Empowering Uzbekistan’s Digital Future for Persons with Disabilities

Uzbekistan is making strides in building an inclusive digital economy, but persons with disabilities still face barriers in accessing digital skills and employment. The recent World Bank report, Accelerating the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Uzbekistan’s Digital Economy, outlines key challenges and provides a roadmap for ensuring that everyone can benefit from the digital revolution. Recommendations include strengthening the legal framework, investing in digital literacy, and creating inclusive workplaces. With deliberate efforts, Uzbekistan can pave the way for a more inclusive digital future.

The digital economy has become a cornerstone of economic development globally, and Uzbekistan is no exception. However, for a significant portion of the population — people with disabilities — the digital revolution remains out of reach. The recent report, Accelerating the Inclusion of Persons with Disabilities in Uzbekistan’s Digital Economy by the World Bank, sheds light on the obstacles faced by persons with disabilities in accessing and participating in Uzbekistan’s burgeoning digital economy. It outlines critical challenges and lays out a comprehensive roadmap to ensure digital accessibility, equal participation, and long-term economic integration for this underrepresented community.

Barriers and Current Employment Status

In 2019, only 7.1% of persons with disabilities in Uzbekistan were officially employed, a stark contrast to national employment rates. Disaggregated data reveals that just 8.9% of men and 4.4% of women with disabilities were in formal employment. Such figures highlight a significant employment gap, underpinned by factors like stigma, insufficient training, and a lack of targeted initiatives.

The barriers preventing digital inclusion are multifaceted. One major issue is the lack of digital skills among persons with disabilities, primarily because of limited access to training programs. Additionally, assistive technologies (AT) that could help bridge this gap are either not available in the local language or are unaffordable. The digital content itself is often inaccessible, further isolating this group from participating in a rapidly digitalizing economy.

This is compounded by a challenging regulatory environment. Although Uzbekistan ratified the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2021, the current legal framework remains insufficient. Law 641, which outlines the rights of persons with disabilities, lacks comprehensive definitions and a strong implementation mechanism. As a result, many aspects of digital accessibility are not covered, leaving people with disabilities to fend for themselves.

Digital Economy Initiatives: A Promising Start

The government has taken some steps to address these issues. The Uzbekistan Digital Inclusion Project, launched in 2023 with a $50 million budget, is one such effort aimed at expanding digital skills and employment opportunities for underrepresented groups, including women and persons with disabilities. While a positive step, much more remains to be done to ensure this initiative reaches its intended beneficiaries, particularly in rural areas where barriers are more pronounced.

In rural Uzbekistan, where internet access is limited and digital literacy is low, the challenges for persons with disabilities are even more severe. Limited access to affordable smartphones and a lack of locally relevant AT solutions hinder digital engagement. The report calls for specific interventions to address these disparities and bridge the urban-rural digital divide.

A Roadmap to Digital Inclusion

The report provides a clear path forward with recommendations centered on building an inclusive digital environment. The strategy includes strengthening the legal framework, enhancing digital skills, creating inclusive workspaces, and exploring innovative funding models to support these initiatives.

Strengthening the Regulatory Framework: Revising existing laws to align with CRPD standards and embedding accessibility requirements in public and private sector digital initiatives will be crucial. A comprehensive legal structure is the backbone of sustainable digital inclusion.

Enhancing Digital Skills: Tailored digital literacy programs, starting from basic to advanced levels, need to be accessible to persons with disabilities. This will include developing localized AT solutions that cater to the specific needs of the Uzbek population, such as Uzbek-language screen readers.

Supporting Inclusive Employment: To truly integrate persons with disabilities into the digital economy, the government and private sector must collaborate to create inclusive workplaces. Establishing a Job Accommodation and Accessibility Center of Expertise could provide much-needed support to employers in accommodating the unique needs of employees with disabilities.

Exploring Innovative Financial Models: Funding remains a critical challenge. The report suggests leveraging Universal Service Funds (USFs), which are typically sourced from telecommunications revenue, to subsidize digital training and AT for persons with disabilities.

Localizing Assistive Technology: Developing localized AT solutions is essential for making digital content accessible. By partnering with international tech companies, Uzbekistan can create products that address language and cultural nuances, thereby making technology truly inclusive.

Learning from Global Best Practices

The report highlights successful initiatives from countries like Armenia, India, Qatar, and the United States, which have implemented inclusive policies and digital strategies. For example, Qatar’s Mada Center has set a high standard by developing Arabic-language AT solutions and building partnerships with international tech firms to support its local AT market. Similarly, India’s Smart Inclusion Centers and Armenia’s LIFE program show how vocational training can be effectively tailored to include persons with disabilities.

By adopting similar models, Uzbekistan can accelerate its own progress toward digital inclusion, ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind as the country’s digital economy grows.

A Call to Action

The digital transformation in Uzbekistan offers immense potential to bridge existing gaps and promote economic participation for all. However, without deliberate and sustained efforts, persons with disabilities will remain marginalized. The World Bank report urges stakeholders — from government agencies to private sector players and civil society — to work collaboratively to build an inclusive digital environment that empowers every citizen, regardless of their abilities.

The recommendations outlined provide a solid foundation, but the real work lies in translating these strategies into action. With sustained investment, policy reforms, and a focus on localizing AT solutions, Uzbekistan can become a leader in digital inclusion, ensuring that every citizen can participate in and benefit from the digital economy.