Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – Over 100 participants, comprising officials from diverse ministries and state agencies, representatives of international organizations, as well as big data and public policy specialists, attended a workshop themed ‘Empowering Policy Makers: Mastering Data-Driven Decision Making’. 

The event was organized by the Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of Uzbekistan, in collaboration with the Ministry of Digital Technologies and the Institute for Macroeconomic and Regional Studies. The workshop garnered support from the World Bank and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Data-driven decision-making means using real evidence and analyzing data to make important choices, instead of just guessing or relying on personal experiences. It involves gathering, studying, and understanding data from different sources to find useful patterns and information. These insights help guide decision-making in areas like government, business, and society.

The process involves steps such as collecting data, analyzing it, understanding what it means, making decisions based on it, seeing how those decisions affect things, keeping track of how well things are going, and adjusting plans if needed based on new information and feedback from different people involved.

By using data, policymakers can make decisions more accurately and efficiently while reducing risks. Data-driven approaches help them use resources wisely, find ways to make things better, and try new ideas in different areas. Ultimately, this method helps policymakers make informed decisions that match what the public wants and leads to better results for everyone involved, such as citizens, economies, and countries.

The workshop hosted by the Agency for Strategic Reforms encouraged participants to review current trends and international best practices in using data for more efficient policymaking, data literacy for public officials, and the role of e-government in delivering better public services to citizens and businesses. 

During the workshop, senior officials of ministries and state agencies and international data science experts delivered presentations on various aspects of data-driven decision-making. The event participants were also introduced to a new government navigation portal and an interactive prototype of a dashboard for tracking progress towards the National Strategy ‘Uzbekistan – 2030’.

The government navigation portal, developed as part of the ‘Digital Uzbekistan – 2030’ Strategy, serves as an online one-stop platform integrating various public services and information offered by the government to citizens. Its interface was developed through a design thinking process, engaging a wide range of stakeholders, including youth, retirees, civil servants, representatives of the private sector, and the expert community.

Meanwhile, the event participants were informed about the interactive prototype dashboard, which is part of the navigation portal developed by the Delivery Unit under the Agency for Strategic Reforms. The World Bank provided technical assistance on the dashboard under the Effective Governance for Economic Development (EGED) program in Central Asia funded by the UK Government. 

The dashboard will contribute to the data-driven decision-making process by providing regular updates to citizens and policymakers on the overall implementation of the 2030 National Development Strategy. Its updates will include progress reports on high-priority projects implemented by the government in public health, water supply and sanitation, and education sectors. 

A dashboard showcasing national goals acts as a compass, aligning strategic planning efforts with the overarching vision of a nation. Through this dynamic tool, policymakers and stakeholders gain real-time insights into the progress made toward key objectives, enabling agile decision-making and resource allocation.