As one of the early steps of going digital, many governments tend to automate their document flow. E-document flow systems are becoming more and more popular because they ensure effective business process management and real-time interaction among users of the system. They provide paperless and paper-free operation and procedures, reduce the time spent for preparing, sending and receiving the documents and enable monitoring at every stage of their life cycle.

In Uzbekistan, although this process received a boost in mid 2005 with the Decree of President “About additional measures on further development of Information and Communication Technologies” the importance of it was reiterated with Decree of the Cabinet of Ministries of the Republic of Uzbekistan #126 dated 4 May 2011, which provided the Action Plan for gradual installation and use of a single secured e-mailing and e-document flow system between and within both central and local state bodies.

Aiming to support the efforts of Uzbekistan’s government in this direction, the United Nations Development Programme in Uzbekistan (UNDP Uzbekistan) within the framework of implementation of “Local Governance Support Project: Participation and Partnership” (LGSP) facilitating installation of e‐document management software among and within local, district and regional khokimiyats of Jizzakh and Namangan.

The LGSP is accomplishing this task in several phases, which includes preliminary needs and capacity assessment, procurement and installation of necessary IT equipment and conduction of trainings for khokimiyats’ employees on how to use the new e-document flow system applying individual electronic digital signatures.

For example, based on the findings from e-governance needs assessment, as part of its initial contribution, the LGSP has transferred 17 computers and 1 printer to Jizzakh regional, city and district khokimiyats to fill current technical gaps. In June 2011, the e-document flow system “E-Hujjat” was successfully installed and launched in testing mode. Then it was followed by trainings for 50 khokimiyats’ employees on how to use the new e-document flow system applying individual electronic digital signature.

As a result, khokimiyats of Jizzakh region, Jizzakh city and 12 districts of the region are now ready to exchange the important documents with each other instantaneously. Karim Irjigitov, the representative of Zafarabad district khokimiyat says “I believe this innovation will allow raising effectiveness of work in our khokimiyat by eliminating the overwhelming documentation during the performance of our daily job duties. It also increased the speed of activities to be done”.

It should be noted that such achievements became possible with support of Khokimiyat of Jizzakh region, regional Center for computerization, Regional department of Uzbek Agency for Communications and Information, regional branches of Interagency network UzNet and Center UNICON.UZ.

In addition, the Project will be assisting in establishing the same e-document flow system among and within all khokimiyats of Namangan region, which is planned to be accomplished by the end of August 2011. It shall cover about 116 users, who are employees of khokimiyats.