Tashkent – Uzbekistan – the Uzbekistan Resilient Landscape Restoration Project (RESILAND Uzbekistan) in cooperation with the Agency of Forestry under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan organized a one-day workshop entitled “Code of Conduct on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment, Violence and Discrimination” on July 29, 2026.
Directors of forestry enterprises (leskhozes), staff of the Agency of Forestry, and workers engaged in the implementation of the RESILAND Uzbekistan Project were introduced to the requirements of the Code of Conduct aimed at preventing sexual exploitation, harassment and gender-based violence.
Following the training, all 37 directors of the forestry enterprises covered by the project signed the Code of Conduct, thereby confirming their acceptance of its provisions and their commitment to comply with the established standards.
Ensuring equal employment opportunities and promoting gender safety are integral to Component 2 and Subcomponent 2.2 of the Project. Under these components, more than 10,000 new jobs are expected to be created for local communities, while 200 existing enterprises will receive support and 50 new enterprises will be established.
To strengthen preventive measures, the RESILAND Uzbekistan Project has engaged a national GBV/SEA/SH specialist — Kamola Alieva, an expert in gender equality, prevention of gender-based violence and monitoring & evaluation. Her role is to ensure the prevention of any potential cases of violence throughout the project implementation period, including in remote forestry enterprise areas across Uzbekistan.
The Director of the Agency of Forestry, Erkin Mukhitdinov, highlighted the importance of this step.
“This is an important measure within the forestry enterprise system to prevent GBV/SEA/SH. No such cases have ever been recorded in the history of the forestry enterprises, and we will make every effort to ensure that they do not occur on our territories,” Erkin Mukhitdinov stated.
The Code of Conduct has been developed in accordance with standards, the Project’s Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) and the SEA/SH Action Plan. It is mandatory for directors of forestry enterprises, permanent staff, seasonal workers and all persons involved in the implementation of the RESILAND Uzbekistan Project.
For inquiries regarding the Action Plan on the Prevention of GBV/SEA/SH, please contact: resilanduz@gmail.com
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The Uzbekistan Resilient Landscape Restoration Project (RESILAND Uzbekistan) is part of the World Bank’s RESILAND CA+ program, aimed at strengthening landscape resilience across Central Asian countries. Similar national and regional activities are also being implemented in Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
RESILAND Uzbekistan is implemented by the Agency for Increasing Forests and Green Areas and Combating Desertification under the National Committee on Ecology and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan, with financial support from the World Bank, PROGREEN, and KWPF.
The Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) implements the regional component of the Uzbekistan Resilient Landscape Restoration Project.
Contact information:
Asferachew Abate – Senior Environmental Specialist, The World Bank
Dildora Aralova – Environmental safety specialist, the Agency for Afforestation, Expansion of Green Areas, and Combating Desertification under the Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection, and Climate Change of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Shahlo Amanbaeva – Social and Gender Specialist
Azamat Kauazov – Deputy Team Leader of Uzbekistan Resilient Landscape Restoration project: regional component, CAREC