The Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan, UNDP Uzbekistan, and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan are launching the new project "Further Improvement of Public Services Delivery in Uzbekistan", which aims to modernise and digitise public services, with a focus on benefiting rural communities. 

With a total budget of 4,900,000 euros, fully funded by the European Union, this project builds on the success of the earlier “Improved Public Service Delivery and Enhanced Governance in Rural Uzbekistan” project (2019–2024).Held at the Public Services Center of Shaykhontokhur District, the launch event brought together representatives from central and local governments, civil society, international development partners, EU Member States Embassies, and media to discuss the ambitious roadmap ahead.

Ms. Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan, noted:

 

“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.”

Mr. Akbar Tashkulov, Minister of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan, emphasized the project’s alignment with national priorities:

 

“This initiative is an integral part of our Development Strategy and the National Strategy for Modernization of Public Service Delivery. It supports our vision of delivering efficient, transparent and accessible services—where no one is left behind.”

Mr Wim Riepma, First Counsellor and Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union in Uzbekistan stated that: “Following the first EU–Central Asia Summit recently held in Samarkand, 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.”

In addition to UNDP and the Ministry of Justice as leading implementing partners, the project brings together the Agency for Strategic Reforms, the Agency for Development of Public Service, Ministry of Digital Technologies, Women’s Committee, and a wide range of national and local stakeholders. As Uzbekistan continues its journey toward people-centered governance, this initiative stands as a flagship of effective, accountable, and inclusive public administration, contributing directly to the achievement of SDGs 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), 5 (Gender Equality), and 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

Background: 

The project will address key challenges such as limited access to public services in rural areas, low digital penetration, and outdated institutional frameworks. It will do so through four strategic pillars:

1. Transform institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks underpinning the back office of the national public services delivery system.

2. Enhance capacity of the back office institutions in public service delivery to ensure their effective operation at the national, regional and local levels.

3. Conduct digital and user-centric transformation of the back office institutions to improve availability and quality of public services.

4. Transform the system of local governance to ensure responsiveness, accountability and better operation of regional and local institutions functioning as back offices.

By 2029, the initiative seeks to conduct functional reviews of 11 back-office institutions, train 1,000 civil servants on inclusive and user-centric service delivery, digitally transform at least 35 public services, and establish 34 new public service zones in mahallas across the country. These comprehensive reforms will significantly enhance citizen access to efficient, transparent, and inclusive government services nationwide.