The Ministry of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan in partnership with the World Bank, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Healthcare and Social Protection, the Ministry of Labor, Migration and Employment of Population, and development partners will host the International Human Capital Forum 2024 titled “Investing in people for economic growth”.
Developing and investing in human capital—the knowledge, skills, and health that people accumulate throughout their lives, enabling them to realize their potential as productive members of society—is essential for building a more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable economy in Tajikistan and Central Asia.
The International Human Capital Forum 2024 will serve as a call to action for more and better investment in human capital formation. Planned as a continuation of Tajikistan’s “Year of Human Capital” declared in 2023, the Forum aims to ensure that this critical development priority remains central to policy discussions.
The IHCF is envisaged as a 2-day event in Dushanbe with high-level speakers, high-level regional government leadership, national and international academicians, and World Bank management invited as speakers. The Forum is planned for May 14-15, 2024. It will be conducted in in-person format with the open participation. The IHCF anticipates accommodating a maximum of 250 attendees, including representatives from Ministries and agencies of the Republic of Tajikistan and other Central Asian countries, local authorities of the Republic of Tajikistan, development partners, academia, civil society organizations and youth. This forum seeks to identify an integrated vision for human capital accumulation and protection across the life cycle and contribute to holistic and equity-oriented policy dialogue.
Forum discussions will consolidate sectoral policies in health, education, and social protection towards an integrated vision for human capital accumulation across an individual’s life cycle and contribute to holistic and equity-oriented policy dialogue to inform human capital investments in Tajikistan. This will be achieved by identifying key challenges and opportunities in human development and providing a platform for learning, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. The event aims to share best practices in human capital formation from within Tajikistan and globally to identify successful policy actions needed to ensure equal opportunities for human capital formation for all in the country.
Developing Central Asia’s Human Capital
Seeing the Impact of World Bank Health Sector Investments in Tajikistan’s Khatlon Region
Advancing Tajikistan’s Health Agenda through Partnership with the GFF
Early Childhood Development to Build Tajikistan’s Human Capital
Anna Bjerde’s Visit to Rehabilitated School in Saroy Village, Uzbekistan
Central Asian Countries Commit to One Health
Time | Schedule |
Day 1 (May 14, 2024) | |
08:30-09:30 | Welcome tea/coffee Registration of participants |
09:30-10:30 | Welcome remarks (Hall A) · Mr. Faiziddin Qahhorzoda, Minister of Finance, Republic of Tajikistan (Moderator) Speakers: · Ms. Dilrabo Mansuri, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tajikistan · Ms. Mamta Murthi, Vice President for Human Development, World Bank (video message) · Ms. Tatiana Proskuryakova, Regional Director for Central Asia, World Bank · Mr. Michal Rutkowski, Regional Director for Human Development, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank |
10:30-11:30 | Plenary Session (Hall A) Opening remarks: Mr. Ozan Sevimli, Country Manager for Tajikistan, World Bank (Chair and Moderator) Keynote speech: “Unleashing the Potential of Tajikistan’s Human Capital”, Mr. Faiziddin Qahhorzoda, Minister of Finance, Republic of Tajikistan Plenary Speech: “Human Capital Policy for Development”, Mr. Norbert Schady, Chief Economist on Human Development, Vice President Unit, World Bank Q&A session Key takeaways: Mr. Ozan Sevimli, Country Manager for Tajikistan, World Bank |
11:30-12:15 | Tea/coffee break Press, photos, interviews |
12:15-13:00 | Plenary Session (Hall A) Opening remarks: Ms. Tatiana Proskuryakova, Regional Director for Central Asia, World Bank (Chair and Moderator) Conversation between: · Ms. Tatiana Proskuryakova, Regional Director for Central Asia, World Bank · Dr. Sen Gong, Director and Professor, Centre for International Studies on Development and Governance, Zhejiang & Zhejiang University (CiSDG) Key takeaways: Ms. Tatiana Proskuryakova, Regional Director for Central Asia, World Bank |
13:00-13:30 | Plenary Session (Hall A) Opening remarks: Mr. Tigran Shmis, Senior Education Specialist, World Bank (Moderator) Keynote speech: “Achieving change through advocacy and innovation”, Mr. Takaharu Tezuka, Architect and Professor at Tokyo City University, Japan Q&A session Key takeaways: Mr. Tigran Shmis, Senior Education Specialist, World Bank |
