Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment: Update

Government Commitments

the government is keen to continue its short- and long-term strategy for building affordable housing, together with improved trade and transport services; ensured access to electricity, natural gas, and drinking water; and the construction of kindergartens and schools, cultural objects and sports, and modern roads. New residential areas form a single complex that includes the necessary infrastructure, particularly 415 kilometers (km) of drinking water pipes, 320 km of gas pipelines, almost 300 km of power lines, and thousands of kilometers of new or renovated main and secondary roads.¹³⁸

Since 1996, citizens’ participation in real estate ownership and housing construction has been reflected in six official codes¹³⁹ and eight laws, including the Law on Collateral, the Law on Mortgages, 29 decrees of the president, and 44 decrees of the Cabinet of Ministers. In 2016– 2017, decrees of the president endorsed five key legal acts related to housing construction.¹⁴⁰ Moreover, the government incentives provided for SMe growth in rural housing complexes specifically benefit women entrepreneurs. ¹⁴¹ One priority of the Strategy of actions for 2017– 2021 involves the implementation of target programs for affordable housing.

3. ADB Interventions

the HIRdIp (2011–2015) was aimed at accelerating rural development, increasing rural job and livelihood opportunities, and improving rural living conditions, thus providing an attractive alternative to urban migration. adB cofinanced the HIRdIp as a multi-sector


¹³⁶ adB. 2016. Uzbekistan: Housing for Integrated Rural Development Program. Social and Gender Survey. Uzbekistan Resident Mission. p. 45.
¹³⁷ Most respondents (74.5%) said that access to basic infrastructure was crucial to buying a new home within a building. adB. 2016. Socio-economic survey of HIRD beneficiary households. Institute for Social Research under CoM for adB.
¹³⁸ the National Information agency of Uzbekistan. 2017. The Speech of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, 8 March. http://uza. uz/ru/politics/vystuplenie-prezidenta-respubliki-uzbekistan-shavkata-mirziye-06-03-2017
¹³⁹ the Land Code, Civil Code, Housing Code, Family Code, administrative Code, and tax Code.
¹⁴⁰ decree of the president # 2639 (21 October.2016). On Extension of the State Affordable Rural Housing Program. decree of the president #2728 (13 January 2017). On Financing of Construction, Reconstruction and Sale of Apartments in Apartment Buildings for Young Families, Residents of Old Houses and Other Categories of Citizens Needy in Housing Conditions Improvement. decree of the president # 2812 (02 March 2017). The Program on Construction of Affordable Houses on the Updated Model Projects in Rural Areas by 2017-2021. decree of the president # 2858 (30 March 2017). The Program of Construction of Official Residential Houses for Heads of Executive Authorities and Territorial Subdivisions of State Bodies for 2017-2018. decree of the president # 2906 (20 april 2017). The Program on Construction of Housing for
2017-2018 to the Internal Affairs Inspectors, Located Directly on the Territory of their Service. decree of the president #2660 (22 November 2017). On Measures for Effective Implementation of the State Program of Construction and Reconstruction
of Affordable Apartment Buildings in the Cities for 2017-2022. decree of the president # 2859 (30 March 2017). On Additional Measures for Effective Implementation of the State Program on Construction and Reconstruction of Affordable Apartment Buildings in the Cities for 2017-2022.
¹⁴¹ e.g., tax exemptions for graduates of vocational colleges during the first 6 months of private entrepreneurship.
Mainstreaming Gender in ADB Operations, by Sector 47

project. the HIRdIp acted as an engine of local development in diverse sectors of the national economy, including (i) banking; (ii) construction; (iii) construction materials production;

(iv) communication and roads; (v) electricity, water, and gas supply; (vi) furniture production;
(vii) carpet weaving; (viii) textile and home appliance production, etc. Interestingly, 75% of all construction materials for the HIRdIp are produced locally, and with accompanying ramified service networks. all these produce thousands of jobs, including many for returning migrants who used to work as construction workers and could contribute their skills and experience in innovative technologies.

In September 2016, the government amended the State affordable Rural Housing program (SaRHp) and extended it to 2021. adB and the government agreed to process the SaRHp

(a $500 million loan project) using a results-based modality to minimize transaction costs and bring a sharper focus on results. In late 2017, the construction of 15,000 homes started in the rural areas. the results-based program will cover 29,000 houses in 9 of Uzbekistan’s 13 regions; adB will collaborate with three of the six banks working on the SaRHp.

4.