Improved Results-Based Management and Budgeting – one of central pillars for Strengthening the Social Protection Sector of Uzbekistan

TASHKENT, 22 July 2025 - This week, the National Agency for Social Protection under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (NASP), the Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan (MoEF), and UNICEF Uzbekistan launched a two-day workshop aimed at strengthening results-oriented planning and budgeting across Uzbekistan’s social protection sector.

The initiative is part of Uzbekistan’s broader efforts to institutionalize results-based governance and budgeting as central pillars of public sector reform. It contributes directly to the implementation of the Public Financial Management (PFM) Reform Strategy and reflects the government’s commitment to enhancing transparency, accountability, and performance in public spending. These reforms are critical to achieving the objectives of the National Social Protection Strategy and the Uzbekistan 2030 Development Agenda, both of which prioritize inclusive, equitable, and evidence-based policymaking.

“Effective planning and budgeting are the backbone of a strong social protection system. By embedding results-based management and programme-based budgeting practices in our work, we ensure that every sum spent makes a difference in people’s lives This approach directly supports delivering more inclusive, transparent, and needs-based support to the population, especially to children, women, persons with disabilities, and low-income families” said Sirojiddin Abdullayev, Deputy Director of the National Agency for Social Protection.

Held on 22-23 July 2025 in Tashkent, the workshop brought together technical staff from NASP and MoEF. Through hands-on sessions, participants applied Results-Based Management (RBM) and Programme-Based Budgeting (PBB) tools to the design and costing of budget programs on professional social services; social protection of persons with disabilities; child protection; and support for the elderly as well as for women in vulnerable situations.

The workshop programme also covers specific issues such as assistance for low-income and other vulnerable populations, and administrative and institutional strengthening. Participants of the workshop focused on problem and stakeholder analysis, objective setting, logical frameworks, and programme costing-all tailored to real policy priorities. 

“This workshop is not just a training. It is a milestone in Uzbekistan’s path toward a more transparent, efficient, and accountable social protection system. It enables national partners to translate strategic goals into financial plans and ultimately into tangible improvements in the lives of children, families, and vulnerable populations,” said Geoffrey Ijumba, a.i. UNICEF Representative in Uzbekistan.

The established cooperation between NASP, MoEF, and UNICEF is fully aligned with Presidential Decree No. PQ-455 of 25 December 2024, which mandates the phased introduction of programme-based budgeting across priority ministries, and Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No.4 of 5 January 2024, which sets the national regulatory and methodological framework for its implementation.

“This collaboration marks a concrete step towards embedding a program-based budgeting into PFM system,” noted Sherkhon Saydutdinov, Head of the Department for Assessing the Effectiveness of Budget Expenditures and Introducing Programme-Based Budgeting. “MoEF is committed to ensuring that public funds are used effectively to deliver real results for those most in need.”

In the next steps, the focus will shift to translating the outcomes of the workshop and consultations into a structured and sustainable implementation process. The overarching goal is to institutionalize the application of RBM and programme-based budgeting in planning and decision-making processes. Over time, this is expected to enhance the efficiency, transparency, and impact of public spending in the social protection sector, ensuring that resources are better aligned with the needs of vulnerable populations and national development priorities

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