13:30-15:00 | Lunch |
Parallel Sessions | |
15:00-17:00 | Session 1a: Making quality Early Childhood Education and Care available to all (Hall A) Opening remarks: · Mr. Octavian Bivol, Deputy Regional Director, Europe and Central Asia, UNICEF (Moderator) · Mr. Rahim Hamro Saidzoda, Minister of Education of the Republic of Tajikistan Keynote Speech: “Early childhood development: Laying the foundations of human capital”, Prof. Frank Oberklaid, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, University of Melbourne, Australia Panel Discussion: · Mr. Norbert Schady, Chief Economist, Human Development, World Bank · Mr. Yusuf Majidi, First Deputy Minister of Finance, Republic of Tajikistan · Mr. Zafar Usanov, Head of the Preschool Education Development Department, Ministry of School and Preschool Education of the Republic of Uzbekistan Q&A session Key takeaways: Mr. Octavian Bivol, Deputy Regional Director, Europe and Central Asia, UNICEF |
15:00-17:00 | Session 1b: Role of Social Protection of Human Capital (Hall B) Opening remarks: Mr. Shodikhon Jamshed, Deputy Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population, Republic of Tajikistan Keynote Speech: “Social Protection Role in the Human Capital Accumulation and Resilience”, Mr. Michal Rutkowski, Regional Director for Human Development, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank (Moderator) Panel Discussion: · Ms. Pamela Dale, Regional Advisor, Social Policy and Economic Analysis, Europe and Central Asia, UNICEF · Mr. Laurent Bossavie, Senior Economist, Global Practice for Social Protection and Jobs, World Bank · Dr. Sen Gong, Director, Centre for International Studies on Development and Governance, Zhejiang & Zhejiang University (CiSDG), The People’s Republic of China · Mr. Khurshid Zafari, Head of the Institute for the Development of Social Protection, National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Q&A session Key takeaways: Mr. Michal Rutkowski, Regional Director for Human Development, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank |
17:00-17:30 | Closing remarks (Hall A) · Mr. Michal Rutkowski, Regional Director for Human Development, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank · Mr. Yusuf Majidi, First Deputy Minister of Finance, Republic of Tajikistan |
Day 2 (May 15, 2024) | |
08:30-09:00 | Registration of participants |
09:00-09:15 | Welcome remarks (Hall A) · Mr. Ozan Sevimli, Country Manager for Tajikistan, World Bank · Mr. Yusuf Majidi, First Deputy Minister of Finance, Republic of Tajikistan |
Parallel Sessions | |
09:15-11:00 | Sessions 2a: Investing in Nutrition for Long-Term Returns: Improved Human Capital and Productivity (Hall A) Opening remarks: Dr. Juan Pablo Uribe, Global Director for Health, Nutrition & Population, World Bank and the Global Financing Facility for women, children and adolescents (Chair and Moderator) Keynote speech: “Prosper Tomorrow: Invest in Comprehensive Nutrition Interventions Today”, Ms. Afshan Khan, Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations and Coordinator of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement. Plenary speech: “Can Malnourished Children Learn and Earn enough to build human capital?” Dr. Meera Shekar, Global Lead, Nutrition, World Bank Panel Discussion: · “Indonesia – multisectoral action for improved nutrition outcomes”, Ms. Siti Alfiah, Intermediate Policy Analyst, Assistant Deputy for Human Development, Deputy of Policy Support for Human Development and Equitable Development, the Secretariat of Vice President, the Republic of Indonesia & Mr. Iing Mursalin, Program Manager, the Secretariat of Vice President, the Republic of Indonesia · “Colombia – how to create healthy cities to tackle the non-communicable diseases burden”, Mr. Norman Maldonado, Health Economist, Health Nutrition & Population, World Bank Q&A session Key takeaways: Dr. Juan Pablo Uribe, Global Director for Health, Nutrition & Population, World Bank and the Global Financing Facility for women, children and adolescents |
09:15-11:00 | Session 2b: Quality of Education: Nurturing Human Capital Accumulation (Hall B) Opening remarks: Ms. Tazeen Fasih, Lead Economist, Program Leader, Human Development, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank (Moderator) Keynote speech: “Student Learning and Economic Growth”, Mr. Rafael De Hoyos, Lead Economist, Program Leader, World Bank Panel Discussion: · Mr. Jamshed Jurazoda, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Republic of Tajikistan · Mr. Adham Eshchanov, Director of the Department of Economy and Finance of the Social Sector, the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan · Mr. Sabzali Jafarzoda, Director of the National Testing Center of the Republic of Tajikistan · Ms. Kulyash Shamshidinova, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of “The Fund for Sustainable Development of Education”, Republic of Kazakhstan · Mr. Almazbek Toktomametov, Director of the Republican Institute for Advanced Studies and Retraining of Teachers, Kyrgyz Republic · Video message from a teacher and a student from Tajikistan Q&A session Key takeaways: Ms. Tazeen Fasih, Lead Economist, Program Leader, Human Development, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank |
