EU and UNDP Strengthen Civil Service Reform in Uzbekistan Through Training on Professional Motivation and Resilience
9 July 2026 – A two-day specialised training on “Professional Motivation and Resilience” has been launched in Samarkand to help civil servants strengthen the personal and professional skills needed to navigate change, manage workplace challenges, and deliver high-quality public services. The programme is organized within the framework of the EU-funded project “Further Improvement of Public Services Delivery in Uzbekistan,” implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The training brought together 35 women deputy khokims from across Uzbekistan, who play an important role in local governance and in strengthening the back-office coordination functions that support effective, responsive and citizen-oriented public service delivery at the territorial level.
As Uzbekistan continues implementing ambitious public administration reforms and expanding digital public services, the demands placed on civil servants are rapidly evolving. Alongside technical knowledge, effective public administration increasingly depends on motivated, adaptable, and resilient professionals who can successfully manage change while maintaining a strong focus on citizens' needs.
Over the course of two days, participants will strengthen practical skills in professional motivation, stress management, emotional resilience, and effective communication. The programme also explores strategies for maintaining high performance, preventing burnout, and fostering a positive workplace culture that supports continuous learning and institutional development.
“Successful public administration reform depends not only on modern systems and technologies, but also on motivated and resilient public servants. The European Union is proud to support initiatives that strengthen the capacity of civil servants to adapt to change, deliver quality services, and better respond to the needs of citizens,” said Ms. Renata Wrobel, Chargée d'affaires a.i. of the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan.
The training forms part of broader efforts to strengthen the institutional capacity of Uzbekistan's public administration and supports the project's long-term objective of training 1,000 civil servants on inclusive, citizen-oriented public service delivery by 2029.
“People are at the heart of effective public administration. Investing in the motivation, resilience, and professional growth of civil servants is essential for building institutions that are responsive, inclusive, and trusted by the public. Through initiatives like this, we are helping create a public service that is better equipped to meet the needs of every citizen,” said Ms. Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan.
By strengthening the wellbeing and professional capacities of civil servants, the initiative contributes to improving the quality, accessibility, and responsiveness of public services across Uzbekistan. It also supports the country's ongoing public administration reforms and contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure).
Background:
“Further Improvement of Public Service Delivery in Uzbekistan” project funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP with total budget of EUR 4,900,000 and implementation duration of 2024-2029 is aimed to address key challenges such as limited access to public services in rural areas, low digital penetration, and outdated institutional frameworks. It will do so through four strategic pillars:
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Transform institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks underpinning the back office of the national public services delivery system.
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Enhance capacity of the back office institutions in public service delivery to ensure their effective operation at the national, regional and local levels.
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Conduct digital and user-centric transformation of the back office institutions to improve availability and quality of public services.
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Transform the system of local governance to ensure responsiveness, accountability and better operation of regional and local institutions functioning as back offices.
The Project supports Uzbekistan’s reform agenda and contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 16 on strong institutions and SDG 9 on innovation and infrastructure. By 2029, the initiative seeks to conduct functional reviews of 11 back-office institutions, train 1,000 civil servants on inclusive and user-centric service delivery, digitally transform at least 35 public services, and establish 34 new public service zones in makhallas across the country. These comprehensive reforms will significantly enhance citizen access to efficient, transparent, and inclusive government services nationwide.
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