Uzbekistan allocates funds for top volunteer projects

Uzbekistan will annually allocate funds for the top volunteer projects. Additionally, through the Youth Affairs Agency, 5 billion soums will be allocated from the state budget to the Uzbekistan Volunteer Association in 2025.

The volunteer efforts have always been essential in addressing emergencies in Uzbekistan. One of the examples of this is COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteers actively contributed by delivering medicines and aid to the sick and needy.

During the pandemic, 870 volunteers responded to public calls at call centers. More than 7,500 youth volunteers sorted and packed donated products, and over 2,200 youth volunteers delivered these packages to around 500 locations.

The President acknowledged the efforts of approximately 400 volunteers, honoring them with the "Kindness" badge. Despite this recognition, some challenges persist in the development of volunteering:

- State bodies and organizations are not consistently incorporating volunteer involvement into their mission functions, covering areas such as social protection, healthcare, education, culture, sports, tourism, and environmental protection.

- Systematic implementation of training for volunteers in these areas is lacking.

- There is a need for methodological manuals to regulate the activities of volunteers in relevant fields.

- Existing legislation lacks incentive norms for volunteers, such as non-taxation of funds provided to volunteers within the framework of campaigns.

- Employers often overlook volunteer activities when selecting candidates for vacant positions.

To address these issues and promote volunteer rights and freedoms, a resolution is proposed. Starting January 1, 2025, republican and local executive authorities will allocate extra-budgetary funds for the five best volunteer projects in each region. Funding can reach up to 200 times the BCA for each project. Volunteer events will be documented on volontyor.uz, and an electronic registration system will be established through the platform.

The procedure for allocating funds to volunteer groups and organizations will be developed by the authorities based on their respective areas of activity. A yearly practice of approving the list of major volunteer events for the upcoming year will also be established.

Discussion on this draft document will continue until February 1.