11:00-11:30 | Tea/coffee break |
Parallel Sessions | |
11:30-13:00
| Session 3a: Breaking Barriers, Empowering Women (Hall A) Opening remarks: Mr. Ozan Sevimli, Country Manager for Tajikistan, World Bank (Moderator) TED-style talks: · Mr. Alisher Rajabov, Senior Economist, Poverty and Equity Global Practice, World Bank · Ms. Solene Rougeaux, Senior Social Protection Specialist, World Bank · Ms. Gulnoza Mamadalieva, a young female leader from Tajikistan · Ms. Mavluda Shirinova, NGO "SABR", Uzbekistan · Ms. Aziza Hamidova, UNAIDS Country Director in Tajikistan Q&A session Key takeaways: Mr. Ozan Sevimli, Country Manager for Tajikistan, World Bank |
11:30-13:00 | Session 3b: How to Protect, Build, and Use Human Capital to Address Climate Change (Hall B) Opening remarks: Ms. Tatiana Proskuryakova, Regional Director for Central Asia, World Bank (Moderator) Panel Discussion: · Mr. Arthur van Diesen, Tajikistan Country Representative, UNICEF · Mr. Adham Musallam, Country Director for Tajikistan, UN World Food Program (WFP) · Ms. Rita Almeida, Practice Manager, Education, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank · Ms. Ikuko Uochi, Senior Economist, Poverty and Equity Global Practice, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank Q&A session · Key takeaways: Ms. Tatiana Proskuryakova, Regional Director for Central Asia, World Bank |
13:00-14:30 | Lunch |
Parallel Sessions | |
14:30-16:30 | Session 4a: Health is Wealth: Investing in Health as a Keystone to Human Capital Development (Hall A) Opening Remarks: · Dr. Rekha Menon, Practice Manager, Health, Nutrition & Population, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank (Moderator) · Dr. Jamoliddin Abdullozoda, Minister of Health and Social Protection of the Population, Republic of Tajikistan Keynote speech: “Health is Wealth: Investing in Health as a Keystone to Human Capital Development”, Dr. Juan Pablo Uribe, Global Director for Health, Nutrition & Population, World Bank and the Global Financing Facility for women, children and adolescents Case Studies: · “Reforms to expand and deepen UHC in China”, Dr. Sen Gong, Director, Centre for International Studies on Development and Governance, Zhejiang & Zhejiang University (CiSDG), The People’s Republic of China · “Türkiye’s Health Transformation Program: a people-oriented, comprehensive and efficient approach”, Prof. Recep Akdağ, former Minister of Health, Türkiye Panel Discussion: · Prof. Sumit Mazumdar, Health Economist, Centre for Health Economics, University of York, United Kingdom · Prof. Recep Akdağ, former Minister of Health, Türkiye · Dr. Bubuzhan Arykbayeva, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Health of the Kyrgyz Republic Q&A Session Key takeaways: Dr. Rekha Menon, Practice Manager, Health, Nutrition & Population, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank |
14:30-16:30 | Session 4b: Enhancing Skills and Employability to Meet Labor Market Needs (Hall B) Opening remarks: Mr. Aziz Haydarov, Project Administration Unit Head, Asian Development Bank (Moderator) Keynote speech: “Reimagining tertiary education in a resource constrained and changing environment: perspectives and implications for Central Asian countries”, Mr. Francisco Marmolejo, President of Higher Education, Qatar Foundation Panel Discussion: · Ms. Gulnora Khasanzoda, Minister of Labor, Migration and Employment of the Republic of Tajikistan · Ms. Lutfia Abdulholikzoda, Deputy Minister of Education and Science of the Republic of Tajikistan · Mr. Rafael De Hoyos, Lead Economist, Program Leader, Europe and Central Asia, World Bank · Mr. Farukh Sultonov, International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group · Ms. Gulanor Atobek, Chief Executive Officer, Alif Bank · Ms. Eva Jansova, Human Capital Development Expert, European Training Foundation Q&A session Key takeaways: Mr. Aziz Haydarov, Project Administration Unit Head, Asian Development Bank |
16:30-17:00 | Conclusions and closing remarks (Hall A) · Ms. Tatiana Proskuryakova, Regional Director for Central Asia, World Bank · “Statement on Investments for Human Capital Development”, Mr. Faiziddin Qahhorzoda, Minister of Finance of the Republic of Tajikistan |
