A meeting with representatives of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) was held at the Agency for Strategic Development and Reforms.

This cooperation is based on the Public Governance Review study, prepared in 2022–2024 jointly by the Agency for Strategic Development and Reforms, the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). As part of the study, Uzbekistan's public administration system was analysed across six key areas. One of these is effective public governance, and it was in this area that the parties agreed to continue their cooperation in support of reforms.

The results achieved in this area and the tasks ahead were discussed at the meeting. The talks reviewed the work carried out jointly, in particular the outcomes of the Effective Public Governance Programme. Since 2022, the Programme has been assisting the state bodies of the Republic of Uzbekistan with administrative reform, improving the quality of public governance and combating corruption. Uzbekistan is currently placing particular emphasis on strategic planning of regional development and the decentralisation of public administration. This has given rise to a need to continue the cooperation.

As part of preparations for the next stage of the project, the German Society for International Cooperation plans to organise an expert mission in Tashkent. Its purpose is to analyse the current needs of partner and stakeholder institutions, clarify cooperation priorities and identify the most effective areas of support in the fields of civil service reform, strategic planning, public procurement, decentralisation, digital transformation and the fight against corruption.

One of the priority areas of cooperation is decentralisation, the essence of which is the gradual transfer of powers from the central level to the regional and local levels of government. In this regard, particular attention is paid to strengthening the system of local self-government, enhancing strategic planning capacity in the regions and bringing public services closer to the population.

The new stage of the Programme is being implemented by the Agency for Strategic Development and Reforms together with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan and other interested state bodies.

During the meeting, the Acting Director of the Agency, A. Abduqodirov, noted that the principles of quality governance and a system of strategic planning are being introduced under the leadership of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and that advanced practices and consultations are valuable in this process.

The Head of the Effective Public Governance Programme, Victor Kessler, together with experts Jasmina Popin, Alyssa Krüger and Michael Petersik, gave a high assessment of the joint projects and expressed a desire to continue their engagement.

The parties exchanged views on matters of further public administration reform, decentralisation and regional development.