EU and UNDP Strengthen Public Outreach for Better Access to Services
20 August 2026 – A three-day training on “Bringing Public Services Closer through Better Information” has been launched in Tashkent region under the European Union-funded project “Further Improvement of Public Services Delivery in Uzbekistan,” implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Uzbekistan.
More than 25 public relations (PR) specialists working in back- and front-office public service institutions across Uzbekistan attended the training with the purpose to strengthen modern communication skills that can support more transparent, citizen-oriented, and responsive public service delivery.
The training is designed as a highly practical learning programme combining expert-led masterclasses, group work, simulations, and real-life communication exercises. Over three intensive days, participants will strengthen their skills in citizen-centered communication, strategic use of social media, digital storytelling, media relations, visual content creation, artificial intelligence, crisis communication, and professional resilience.
“Public service reforms are successful only when citizens understand them, trust them, and know how to benefit from them. Communication is therefore not a supporting function—it is an essential public service in its own right. Through this initiative, the European Union continues to invest in the professional capacity of communication specialists who help bring government closer to people. By embracing modern digital tools, strategic storytelling, and the responsible use of artificial intelligence, PR professionals can make public services more transparent, accessible, and responsive to citizens’ needs,” said H.E. Toivo Klaar, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan.
The training also addresses the human side of public communication by helping participants strengthen teamwork, improve internal coordination, manage workplace stress, and build resilience while working in demanding communication environments.
“As Uzbekistan continues to digitalize public services, effective communication becomes just as important as digital infrastructure itself. Citizens need information that is clear, timely, understandable, and accessible. Through this training, we are helping communication professionals acquire modern tools that enable them to engage citizens more effectively, respond to emerging communication challenges, and strengthen public trust in government institutions. Ultimately, stronger communication contributes to more inclusive, transparent, and people-centered public service delivery,” said Mr. Anas Fayyad Qarman, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative in Uzbekistan.
Following the training, participants will continue receiving mentoring support to help apply their newly acquired skills within their institutions. By strengthening communication capacities across public institutions, the initiative contributes to greater transparency, increased public awareness of government reforms, stronger citizen engagement, and Uzbekistan’s broader efforts to build more open, accountable, and citizen-centered public administration.
Background:
“Further Improvement of Public Services 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 aims 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 citizens’ access to efficient, transparent, and inclusive government services nationwide.
About the European Union. The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 European countries. It is founded on the values of respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and respect for human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to minorities. It acts globally to promote sustainable development of societies, environment and economies, so that everyone can benefit.