OSCE supports training seminar on open data for government officials in Uzbekistan

Improving national capacities of government institutions on open data and digitalization was the focus of a series of training seminars organized by the Office of the Co-ordinator of OSCE Economic and Environmental Activities (OCEEA) in co-operation with the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ACA) from 22 to 24 June 2022.   

The training was organized in line with the presidential decree ‘On measures to increase the level of openness of the activities of state bodies and organizations and the introduction of an assessment system’ adopted on 14 June 2022. The Decree sets important milestones and concrete indicators based on which the performance of opening the government data by state institutions will be evaluated by the ACA and published in the annual Openness Index of government bodies.

The trainings organized on 22 and 23 June provided participants with insights from international and national trainers on how to improve transparency and accountability through open datasets. A one-day special session for national trainers on training methodologies and techniques on provision of open data training followed the two-day workshop. The participants, selected among ACA personnel, will use this knowledge to train 600 staff members of local municipalities across the country during 2022.

"Open data and digital technologies are a powerful tool to ensure transparency of government institutions and their accountability to the public by increasing the efficiency of public oversight over government activities. Open data also brings additional benefits to the economy and the business climate by helping business to develop others digital products,” said Project manager, Eni Gjergji

She reassured that the OCEEA will continue supporting the country in enhancing national authorities’ capacities on the use of open data and digital technologies. 

The training seminars mark the start of the implementation of a Memorandum of Understanding between OCEEA and the ACA of the Republic of Uzbekistan, which was signed in November 2021.  They were organized in the framework of the extra-budgetary project "Promoting good governance and a positive business climate in the OSCE region through digitalization and the use of open data" funded by the United States and Poland.