Author: Anvarjon Mirkomilov – 31/01/2024
“Uzbekistan – 2030” Strategy: 16 Goals of Ensuring the Rule of Law, Establishing a Public Administration “at the Service of the People”
Anvarjon Mirkomilov
Head of Department, Development Strategy Center, Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan has the strategy with ambitious goals, high milestones and clear indicators of their achievement. The conceptual document “Uzbekistan – 2030” Strategy was adopted on September 11, 2023, which defines the priorities and goals of the country for the next seven years.
In accordance with this document, the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan signed a resolution on measures for the timely implementation of the “Uzbekistan – 2030” Strategy in 2023. The resolution, in turn, has defined several practical measures in the framework of sixteen goals (from 74th to 89th goals of the Strategy) of the forth priority direction of the Strategy – Ensuring the rule of law, establishing a public administration “at the service of the people”.
The transformation of the “mahalla” (local neighbourhood- community) into a “connecting bridge” between the public and government bodies is reflected in the 74th goal of the “Uzbekistan – 2030” Strategy. It sets the task of increasing funds allocated for infrastructure improvement through public initiative to 24 trillion som by the year 2030. It’s important to note that significant progress has been made in implementing this decision. Specifically, the document outlines various tasks to enhance citizens’ participation in their mahalla life. Indeed, in recent years, the role of the mahalla institution in the life of the state and society has increased remarkably.
According to the Strategy, the practice of directing mahalla funds based on public opinion and needs of local residents regarding crucial issues such as roads, drinking water, electricity, and gas supply improvements was introduced. In addition, expanding the “Open budget” opportunities for mahallas has been introduced with a plan to gradually triple the allocated funds.
As per this task, for mahallas throughout the republic 4.5 trillion som was allocated in 2023, which is 2 trillion som more (or a 70% increase) compared to 2022. This amount is planned to be brought up to 12 trillion som according to the targeted indicators for 2024. The allocation of budget funds based on public opinion allows for prioritizing issues that need direct participation from the public, thereby providing a means to address social and infrastructure-related problems more effectively.
To increase the social activity of citizens and solve local problems promptly, the decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated October 25, 2022, titled “Measures to Expand the Financing of Projects Formed Based on Public Opinion” stipulates that from 2023, the “Obod Qishloq” (Prosperous Village) and “Obod Mahalla” (Prosperous Neighborhood) programs will be developed based on public opinion. Projects like the “Initiative Budget” not only improve the living conditions of citizens but also strengthen the sense of responsibility and involvement in the reforms being carried out in our country and the future of the nation.
One of the reforms in the direction of ensuring the rule of law, establishing a public administration “at the service of the people”, as outlined in the Strategy, is the expansion of digitalization of governmental services to implement a “Service State” system for the population (Goal – 77). “Service State” system aims to further elimination of bureaucratic procedures in the relations between citizens and the state. Specifically, it defines to increase the share of state services provided electronically to 100%, services through the “my.gov.uz” portal to 50%, increasing the number of composite and proactive state services to at least 40 types, and transferring at least 300 public services to the private sector. These measures are a logical continuation of the tasks set in the “National strategy for modernization and rapid development of the state services system for 2022-2026” and the “Digital Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy.
Significant progress has been made regarding the tasks set for the Goal – 77, which frees the population from excessive wandering and sleaze, eliminates bureaucracy and other administrative obstacles. Moreover, taken measures on digitalization of public services make it possible to radically reduce outdated procedures that do not meet the requirements of current time.
If in 2018, our population had access to only 127 public services via the single interactive state services portal – “My.gov.uz”. However, in 2023 alone, 205 new services were introduced (a 154% increase compared to the same period in 2022), and today, the opportunity to use 575 public services online has been provided.
In 2023, the most frequently used public services by the population of the country included obtaining a residence certificate – 2.2 million times, obtaining a certificate of calculated salary – 1.6 million times, obtaining a certificate of no tax debt – 1.45 million times, and services for placing children in kindergartens – 837 thousand times. Additionally, in 2023, new electronic services such as renewing driver’s licenses (55 thousand licenses delivered), issuing sports passports (over 66 thousand passports issued), allocating dormitory placements for students (28 thousand placements provided), and obtaining general secondary education certificates (8 thousand certificates downloaded online) were introduced on “My.gov.uz”. By the end of 2023, on the platform the share of services provided electronically across the republic reached 64%.
In general, these examples demonstrate the initial results of the objectives set within the priority direction – Ensuring the rule of law, establishing a public administration “at the service of the people” of the “Uzbekistan – 2030” strategy.