Uzbekistan - EduImkon: Redesigning Opportunity, Delivering Educational Equity Program

Overview & Synopsis

The objective of the EduImkon: Redesigning Opportunity, Delivering Educational Equity Program is to improve equitable access, relevance, and sustainability of the student financing support mechanism in the tertiary education sector. The Program-for-Results (PforR, the Program) aims to support the Government of Uzbekistan (GoU) to increase the sustainability, equity, sustainability and labor-market alignment of Uzbekistan’s student financing support system. Through the Higher Education Concept 2030, the GoU is prioritizing the establishment of an equitable, sustainable and labor market aligned student financing system while the Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy places human capital development through education at the center of socio-economic transformation. The Program’s focus on improving the student financing system will increase equitable access to higher education and ensure fiscal and institutional resilience while responding to the needs of the economy. The PforR instrument is well suited to support the government in achieving these objectives, given its strong emphasis on building national systems and strengthening institutions and governance. Disbursements are tied to independently verifiable indicators, creating clear incentives for institutions to perform, while the instrument’s flexible and adaptive funding allows for responding to emerging needs and promote accountability.