Jointly launched on 1 March 2010 by UNDP Good Governance Unit and the Cabinet of Ministers of Republic of Uzbekistan, the “Local Governance Support” Project (LGSP) intends to promote Public Administration reform aimed at decentralized governance system through creating of enabling environment, public services and capacity building of civil servants and to enhance the partnership capacities of local governments with civil society and private sector through public relations and e-Government tools and showcasing pilot initiatives in Jizzakh and Namangan regions on public-private partnerships in the area of communal services and management of recreation resources.

In 2000, the public sector reform was declared as a priority by Uzbek Government. The administrative reforms, in particular, will be focused on transferring functions to local levels of government, as well as decentralizing certain social welfare functions to the community level.

More than 40 participants attended the project presentation, which took place in UNDP Country Office, representing Cabinet of Ministers, diplomatic missions, international agencies and organizations, NGOs, and think tanks.

Mr. Dilshod Israilov, Project Manager of LGSP project emphasized the importance of the on-going public administration reform according to the national programme of Uzbek Government and positively assessed the role of UNDP in implementing this project.

The Local Governance project contributes to effective governance through competence, accountability and ownership of activities and results from local authorities and communities. The project is a part of the Good Governance portfolio of UNDP in Uzbekistan which currently includes eight projects dealing with e-governance, capacity building of national institutions, support for people with disabilities, gender empowerment, HIV/AIDS prevention and border management. Since 1993 UNDP in Uzbekistan has been working together with a multitude of partners to bring development closer to people of Uzbekistan.