Norway has contributed 9.5 million NOK, or 1.1 million US dollars, to become the first country to contribute to the United Nations Multi-Trust Trust Fund for Human Security for the Aral Sea region in Uzbekistan. The deal was signed on April 1 between the Government of Norway and the UN Trust Fund Office in New York, the UN Office in Uzbekistan.
The Fund, which was set up under the auspices of the United Nations in 2018, provides a single platform for cooperation at the national and international levels and aims to address the environmental and socio-economic problems of the Aral Sea region, as well as at swift achievement of global sustainable development goals.
The Government of Uzbekistan has pledged 6.5 million dollars to the Trust Fund, of which 2 million dollars have already been transferred.
“The Multi-Partner Human Security Trust Fund for the Aral Sea allows the government and partners to work together to develop solutions that focus on people based on facts and the needs of communities, with particular emphasis on capacity building and innovation,” said the UN Resident Coordinator in Uzbekistan Helena Fraser.
“We welcome Norway’s decision for commitment to help solve the problems in the Aral Sea basin. This decision confirms Norway’s determination to promote accelerated sustainable development in Uzbekistan” she said.
