated priorities.

In the process of WIS formulation SWGs and international consultants used materials of various national and sectoral researches, results of public polls and more than 25 discussions and consultations with representatives of analytical community, private sector and civil society. All of these enabled conducting of deep situation analysis, revealing key problems in social-economic development sphere and defining main policy directions in long and mid-term perspective.

On May 22-23, 2007 Inter-Agency Council on Formulation of WIS organized series of meetings with participation of SWGs and international consultants, as well as representatives of international organizations, private sector and civil society to discuss situation analysis and vision of key problems, priorities of aims of the Strategy, and mechanisms for its realization. On May 24, to present results of these discussions and reconciled vision WIS document chapters wide round table is being organized on May 24, 2007.