Uzbekistan is taking a step towards modernizing and digitizing its public services, with a new initiative designed to benefit rural communities. The "Further Improvement of Public Services Delivery in Uzbekistan" project, launched by the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan, aims to transform the country’s public service delivery system.
With a total budget of €4.9mn euros, fully funded by the EU, this initiative builds on the success of the previous "Improved Public Service Delivery and Enhanced Governance in Rural Uzbekistan" project (2019-2024). The project was introduced at the Public Services Center in Shaykhontokhur District, where local and central government officials, civil society members, international partners, EU representatives, and media gathered to share their thoughts and discuss the exciting goals and vision for the future of the initiative.
"This initiative marks a major leap forward in transforming how public services are delivered to the people. By enhancing the capacity of government institutions, we are improving lives—especially for those in remote areas of Uzbekistan," Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, highlighted the transformative potential of the project.
Minister of Justice Akbar Tashkulov highlighted that the initiative is a key part of Uzbekistan's Development Strategy and National Strategy for Modernizing Public Service Delivery, aiming to provide efficient, transparent, and accessible services for all.
Wim Riepma, First Counsellor and Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation in Uzbekistan, stressed the importance of this initiative in light of the recent EU-Central Asia Summit held in Samarkand:
“Following the summit, we believe that this new initiative puts our shared priorities into practice — driving digitalisation, strengthening governance, and ensuring that public services are more accessible, efficient, and responsive to the needs of every citizen of Uzbekistan.”
Alongside UNDP and the Ministry of Justice, the project brings together a variety of national and local stakeholders, including the Agency for Strategic Reforms, the Agency for Development of Public Service, the Ministry of Digital Technologies, the Women’s Committee, and others. This collective effort signals Uzbekistan's commitment to people-centered governance, aiming to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to peace, justice, and strong institutions, gender equality, and decent work.
The project aims to tackle important challenges, including limited access to public services in rural areas, low digital connectivity, and outdated institutional structures.
The initiative will focus on four key areas:
- Revamping the institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks that support public service delivery.
- Strengthening the capacity of national and local public service institutions.
- Implementing a digital and user-friendly transformation to improve the accessibility and quality of services.
- Improving local governance systems to ensure greater responsiveness and accountability at the regional level.
By 2029, the initiative plans to review the operations of 11 key government institutions, train 1,000 civil servants to deliver services that are more inclusive and user-friendly, digitally transform at least 35 public services, and set up 34 new public service zones in mahallas across Uzbekistan. These steps are designed to make government services more accessible, efficient, and transparent for everyone in the country.
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