Implementation period: 
MARCH 2020 – FEBRUARY 2022

Project goal
-    Providing civil society with the opportunity to participate as an actor in the governance and development process in Uzbekistan; 
-    Strengthening the capacity of civil society and local authorities in Khorezm, Kashkadarya and Ferghana regions through networking, innovation and assistance in the creation of public councils.

Partners
Funded by the European Union, the project is being implemented by the Yuksalish Nationwide Movement in cooperation with the branch of the Agency for Technical Cooperation and Development (ACTED) in Uzbekistan.

Target audience
30 representatives of newly registered NGOs;
30 representatives of acting NGOs;
30 representatives of local authorities;
Final beneficiaries: youth and women's leaders, social entrepreneurs of target regions (Khorezm, Kashkadarya and Fergana).

Anticipated outcomes

-    Capacity building of civil society organizations in their role as independent actors in development;
-    Building skills and capacity of local governments to be effective, responsive, transparent and accountable;
-    Introduction of inclusive management and public oversight processes at the local level through public councils;
-    Active engagement of civil society organizations in the development of domestic policy.

What has been done:

-    6 roundtables were held on policy issues at the regional level (two per region) on strengthening the role of CSOs in local government processes
-    2 roundtables on strengthening the role of CSOs in domestic policy development.
-    The composition of three Public Councils under the Fergana, Khorezm and Kashkadarya administrations was updated based on joint seminars held at the regional level. 
-    3 communication strategies were developed, including common tools and channels for Public Councils.
-    September-December, 2021 - a collective community assessment (PCA method) was conducted by public councils under Ferghana, Khorezm and Kashkadarya regional administrations. Coverage - 100 participants.
-    12 public monitoring events, 12 quarterly meetings of public councils and 9 public hearings by public councils of pilot regions were held
-    Guidelines for public monitoring and oversight for Public Councils were developed.