Improving Governance in Uzbekistan The proposed action addresses Priority Area 1 of the MIP on Effective Governance and Digital Transformation to support Uzbekistan¿s transition to a pluralistic democratic system based on the rule of law and universal values of human rights as well as to support modernisation of the public sector with effective and accountable management, strengthened capacity and reduced levels of corruption that delivers quality public services. The proposed action reinforces Government¿s engagement to upgrade and implement its National Anti-Corruption Strategy, which aims at reducing corruption in Uzbekistan at national and local levels through ensuring the sustainable development of anti-corruption institutions and empowerment of civil society, media, citizens and businesses through provision of legislative and advisory support, capacity-building measures, support of national initiatives to advance awareness of legal rights, expansion of legal education and literacy and facilitation of policy dialogue. The task will also be realised through participation in a broader programme of administrative reforms, modernisation and optimisation of the public administration system in accordance with international standards in full compliance and implementation of the UN Convention against Corruption (UNCAC) and Istanbul Plan of Action of OECD as overarching policy directions. The focus will be maintained on strengthening policy, legislative and regulatory framework, expanding anticorruption dynamics and integrity culture to sub-national and local levels with making local governments transparent and accountable, enhancing capacities of civil society organisations and investigative journalists, and promoting their essential role in anti-corruption efforts. Gender equality, human rights, youth, PWD and civil society partnerships will be mainstreamed across the action. The action will also build on the milestones achieved through the EU engagement in the public administration sector on improving delivery of quality public services to the population through collaboration with UNDP. The objectives of the proposed action reflect the commitment of the Government of Uzbekistan towards 2030 Strategy for Sustainable Development and related achievement of SDGs. The action is aligned with EU policies and responds to the demand of counterparts in Uzbekistan for sharing the EU know-how, in particular as it relates to the development of a comprehensive, effective and inclusive anti-corruption ecosystem and support to women, youth and other vulnerable people to enjoy equal access to justice, basic public services and development opportunities. An additional component of the action will specifically target the strengthening of the organisational, administrative, technical and legal capacities of the Ministry of Justice of Uzbekistan in its role of coordinator of law-making activities and guarantor of a unified state legal policy with the specific objective to support the work of the government in accelerating legislative reforms, improving quality of regulations and reducing the regulatory burden to systematise the existing norms and regulations, simplify their application, professionalise the law-making process, increase public awareness of the legislative framework and ensure overall availability of main legal documents in three languages (Uzbek, Russian and English). This proposed action is closely reflecting the targets included in SDG 16 of the Global Agenda 2030 on Peace, justice and strong institutions, in particular promoting the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all and substantially reducing corruption and bribery in all their forms. There are also synergies with SDG 5 Gender equality, SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure SDG 10 Reduced inequalities and SDG 17 Partnership for the goals.