On 14 – 16 August 2024 UNDP together with Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan (MEF), Tax Committee under the Cabinet of Ministers of Uzbekistan (TC), and the Institute of Fiscal Studies under the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan (IFS) have organized a learning workshop on “Taxation for the Sustainable Development Goals”. The learning course has been designed and delivered by UNDP “Tax for SDGs” technical expert Dr. Laila Latif. The lectures proved to be interesting and have also been attended by tax consultants and legal practitioners.

Training consisted of fundamental and advanced modules, that were aimed at strengthening capacity and technical expertise of tax administration professionals, policy makers and academic researchers. 

The fundamental module, which laid the groundwork for all participants, explored the foundational principles of taxation and their role in achieving the SDGs. It examined the main features of tax systems and the social contract, demonstrating their interlinkages with sustainable development. 

Meanwhile, the tax administrations module focused on the practical aspects of implementing SDG-aligned tax policies. It covered key challenges in tax administration and revenue mobilization, strategies to mitigate these challenges, and the critical issue of combating illicit financial flows. Finally, the academics module emphasized the role of research and education in understanding the connections between taxation and the SDGs. It presented the legal and tax architecture through which SDG-aligned taxation can be realized and demonstrated how academic research contributes to this understanding.

Participants explored topics such as revenue leakages in VAT and customs, the taxation of the informal sector, and the use of digital technologies in tax administration. A special focus was placed on the taxation of Islamic finance and Islamic financial transactions, reflecting Uzbekistan's interest in developing this sector.

Throughout the training, the participants have been engaged in interactive sessions, including quizzes, reflective exercises, and discussions. This participatory approach allowed for practical application of concepts and fostered a deeper understanding of how taxation can be leveraged to support sustainable development in the context of Uzbekistan. 

UNDP “Tax for SDGs” Initiative was launched in April 2022, with co-funding from the Government of Finland and Norway, to support developing countries in increasing domestic resource mobilization (DRM) and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative is a part of UNDP’s Sustainable Finance Hub and currently covers 25 focus countries across the world.