LocationsEmpowering Local Voices: EU and UNDP Launch Summer School for Public Advisory Councils in Samarkand
June 30, 2026
Group photo of participants at the Summer School on Public Advisory Councils
Samarkand, Uzbekistan, 29 June 2026 – A three-day Summer School titled “Public Advisory Councils for Responsive Local Governance” has opened in Samarkand, bringing together around 40 representatives of Public Advisory Councils (PACs), deputy khokims, local Kengashes, and mahalla leaders from pilot regions across Uzbekistan.
The Summer School is organized in the framework of EU-funded Project “Further Improvement of Public Services Delivery in Uzbekistan” implemented by UNDP and the Ministry of Justice. The initiative aims to strengthen the role of Public Advisory Councils as platforms for dialogue between citizens and government and to promote more responsive and participatory local governance.
Established to enhance public oversight and citizen engagement, Public Advisory Councils play an important role in ensuring that the views and priorities of local communities are reflected in decision-making processes. The Summer School provides participants with practical tools and knowledge to help make these mechanisms more effective and results-oriented.
“Strong local governance starts with meaningful citizen participation. Public Advisory Councils can serve as an important bridge between communities and state institutions, helping ensure that public policies and services respond to people’s real needs. The European Union is proud to support initiatives that strengthen dialogue, transparency, and accountability at the local level,” said Mr. Christos Marazopoulos, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan.
Over three days, participants will explore topics such as the legal framework governing PACs, local budgeting, public oversight, social protection, and citizen-oriented public service delivery. The programme also features international experience and practical tools presented by experts from VNG International (the Netherlands), including approaches to participatory local governance and mechanisms for assessing the quality of local democracy.
“At UNDP, we believe that effective governance begins with listening to people. Public Advisory Councils provide an important opportunity for communities to contribute to local development and public service improvement. By strengthening their capacities, we are helping build more transparent, inclusive, and responsive institutions that leave no one behind,” said Ms. Akiko Fujii, UNDP Resident Representative in Uzbekistan.
The Summer School places particular emphasis on practical application and peer learning. Participants will exchange experiences, discuss successful practices from different regions, and develop action plans aimed at strengthening the work of Public Advisory Councils and enhancing cooperation between local authorities and communities.
By supporting stronger local dialogue and more inclusive decision-making, the initiative contributes to ongoing efforts to improve the quality, accessibility, and responsiveness of public services across Uzbekistan.
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:
- Transform institutional, legal, and regulatory frameworks underpinning the back office of the national public services delivery system.
- Enhance capacity of the back office institutions in public service delivery to ensure their effective operation at the national, regional and local levels.
- Conduct digital and user-centric transformation of the back office institutions to improve availability and quality of public services.
- 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.
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.
