Vobkent District Khokimiyat of Bukhara region has become one of the first local administrations in Uzbekistan to integrate the international “Islands of Integrity” methodology to prevent corruption at the local level. On May 16, the prior assessment of corruption risks and a proposed actions plan in prevention of corruption were presented and discussed, with the participation of the Chairperson of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan Tanzila Narbaeva, representatives of the Anti-corruption Agency of Uzbekistan, Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Uzbekistan, UNDP, Khokimiyats of Bukhara region and Vobkent district, as well as local deputies, district authorities, public institutions, and civil society. 

The process of integrating the methodology began with inviting the co-author of the methodology, Ana Vasilache, to train and mentor national anti-corruption practitioners. These practitioners then worked closely with 27 local officials in Vobkent to conduct an in-depth diagnosis of corruption-prone areas such as construction permits, procurement, utility services, and inspections. The officials represented key institutions across a wide range of sectors, including the economy, finance, education, health, utilities, justice, ecology, cadastre, construction, taxation, emergency services, social protection, youth policy, employment, licensing, public housing, environmental regulation, and spiritual-educational affairs.

The results informed the creation of a Strategic Roadmap for 2025-2026, aimed at fostering transparent, accountable, and citizen-oriented governance at the district level. Among the key proposed actions were:

• Establishing digital oversight and independent monitoring of public procurement for transparency;
• Improving staff integrity through incentives and training;
• Strengthening citizen feedback and participation in governance.

The presentation of Vobkent’s Strategic Roadmap marks a significant step toward adapting international anti-corruption practices to local contexts, laying the foundation for more transparent and accountable governance across the country. This initiative is a part of a broader effort to strengthen the integrity capacities of regional, district, and local governance, carried out through a joint project of the Anti-Corruption Agency and UNDP, “Strengthening the National Anti-Corruption Ecosystem in Uzbekistan”, funded by the European Union.

Background

The “Islands of Integrity” is an internationally recognized anti-corruption methodology that has been applied in 11 countries across Central and Eastern Europe and Southeastern Europe, reaching over 30 local governments. It was awarded the United Nations Public Service Award in 2011, translated into multiple languages, included in international training manuals, and taught in academic courses at the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA) in Vienna and the Hague Academy for Local Governance.

Unlike approaches that focus only on punitive measures, this methodology targets systemic change. It helps local authorities identify and address corruption by diagnosing organizational vulnerabilities. Focusing on empowering mayors and local leaders to act as institutional change makers, this process facilitates a deeper and shared understanding of risks and solutions, which are developed by insiders, leading to stronger commitment and more sustainable reforms.

In Uzbekistan, the “Islands of Integrity” methodology has been introduced in Vobkent District (Bukhara region), Jizzakh City (Jizzakh region), and Mirzo-Ulugbek District (Tashkent city). Between December 2024 and January 2025, more than 60 local government representatives took part in a structured series of workshops aimed at diagnosing corruption risks, co-creating targeted solutions, and developing Strategic and Action Plans for 2025–2026.