Uzbekistan introduced annual ratings of government agencies based on the openness index
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Uzbekistan is undertaking deep reforms to democratize its public administration in an open manner with broad public participation. This policy stems from the state’s obligation to ensure the constitutional rights of Uzbek citizens to participate in the management of society and state and to access information. This policy plays a key role in the successful transformation of the state apparatus and strengthening trust between the state and society.
It is important to note that informational transparency serves not only as a foundation for civil service reforms but also as their ultimate goal. It aims to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the state apparatus. A significant step in this direction was the adoption of the Law “On Openness of Activities of State Authorities and Management”. This Law defined the methods and procedures for disclosing information about the activities of state bodies, including information about civil service reforms.
According to the Law “On Openness of Activities of State Authorities and Management”, all drafts of normative-legal acts and other acts of state bodies aimed at civil service reform shall be posted on the websites of the respective state bodies. Moreover, information about these drafts shall be made public and disseminated through other means, including by allowing information users to attend open meetings of state bodies where these drafts are discussed.
The introduction of information technologies into public administration in Uzbekistan has enabled the integration of methods for ensuring the openness of draft regulatory acts and for ensuring public participation in their development. As an example, one can cite the Portal for Discussion of Draft Regulatory Acts. On this portal, citizens have the opportunity not only to familiarize themselves with draft regulatory acts but also to express their opinions on their norms, make suggestions, and express their attitude towards the proposals of other participants in the discussion.
Citizens of Uzbekistan are actively using the opportunities provided to them. This can be seen in the discussion of a key document on civil service reform – the draft law “On Civil Service”, posted on the Portal on May 22, 2020. This draft was viewed by 23,880 users, and 219 proposals were made. Other regulatory legal acts on civil service reform have also been posted on the Portal.
The openness of the ongoing civil service reforms is ensured by the bodies authorized in this area. One of these is the Agency for Strategic Reforms under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The Agency coordinates the activities of state bodies in implementing strategic reforms, including providing them with expert assistance. For example, on the Agency’s website you can read the draft decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on improving the state civil service system.
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The Agency for the Development of Civil Service under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan plays an important role in this area. The Agency studies the state of civil service and develops draft regulations for its improvement. All information about this activity is posted on the Agency’s website and disclosed in other ways, and citizens have the opportunity to participate in the Agency’s activities within the framework of social partnership and public control.
According to the Law of the Republic of Uzbekistan “On Social Partnership”, the Agency for the Development of Civil Service under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan ensures the participation of non-governmental non-profit organizations and other civil society institutions in the development and implementation of civil service development programs, regulatory legal acts, and involves their representatives in the activities of the working groups, commissions and public council created by it.