UNICEF and the Government of Turkmenistan successfully concluded a series of technical consultations designed to optimize the utilization of public finance data. The joint initiative focused on improving the planning, monitoring, and overall quality of state expenditures allocated for child welfare. The sessions were facilitated by Mr. Ulugbek Olimov, Social Sector Financing Advisor at UNICEF’s Global Center of Excellence, who visited Ashgabat for this institutional brief.

The official itinerary included high-level meetings with executives and technical experts from the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, the Ministry of Education, and the River of Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. Additionally, a specialized two-day technical seminar was conducted with representatives from multiple line ministries managing the state's social sectors.

During the working sessions, the participants evaluated methods to leverage current budget classifications and institutional reporting frameworks. Accessing precise public expenditure data will allow policymakers to acquire a comprehensive understanding of investments routed toward early childhood development, pre-primary education, social security networks, and primary healthcare services.

The working groups identified potential pilot frameworks to evaluate social spending trends and enhance inter-sectoral communication channels. In the education sector, strategic spending patterns related to preschool preparation programs were audited, while primary sanitation and healthcare costs were prioritized for optimization. Working alongside the Ministry of Finance and Economy, the delegation formulated goals to improve budget accountability and streamline the tracking of state capital invested in children's development.