LocationsLearning from Slovak Experience: Supporting Evidence-Based Public Finance Reforms in Uzbekistan
June 29, 2026
Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan
Bratislava, Slovakia, 23-26 June 2026 – A delegation of public finance practitioners from Uzbekistan visited the Slovak Republic to explore international experience in spending reviews, programme-based budgeting, investment project appraisal, and tax impact assessments – key instruments that can help improve the efficiency, transparency, and development impact of public finance in Uzbekistan. The study visit brought together representatives of the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan and practitioners from the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic to exchange practical experience as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen strategic budgeting and public financial management in Uzbekistan.
“This is more than just cooperation between Uzbekistan and Slovakia; it represents direct networking and hands-on experience sharing between the finance ministries of both countries. Adapting tools used by Slovakia’s Value for Money Unit, such as price benchmarking databases, investment appraisal methods, tax impact assessments, and green budgeting frameworks, has direct relevance to evidence-based policymaking in Uzbekistan”, noted Shokhrukh Ishankulov, Deputy Director of State Budget Policy Department, Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan.
During the week-long programme, Uzbek participants engaged in comprehensive sessions covering Slovakia's fiscal framework, performance-based budgeting, public investment management, spending reviews, and tax impact assessment methodologies. Through practical workshops and case studies, including examples from education, healthcare, and energy-related public spending, participants explored how these tools could strengthen evidence-based decision-making and public financial management in Uzbekistan.
“Improving budget efficiency is a top priority for Uzbekistan right now. Slovakia’s experience shows that integrating a “Value for Money” mechanism into the budget process and regular spending reviews can actually work. This approach will help our country achieve two important things: save public resources to create fiscal space and drive better outcomes from budget programs”, said Jahongir Negmatov, Head of Division of Consolidated Budget and State Targeted Funds, State Budget Policy Department, Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan.
The delegation also examined Slovakia's approach to spending reviews – a key tool for improving the quality of public spending through better aligning expenditure with government priorities and increasing efficiency. Of particular interest were the lessons learned along the way, as Slovak experts shared practical insights from their own experience implementing spending reviews.
“Slovak colleagues shared both their success stories and the challenges they faced while reforming their PFM system. The choice of topics for discussion was just right, as they currently sit high on the agenda for our government. It was an honest and open discussion between specialists, allowing us to draw useful lessons to improve our own PFM system in Uzbekistan”, said Muzaffar Aniyozov, Senior Specialist of State Budget Policy Division, State Budget Policy Department, Ministry of Economy and Finance of Uzbekistan.
The study visit also strengthened cooperation between Uzbek and Slovak institutions, creating opportunities for continued dialogue and technical collaboration. Beyond sharing methodologies, the discussions focused on building institutional capacities that can sustain reforms over the long term – from integrating SDGs and green priorities into budgeting to improving investment decisions and strengthening analytical capacities across government institutions.
About the project
The study visit was organized under the Public Finance for Development in Uzbekistan Project, implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan and financed by the Ministry of Finance of the Slovak Republic. The project aims to strengthen the Government’s institutional and technical capacities to transition to an SDG-oriented budgeting framework, using green budgeting to achieve measurable economic, social, and environmental outcomes. It promotes a shift towards performance-based, sustainable, and programme budgeting across government institutions, improving planning, budgeting, and SDG tracking through outcome-based resource allocation. The expected result is a strengthened legal and institutional framework that integrates SDGs and green priorities into Uzbekistan’s planning and budgeting processes.
