The UNDP Enhancing Legislative and Institutional Environment for Equal Employment Opportunities for Women and Men of Uzbekistan (Equal Opportunities) project together with Khokimiyat of Gallaaral, ‘Istiqbolli Avlod’ youth centre and Marjon Tog private company opened a dairy factory in Gallaaral district of Jizzah region. The dairy factory is one of the four social enterprises, established with the support of the project contributing to rural development and income generation, providing socially handicapped women with rehabilitation through work integration.

The choice of the region and the sector are not accidental. Gallaral district breeds large amount of cattle; however, up to now, has had no processing units for the produced milk. Sour milk, cottage cheese, pasteurized milk, cream, and cheese used to be imported from other regions of Uzbekistan. Thus, in addition to income generation to suppliers of milk, work integration of vulnerable group of women, the factory will contribute to improved and enriched diet of local residents, by distributing through a subsidized school breakfast program targeting pupils at local primary school.

On the same day, the UNDP Support in Enhancing of Local Governance System and Participatory Governance in Uzbekistan (Local Governance) project gathered local partners and stakeholders for an official project launch event. "Through the Local Governance project, implemented with the Cabinet of Ministers, UNDP in Uzbekistan develops capacities of local authorities in two pilot regions of Jizzah and Namangan to better address social issues and foster improved access to public, services, build partnership between civil society, private sector and local government", – explained Aziza Umarova, Head of UNDP Good Governance Unit to the local communities and authorities.

The Equal Opportunities and Local Governance projects contribute to effective governance through competence, accountability and ownership of activities and results from local authorities and communities. Both projects are part of the Good Governance portfolio of UNDP in Uzbekistan which currently includes eight projects dealing with e-governance, capacity building of national institutions, support for people with disabilities, gender empowerment, HIV/AIDS prevention and border management. Since 1993 UNDP in Uzbekistan has been working together with a multitude of partners to bring development closer to people of Uzbekistan.