Uzbekistan Unveils $220M SmartED Project with UNICEF and Islamic Development Bank

The Uzbek Ministry of Preschool and School Education, in collaboration with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), has officially launched SmartED, a landmark initiative representing the largest investment to date in the country’s education sector.

The project’s total value stands at an impressive $220 million, The Caspian Post reports via IsDB.

As part of the SmartED initiative, the ministry and UNICEF signed agreements worth $19.2 million, aimed at piloting a series of transformative reforms across Uzbekistan’s educational landscape. These include:

Introduction of inclusive education models to ensure learning opportunities for all children

Modernization of the national curriculum and student assessment systems

Enhancement of quality assurance mechanisms across the school system

Officials say the project is designed to embed innovation, promote equity, and align Uzbekistan’s education system with international standards, ensuring that every child in the country has access to a high-quality, future-ready education.

SmartED is expected to serve as a catalyst for broader educational reform, offering scalable solutions that can be adopted nationwide.