Turkmenistan, UN explore measures to mitigate Covid-19’s potential socio-economic impact

AKIPRESS.COM - The UN-Government joint working group (WG) on socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in Turkmenistan has met to discuss the results of a preliminary analysis of possible socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in the country. The analysis was prepared by the UN Country Team in Turkmenistan, preliminary findings of which were presented at the meeting.
During the meeting, the UN agencies welcomed the measures the Government of Turkmenistan is taking to mitigate potential socio-economic impact of the pandemic in Turkmenistan and to reduce the negative impact of the global crisis caused by COVID-19 on the situation in Turkmenistan. In particular, measures on strengthening the health sector, reviewing the fiscal policy, supporting the SMEs, ensuring targeted social protection for vulnerable groups and transition to digital solutions were discussed.
The joint working group was established on 15 April 2020 as a follow up to the call by the UN Secretary General, Mr. Antonio Guterres, on world community to take urgent measures to mitigate the socio-economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on people's livelihoods.
It involves the representatives of the national ministries and UN Agencies represented in Turkmenistan. The main goal of the WG is to coordinate and jointly elaborate measures informed by joint analysis on mitigation of possible socio-economic impact of COVID-19 on vulnerable groups in the country.
The meeting participants agreed to continue the dialogue and that a series of bilateral consultations between the UN Agencies and relevant ministries will take place to review existing programs and develop possible joint initiatives to support the mitigation of socio-economic impact of COVID-19 in the country. The next meeting of the WG is planned in the first half of June 2020.