Uzbekistan has taken a groundbreaking step towards promoting social change with the launch of the Center for Advancing Community Strengths and Social Wellbeing. This center will serve as a central hub for innovative interventions to address social issues and improve the country’s social protection and service systems. It is the result of collaboration between the National Agency for Social Protection of Uzbekistan, Columbia University, UNICEF, and other partner organizations, and will offer cutting-edge solutions to pressing social protection issues. The center’s establishment is seen as a significant milestone in developing social services and support for vulnerable groups, and it will not only serve as a source of knowledge and innovation but also as a platform for social workers to exchange experiences and best practices. The UNICEF Uzbekistan Country Office sees the center as a crucial step towards enhancing the country’s social welfare system, with a focus on personnel development, effective program creation, meaningful research, and strengthening international cooperation. The center’s educational infrastructure will prioritize improving education, research, and practice in social protection work and services, with the support and guidance of Columbia University’s School of Social Work (CSSW). This collaboration will leverage Columbia’s expertise in the field of social work to develop evidence-based interventions that improve the well-being of vulnerable populations and local communities and strengthen the social protection system. The center also aims to pioneer community-led interventions in alignment with Uzbekistan’s societal structure of mahallas, with the guidance of Dr. Nabila El-Bassel, University Professor and Director of the Social Intervention Group (SIG) at Columbia University School of Social Work. The center will also facilitate the exchange of knowledge and best practices, while strengthening international connections and partnerships. Columbia faculty will play a vital role in developing innovative social interventions within Uzbekistan’s unique context, providing students with valuable international experience. This partnership is expected to transform social work education and practice in Uzbekistan and enrich global perspectives.