Uzbekistan has continued to make significant strides in progressive reform, demonstrating an unprecedented level of forward-thinking leadership, and is now firmly establishing itself as a light of progressive reform in Central Asia. The country has steadily moved towards a development path where it has made the empowerment of civil society the central axis of its national development strategy, transforming ordinary citizens from passive observers to active agents of the development of their country.
With the visionary leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan is establishing an open, inclusive and responsive governance system. This is a people-focused approach, based on public opinion, open discussion and the absolute respect of citizens’ rights. The principle ‘For the individual, for their dignity, wellbeing and happiness’ has been the catalyst for change in reform that aims for a state that is truly serving the people, whilst also making society the first mover in the reform.
Presidential Address
President Uzbekistan’s Address to the Oliy Majlis and the citizens of Uzbekistan marks a new phase in the country’s socio-political development. The Address is much more than an annual review; it is a strategic plan for the next steps in development. It reiterates the irreversibility of openness as a fundamental state policy and the critical importance of civil society institutions to ensure reforms work, are accountable and sustainable.
Today, civil society has a considerable impact in Uzbekistan: there are 9,627 non-governmental non-profit organizations, 9,008 citizens’ self-governance bodies, 2,490 mass media outlets and almost 3,000 public councils, commissions and civic groups. These, in total, employ more than 150,000 people and produce thousands of social initiatives that provide direct public services and enhance civic culture.
Four Strategic Pillars for Civil Society Empowerment
President Mirziyoyev announced four priorities to further build and professionalize civil society:
- A Comprehensive Five-Year Strategy Clear objectives and policy continuity for non-governmental organization, citizens’ self-governance bodies and media. The mahalla, the traditional institution of the neighborhood, is given particular focus as it forms the lowest level of civic engagement in identifying the challenges of the neighborhood, finding solutions and monitoring the public.
- Digitalization The government will put in place a single electronic platform to digitalize the allocation of state social orders, significantly cutting down the number of bureaucratic hurdles and corruption risks, while improving transparency. Funding for civil society projects will be doubled, so more, and more impactful, projects can respond to urgent social needs.
- Easier Charitable Initiatives with Stronger Accountability There are easier processes for creating charitable organizations and robust procedures for transparency and monitoring, ensuring that funds are used effectively. This will ensure more philanthropy and citizen and business actions that lead to local solutions.
- Public Oversight as a Pillar of Good Governance There is meaningful public oversight of state bodies. This will bolster accountability, help to ensure public opinion influences decision-making and boost citizens’ trust in government.
Tangible Progress and a Promising Future
The national poverty rate has significantly decreased from 8.9 % to 5.8 % bringing more than 8.5 million people out of poverty. The rate of unemployment has down from 5.5% to 4.9%, and 1,435 mahallas have been declared “poverty-free”—one of the most important steps on the way to social development in Uzbekistan.
2026 has been officially declared the “Year of Mahalla Development and Social Prosperity” in recognition of the importance of the mahalla. This is a declaration of commitment to developing local infrastructure and introducing the values of the New Uzbekistan at the community level.
An Inclusive Developmental Model
The process of Uzbekistan’s transformation is redefining state-society relations on a new basis. The citizens are no longer a mere beneficiary of the reform: they are the active actors who are making their country’s future. Uzbekistan is constructing a more resilient, transparent and prosperous nation by investing in civil society, institutionalizing openness and valuing human dignity.
The way forward is clear: a modern, democratic and people-centred New Uzbekistan in which the opportunity and platform for every citizen exists to promote the development of the nation. It is not only changing under President Mirziyoyev it is creating a new concept of governance, where the happiness of people and the initiative of society becomes the very core of the government.
President “The Gulf Observer Research Forum” and the Editor-In-Chief, https://thegulfobserver.com
