International Forum on Poverty Reduction “From Poverty to Prosperity”
International Forum on Poverty Reduction “From Poverty to Prosperity”
(September 17–18, 2025, Namangan, Republic of Uzbekistan)
In recent decades, the issues of poverty reduction and sustainable development have gained global significance. Despite considerable progress in addressing these challenges, poverty remains one of the most serious problems of our time, requiring comprehensive and innovative approaches. Effective poverty reduction must take into account both global trends and local specifics, which highlights the importance of exchanging best practices and pooling efforts at the international level.
The International Forum on Poverty Reduction “From Poverty to Prosperity”, to be held on September 17–18, 2025, in Namangan, Uzbekistan, will provide a unique platform for discussing the most pressing issues of poverty alleviation and sharing experiences among countries, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
Under the leadership of President H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, the Republic of Uzbekistan attaches high priority to poverty reduction by implementing large-scale reforms aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, creating jobs, and improving access to education and healthcare.
Sustained high economic growth in the country has enabled a reduction in the poverty rate from 23% in 2019 to 9% in 2024.
Holding a high-level event in one of the most densely populated regions of the country — the Fergana Valley — will vividly demonstrate Uzbekistan’s focused attention on solving these issues. It will show how national initiatives can serve as a foundation for achieving global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and emphasize the practical and targeted nature of the measures being undertaken.
Special emphasis will be placed on advancing Uzbekistan’s current initiatives aimed at reducing poverty, especially in rural areas, and considering innovative solutions to help achieve the SDGs.
Uzbekistan, as an active participant in global efforts to combat poverty, pays special attention to addressing socio-economic challenges at both the national and regional levels.
In recent years, the country has implemented a number of successful programs and initiatives aimed at improving people’s well-being, creating new jobs, and enhancing social infrastructure. Uzbekistan strives to align its development strategy with the efforts of the international community and to adopt the world’s best practices and approaches for achieving the SDGs, particularly in the context of eradicating poverty.
The Forum in Namangan is intended to be an important milestone in the practical implementation of the global agenda on poverty eradication and in demonstrating countries’ achievements and ambitions in this area.
The United Nations plays an important role in addressing poverty, having set sustainable development, peace, and prosperity for all as its goals since its founding.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as a leading institution in this field, actively supports countries in implementing national strategies to eradicate poverty and achieve the SDGs. The UN plays a key role in coordinating the efforts of international organizations, countries, and the private sector to create effective solutions aimed at poverty reduction and improving people’s lives.
As UN Secretary-General António Guterres noted: “Our efforts to eradicate poverty must focus on the most vulnerable, for without achieving these goals, we cannot build a just and sustainable future for all.”
The Forum will be an important step towards strengthening global partnerships and joint efforts aimed at eradicating poverty and ensuring a sustainable future for all countries.
Conference objectives:
1. To discuss best practices and innovative approaches to poverty reduction.
2. To draw international attention to Uzbekistan’s current poverty reduction initiatives, especially in rural areas.
3. To create a reputable platform for strengthening partnerships and promoting Uzbekistan’s interests in dialogue with governments, international organizations, the private sector, and civil society.
4. To develop joint recommendations for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to poverty eradication and to demonstrate a proactive position and progressive state policy in this field.
5. To reach concrete agreements on attracting financial and technical assistance from foreign donors for the implementation of socially significant projects in Uzbekistan.
International partners:
1. UN programs and agencies:
- UNDP
- ILO
- FAO
- UNFPA
2. International financial institutions:
- World Bank;
- Islamic Development Bank;
- International Finance Corporation;
- Asian Development Bank;
- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
3. Development agencies:
-GIZ;
- JICA;
- KOICA;
- China International Development Cooperation Agency;
- TIKA;
- EU programs in Uzbekistan.
4. Other organizations, NGOs, and academia:
- Oxford Poverty and Human Development Initiative;
- Columbia University Center for Sustainable Development;
- Center for China and Globalization (CCG).
Participants:
The Forum will be open to high-level participants, including heads of relevant government bodies, as well as leading experts and scholars in international relations, sustainable development, and poverty reduction.
Invitees include heads of international organizations and financial institutions such as the UN and its specialized agencies, the Islamic Development Bank, International Finance Corporation, International Labour Organization, Asian Development Bank, World Bank, and representatives of the private sector, civil society, NGOs, the business community, and the media.
An important aspect will be the participation of local government representatives, as poverty eradication is closely linked to regional development.
Discussion topics:
- Creation of sustainable jobs;
- The role of green technologies and digitalization in sustainable development;
- Infrastructure development: urbanization and master plans;
- Social protection and inclusive economic programs;
- Best practices for sustainable rural development;
- Demographic factors influencing poverty levels;
- Support for small and medium-sized businesses as a key driver of job and income growth;
- Strengthening the agricultural sector to ensure food security;
- Environmental sustainability and its impact on economic development.
Format of the event:
The Forum will be organized as a two-day event, including plenary sessions, thematic panels, round tables, and master classes. The program will cover key issues related to global and local initiatives to combat poverty and promote sustainable development. Each panel session will be co-hosted by an international organization and a designated body from the Government of Uzbekistan. As part of the Forum, separate side events organized by international organizations are also planned.
Organizational matters:
The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan will provide participants with internal transportation and assist in booking hotel accommodations.
Contacts:
The Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan has launched the Forum’s website: www.forumpr.imv.uz.
Contact person for Forum organization: Alisher Yoldoshev (Alisher.Yoldoshev@imv.uz or +998 93 432-42-41).
