The European Union, GIZ, and UNDP pledge more than $7.5 mn towards anti-corruption initiatives in Uzbekistan, the UNDP reports. The launch event, held at the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan, marks the commencement of the action "Improving Governance in Uzbekistan", emphasizing presentation, discussion, and endorsement of this crucial endeavour.
Funded by the European Union (EU), the action will be executed through two closely coordinated projects. The first, "Inclusive corruption prevention", spearheaded by an EU consortium led by GIZ in partnership with Regional Dialogue and the Central Finance and Contracting Agency of Latvia, boasts a budget of $4.9 mn, co-funded by the German government. The second project, "Strengthening the National Anti-Corruption Ecosystem in Uzbekistan", will be carried out by UNDP with a budget of $2.6 mn. Spanning from 2024 to 2026, these projects will encompass all 14 regions of Uzbekistan.
Through collaboration with the Anti-Corruption Agency and other pertinent government bodies tasked with combating corruption, as well as civil society organizations (CSOs) and media outlets, the projects aim to confront critical challenges such as the inadequate institutionalization of anti-corruption efforts and the disparity between national and regional implementation levels.
Charlotte Adriaen, Ambassador of the European Union to Uzbekistan, expressed confidence in the project, affirming the EU's enduring support for Uzbekistan's reform program. Anas Qarman, the Resident Representative a.i. of UNDP Uzbekistan, and Joachim Fritz, GIZ Country Director, echoed this sentiment, pledging continued assistance to the Uzbekistani government in its journey towards inclusive and people-centred governance transformations.
Director of the Anti-Corruption Agency, Burkhanov, outlined ambitious plans including the implementation of the Integrity Assessment initiative, nationwide corruption reform, integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence into the anti-corruption framework, and strengthening collaboration with civil society institutions.
The projects will focus on legal and institutional reforms, bolstering law enforcement responses to corruption, and fostering social accountability through civic engagement. These endeavours aim to produce tangible outcomes such as fortified national anti-corruption frameworks, heightened integrity at regional and local levels, and increased civic participation and awareness.
Reported by Daryo(Uzbekistan).
