The deep dive session held on 20 November 2025 by the Permanent Missions of Uzbekistan and Germany, together with the Joint SDG Fund, showcased Uzbekistan’s progress under the Global Accelerator on Jobs and Social Protection for Just Transitions. The discussion highlighted the country’s focus on formalization as one of its key pathways to speed up SDG achievement and ensure inclusivity. The event also served as a platform for Global Accelerator pathfinder countries, the UN, and the World Bank to reflect on factors driving this transformation.
Germany announced a new €5 million contribution to the Joint SDG Fund, framing the Global Accelerator as a powerful example of how strategic partnerships can generate systemic solutions. Uzbekistan’s Ambassador underlined the country’s strong advances with support from the UN and the World Bank, emphasizing that investing in social protection is one of the wisest national strategies. Senior UN and donor representatives also praised pooled financing mechanisms, noting their role in boosting coordination and impact across the UN system.
Experts from the ILO outlined three key success factors behind the Global Accelerator’s progress: high-level government and UN backing, integrated policy approaches that improve financing and implementation, and national roadmaps that build consensus and foster coherent technical and financial support. Uzbekistan’s Social Policy Lab added that the country aims to formalize 350,000 jobs, highlighting formalization as a critical tool for strengthening social insurance and addressing informality alongside green, digital, and inclusive transitions.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan explained that the Global Accelerator is gaining momentum, especially in addressing the country’s high informality rate, which affects 40 per cent of the workforce. She shared concrete results from UN Joint Programmes, including support for employment injury insurance, care worker training, decent job access, and expanded maternity protection. She also noted that formalizing 300,000 jobs could generate around USD 200,000 in new annual tax revenue, demonstrating the economic returns of coordinated action toward universal social protection.
The World Bank reaffirmed its commitment through the M-GA platform, which enhances collaboration between UN agencies and international financial institutions. Donor interest in the session was high, with the Netherlands noting the value of concrete evidence showing how the Joint SDG Fund is driving real progress and mobilizing domestic resources. The session closed with a call to continue achieving “more with less” through sustained cooperation and systemic reform.
