Uzbekistan Country Gender Assessment: Update

Key Gender Equality Issues

In 2016, women were underrepresented in the Ministry of agriculture (14.5% women vs. 85.5% men) and administrative and maintenance staff (13% women vs. 87% men). the ratio of women and men in technical staff was a little higher (20.4% women vs. 79.6% men). Similarly, the ratio of women and men in the forestry and logging subsector was 16.9% vs. 83.1%, respectively (13.2% vs. 86.8% in management and 17.5% vs. 82.5% in administrative and maintenance staff, respectively).¹⁵⁴

Over 90% of staff in local forestry organizations are male. Occupations in this sector are considered more appropriate for men because they entail regular working hours and continuous overtime. Forestry is unpopular among female vocational college students, who do not associate work in a forest organization with their professional development.¹⁵⁵

Representation of women-led farmer enterprises is quite low (5% on average) and has regional differences, with the highest percentage in the Republic of Karakalpakstan (14%), an autonomous republic located within the borders of Uzbekistan, and the lowest in the Syrdarya region (0.75%).¹⁵⁶ the reasons for this drastic disparity require further study and analysis.

¹⁵⁰ decree of the president #2966 (11 May 2017). On Establishment of the State Forestry Committee under the Cabinet of Ministers.
¹⁵¹ decree of the president of the Republic of Uzbekistan # 2113 (22 January 2014). On Measures for Implementation of the Horticulture Sector Development in the Republic of Uzbekistan with