This research utilizes an innovative approach to the concept of social protection, considering it in a broad sense, including not just welfare and pensions, but a range of policies for the labor market, education system, healthcare, and social programs for providing housing and other assets. This approach provides an opportunity to look at social protection in the context of structural transformation of the economy, anticipated changes in demographic patterns, social structure and changes in the lifestyles and values of people in the medium and long terms. At this new stage of development, social protection has to become an effective tool to stimulate transformative processes in the economy, society and institutions.

The main objective of social protection in the early stages of Uzbekistan’s transition period was to protect vulnerable groups by providing guaranteed incomes. This was successfully achieved. Through a difficult period of structural reforms, social protection mitigated major transitory adverse impacts, maintained social stability and ensured fulfillment of basic social rights.

Today, while economic growth has been strong for almost a decade and the country has graduated to middle-income status, Uzbekistan faces new challenges in transforming the economy and society. These transformations will have a significant effect on the well-being of people, their available choices and social rights. Demand for social services, in terms of both type and quality, will also change. The current social protection model will therefore have to be revised accordingly.

The parameters of the social protection model in this new stage of development will be determined by the targets and objectives of Uzbekistan’s overall development policy in the medium and long terms.