Kozimbek Gafurov,
Head of Information Security Division, Agency for the Development of Public Service under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan
In the era of rapid advancements in information technology, Uzbekistan places high priority on the automation of public administration. Recognizing the significance of digital technologies, the government is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency of public administration and delivering high-quality public services. This commitment stems from the understanding that the effective utilization of digital technologies plays a vital role in ensuring transparency and effectiveness in public administration.
Modern digital solutions have revolutionized the collection and analysis of extensive personnel data, enabling management to make informed decisions based on big data analytics. This includes evaluating employee performance, forecasting staffing requirements, optimizing salary structures, and other essential aspects of HR management.
The Republic of Uzbekistan places significant emphasis on developing the digital competencies of civil servants, demonstrating a commitment to innovative and efficient public administration. Addressing the challenges at hand necessitates a comprehensive approach that encompasses education, collaboration, and the implementation of cutting-edge technologies. By strengthening the digital competencies of civil servants, government structures undergo modernization, ensuring the country’s stable progress in the digital era.
Over the past three years, the Republic of Uzbekistan has witnessed remarkable growth in the establishment of training centers dedicated to fostering IT competencies. The number of such centers has surged to over 300 across the country. This expansion reflects the government’s commitment to equipping its youth with the necessary skills for the digital age.
One notable initiative, the “One Million Uzbek Coders” project, was launched in 2019. As part of this program, a staggering 1.2 million young individuals have successfully completed training and obtained certificates. This achievement underlines the significant strides made in developing a large pool of skilled programmers who can contribute to the country’s digital transformation.
Uzbekistan’s progress in digitalization and e-government initiatives has been recognized on the global stage. In the United Nations e-government Survey ranking, Uzbekistan significantly improved its position, climbing 18 places in 2022. This remarkable advancement placed the country among the nations exhibiting a “high/very high level of development” in terms of e-government.1 Uzbekistan’s progress in the field of public administration and public services, as well as in digital skills and innovation, has been recognized by the World Bank’s GovTech Maturity Index. The country has witnessed a significant advancement, climbing 37 positions in the realm of public administration and public services. Additionally, in the area of digital skills and innovations in public services, Uzbekistan made an impressive leap of 65 positions. Uzbekistan’s progress in the adoption and readiness for artificial intelligence (AI) has been notable, as demonstrated by its ranking in the “Government Readiness Index for Artificial Intelligence” developed by Oxford Insights. Over a span of four years, Uzbekistan has made remarkable strides, ascending from the 158th to the 79th position in the index.
According to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the strategy “Uzbekistan – 2030,” a key objective is to boost the volume of IT services and software product exports to $5 billion.
In order to meet the challenges and demands of the digital age, Uzbekistan has taken proactive measures and remains committed to continually improving its educational initiatives. By providing ongoing training and development opportunities for civil servants, the country aims to equip them with the necessary skills and knowledge to adapt to the digital landscape effectively.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev emphasized the importance of embracing digital technologies for the development of Uzbekistan, stating that every industry must keep pace with digital advancements.
Under the visionary leadership of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Uzbekistan has made significant strides in embracing digital technologies to enhance public administration in various sectors such as education, healthcare, and transport. This digital transformation necessitates civil servants to acquire new skills and competencies to effectively utilize digital tools.
With a $2 billion investment, including $700 million in direct funding, the country has created 14,000 well-paid jobs and supported 43,000 self-employed professionals. The my.gov.uz portal offers 570 online services used by over 8 million citizens, improving accessibility and efficiency.
In the rapidly evolving information society, where technological innovations are reshaping interactions and work processes, the development of digital competence among civil servants is crucial. Uzbekistan, like many other nations, faces the pressing challenge of aligning public services with the requirements of the digital era.
The emergence of modern digital technologies has led to widespread digitalization across society, necessitating civil servants to adapt to new modes of work, communication, and service delivery. Artificial intelligence is increasingly employed in HR management to automate processes, forecast staffing requirements, and streamline workflows, enabling more precise adaptation to personnel needs and more effective staff management.
Data analytics is being utilized by decision-makers to make strategic HR management decisions, facilitating a deeper understanding of staff requirements, identifying trends, and predicting potential HR issues. Employees now expect digital services, online interaction, and instant access to information from public services.
As the volume of digital data grows and its importance in government operations increases, ensuring cybersecurity becomes a crucial concern. The development and implementation of new technologies necessitate continuous learning and adaptation by civil servants to keep pace with the evolving digital landscape.
Government services with high digital competence aim to provide citizens and businesses with convenient, accessible, and secure online services for interacting with the government. These services include electronic portals, applications, and online forms. Several resources that exemplify this commitment to digitalization are: the official website of the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan “gov.uz”, the electronic tax services portal “my.soliq.uz”, License Information System “license.gov.uz”, an online auction platform “e-auksion.uz”, portal for the statistical data “stat.uz”, the portal for vacancies of civil service positions “vacancy.argos.uz”, “openbudget.uz”, “online-mahalla.uz” is portal of online services related to local communities (mahallas), and “yoshlardaftari.uz” platform that provides resources related to youth development, educational opportunities, and various initiatives for young people.
Today, the Agency for the Development of Public Service under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan has achieved successful integration of HR information systems. This integration enables seamless data exchange between various levels of the government structure, resulting in the establishment of a unified information space. This unified space facilitates effective HR management, streamlines business processes, and enhances overall productivity.
Integrating HR information systems offers several benefits to organizations, including centralized HR records, data duplication reduction, process automation, enhanced analytics and reporting, informed management decisions, increased efficiency and productivity. These benefits contribute to optimizing HR operations, enhancing organizational effectiveness, and supporting strategic HR initiatives.
The integration of HR information systems offers numerous benefits, including centralized storage and management of an organization’s HR records, reduced data duplication, process automation, and improved analytics and reporting. This centralized access to data enhances the accuracy and informativeness of analytics and reporting, enabling informed management decisions.
Furthermore, in line with the recently adopted Decree of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan titled “On measures to improve the system for assessing the performance of republican and local executive authorities, as well as business associations,” the Agency for the Development of Public Service under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan oversees the timely and high-quality input of performance indicator information into the electronic platform “samaradorlik.uz.” This platform generates a performance rating for managers and their deputies. The utilization of electronic documents and digital signatures in place of traditional paper processes simplifies and expedites work processes while enhancing trust and information security.
In Uzbekistan, as in many other countries, the implementation of digital platforms is increasingly crucial for the digital transformation of public administration. The effective delivery of public services through digital technologies improves the quality and accessibility of these services for citizens and businesses. Digitized information empowers civil servants to collect, analyze, and utilize data for informed decision-making, process optimization, and enhanced administrative efficiency. It is also worth noting that automating processes, improving monitoring and reporting, and increasing transparency in government activities contribute to the reduction of corruption.
Consequently, the priority areas of the Agency for the Development of Public Service under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan include ensuring a transparent and equitable procedure for the selection and placement of HR through modern information and communication technologies, providing equal opportunities for career advancement based on objective assessments of work activity, moral and volitional qualities, abilities, and skills of government employees, monitoring and analyzing trends and prospects in the development of the civil service, and introducing innovative HR management and development methods based on principles of openness, professionalism, and accountability.
By overcoming challenges and successfully implementing these initiatives, Uzbek civil servants can develop in accordance with the modern requirements of the digital era, thereby ensuring a stable and innovative development of the civil service. It is important to emphasize that the digitalization of the HR service in Uzbekistan is not a standalone project but an integral part of the strategy for modernizing public administration and fostering the digital economy in the country.