Public Finance
Realization of children’s rights through supporting the best possible use of public budget
UNICEF recognizes that improving child outcomes often hinges on addressing challenges within public financial management (PFM) system. To tackle this, UNICEF champions child-centered approaches in PFM to prioritize child well-being and rights in budgetary frameworks. This involves advocating for increased effectiveness and efficiency of budget allocations for children, enhancing budgetary data quality, transparency, and accountability, and supporting the establishment of effective monitoring mechanisms, including parliamentary and public oversight.
Through partnerships with relevant institutions, in particular the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan, Parliament, other line ministries and agencies, UNICEF strives to improve public spending on child-sensitive sectors like education, health, and social protection.
UNICEF’ support has been instrumental in advancing the country's public finance management system to prioritize child-focused outcomes.
Through its support, UNICEF facilitated the development and adoption of critical regulations by the Cabinet of Ministers, establishing procedures for implementing Programme-based Budgeting in Uzbekistan. The regulations address various challenges hindering child development outcomes by enhancing effectiveness, efficiency, transparency, and accountability in budget allocations.
Furthermore, UNICEF Uzbekistan has focused on enhancing institutional and staff capacities to effectively implement child-focused budgeting practices. Through comprehensive training programs attended by over 135 public officials from various ministries and agencies, UNICEF introduced its Global Framework on Public Finance for Children, emphasizing principles of Program Based Budgeting and Results Based Management.
UNICEF has strategically increased awareness of Public Finance for Children principles, positioning itself as a credible partner in advocating for child-focused budgeting through bilateral and multilateral engagements, including financing dialogues and thematic discussions on governance reforms.
UNICEF demonstrated a strong commitment to evidence-based policy formulation. This work utilizes various quantitative and qualitative analysis tools to provide decision-makers with comprehensive insights into enhancing child well-being. By offering fiscally feasible proposals and recommendations for improving the adequacy, effectiveness, efficiency, equitability and transparency public investment into children, adolescents and their families, UNICEF Uzbekistan significantly contributes to prioritizing the needs and rights of children and young people in the country.
UNICEF's planned public finance for children initiatives in Uzbekistan are strategically designed to improve public finances dedicated to improving children's welfare. The focus encompasses collaborating with the Ministry of Economy and Finance to develop and utilize a methodology for tracking and regularly publishing child-sensitive, gender-responsive, and inclusive public expenditures as well as with Parliament to advocate for increased budgetary oversight in the best interest of children, adolescents, and their families. Furthermore, efforts will be continued towards implementing RBM and PBB approaches to enable effective planning, execution, monitoring, evaluation, and reporting of public spending for children and youth across all levels of governance.