On January 6, the Ministry of Justice registered a branch of the U.S. non-governmental organization Winrock International of the Winrock International Institute for Agricultural Development.
"The main goals and objectives of the branch are to help improve nutrition and socio-economic well-being, improve the production of food, fiber and fuel, including livestock, food and non-food products, distribution and rational use of natural resources," the press service of the Ministry of Justice said.
The branch, among other things, will assist in the implementation of the Safe Migration in Central Asia project (SMICA, 2019-2024), funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The budget of the project aimed at preventing human trafficking, protecting survivors, facilitating safe migration, reducing the vulnerability of the population at risk to all forms of human trafficking, and improving identification and assistance to victims of human trafficking in Uzbekistan is US$ 2.34 million.
According to the Winrock’s website, the organization implements over 140 projects in the fields of agriculture, environment and social development in more than 46 countries.
The organization was previously present in Uzbekistan. In 2006, by a decision of a Tashkent court, the representative office was closed for "inconsistency of the office's activities with the stated statutory objectives."
