Sector Assistance Program Evaluation on Education in Uzbekistan

Overall Assessment on 
Strategic Positioning 
On the whole, ADB’s strategic positioning was executed well (rating: 
substantial). 
ADB = Asian Development Bank, CSP = country strategy and program, ESDP = Education Sector Development 
Program, GTZ = Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit, ICT = information and communication 
technology, JFPR = Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction, TA = technical assistance.
Source: Independent Evaluation Department. 
2. 
Contribution to Development Results 
62. 
This section looks at ADB's contribution to the country’s development results through its 
education sector assistance, specifically to (i) pro-poor growth, (ii) social development/MDGs, 
and (iii) good governance and capacity building. Results are in Table 6. 
 
 
 
 

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Table 6: Contribution to Development Results 
 
Key Area 
Assessment 
1. Pro-poor growth 
The textbook rental scheme was a highpoint of ADB’s pro-poor 
emphasis in educational investments. By producing quality long-
lasting textbooks and enabling them to be circulated among pupils 
on a rental basis, the Basic Education Textbook Development 
Project generated savings for households as well as the public 
budget. Similarly, ADB’s initiative in promoting quality basic 
education in rural areas is likely to be pro-poor, as most of the 
poor in Uzbekistan reside in rural regions. 
2. Social 
development/ 
Millennium Development 
Goals 
ADB’s education assistance has helped promote social 
development by maintaining high levels of literacy and education 
in the country. Gender equity prevails in basic education, and a 
large proportion of teachers are female. In addition, textbooks and 
instruction materials have been reviewed for gender biases. Labor 
migration overseas boosts population welfare through remittances 
and current consumption standards. Uzbekistan has accomplished 
universal education in the country. 
3. Good governance and 
capacity building 
The spread of ICT under ADB education assistance helps improve 
governance in the country by promoting communication and 
transparency in public transactions. This is likely to increase 
pressure for evidence-based policymaking and implementation. 
Involvement of employers, parents, and civil society organizations 
in school matters (through the family-mahalla-school nexus) 
boosts governance at the grass roots of the education sector. It is 
capable of spreading beneficial effects beyond the schools.