The European Union, an EU Consortium under the leadership of GIZ, UNDP Uzbekistan and the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan announced the official launch of the Action “Improving Governance in Uzbekistan”, aimed at bolstering the nation’s anti-corruption efforts.

Held at the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the event served as a platform for presenting, discussing, and endorsing this pivotal initiative.

Funded by the European Union, the Action will be carried out by two projects in close cooperation: “Inclusive corruption prevention” will be implemented by an EU consortium under the leadership of GIZ in partnership with Regional Dialogue and the Central Finance and Contracting Agency of Latvia with a budget of 4,550,000 Euros, co-funded by the German government. “Strengthening the National Anti-Corruption Ecosystem in Uzbekistan” will be implemented by UNDP with a budget of 2,500,000 Euros. With a duration spanning from 2024 to 2026, the projects target all 14 regions of Uzbekistan.

By partnering with their main national partner, the Anti-Corruption Agency, as well as other key government agencies with a mandate of preventing and combatting corruption, CSOs, and the media, the projects aim to address critical challenges such as weak institutionalization of anti-corruption efforts and the gap between national and regional implementation levels.

Ms. Charlotte Adriaen, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Uzbekistan, expressed her optimism about the project. She stated, “This initiative signifies the EU’s continued support to the ambitious reform programme in Uzbekistan. Supporting the efforts in fighting corruption will be essential for ensuring sustainable and equitable development”.

In their turn, Mr. Anas Qarman, the Resident Representative a.i. of UNDP Uzbekistan, and Mr. Joachim Fritz, GIZ Country Director, affirmed that UNDP and GIZ stand ready to support the Government of Uzbekistan in its important journey to advance inclusive and people-centered governance transformations.

Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency Mr. Akmal Burkhanov noted that the Agency is planning to implement large-scale work, including the introduction of the Integrity Assessment initiative, ensuring corruption reforms reach all regions as well as introducing digital technologies and artificial intelligence into the anti-corruption system, enhancing cooperation with civil society institutions and increasing their capacity, introducing a coordination system for collaboration with donors in the anti-corruption sphere.

Key activities of the projects intend legal and institutional reforms, enhancing law enforcement response to corruption, and promoting social accountability through civic engagement.

UzA