10-07-202656
On November 19, 2025, a roundtable discussion was held in the small conference hall of the Spiritual and Enlightenment Center of Urgench city. The event was jointly organized by the Yuksalish Movement, the UzANNO, the Center for Analysis of Democratic Processes, and the Khorezm Regional Branch of the Sustainable Development Center. The roundtable was dedicated to conducting public discussions on the development of the draft Concept for Civil Society Development in Uzbekistan for 2026–2030.
The roundtable was opened by Farokhat Sadullayeva, Head of the Regional Branch of the Yuksalish Movement and Adviser to the Regional Governor (Khokim). The following presentations were delivered: Farokhat Sadullayeva spoke on the topic "The Current State of Civil Society in the Region"; Kamol Jumaniyazov, Head of the Regional Department of the Public Foundation, addressed "Legislation and Financial Sustainability of NGOs (grants, subsidies, social contracts, and social entrepreneurship)"; Ortiqjon Masharipov, Head of the Khorezm Regional Branch of UzANN, presented on "State and Civil Society Partnership (Public Councils, Ensuring Transparency, Participation in Decision-Making)"; Professor B. Ruzmetov, Head of the Khorezm Regional Branch of the Sustainable Development Center, spoke on "The Role of Civil Society Institutions in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals"; and other participants also took the floor.
In his address, Branch Head Professor B. Ruzmetov elaborated on the essence and substance of the Sustainable Development Goals, highlighted the role of civil society institutions in their achievement, and put forward proposals for the draft Concept for Civil Society Development in Uzbekistan for 2026–2030.
The objective of the roundtable was to develop the draft Concept not through a top-down approach, but rather on the basis of a bottom-up principle — by consolidating proposals directly from non-governmental non-profit organizations (NGOs), civil activists, experts, and citizens at the local level.
The following organizational principles were established for the roundtable:
— ensuring the participation of civil society institutions of varying scales — small and large, urban and rural — operating across different sectors;
— guaranteeing the openness of discussions to the media and the public, and ensuring transparent collection of proposals;
— emphasizing concrete solutions and recommendations alongside critical observations;
— taking into account the socioeconomic development characteristics of each region.
A distinctive feature of the roundtable was its debate format, within which participants also received responses to questions of interest.
Professor B. Ruzmetov, Head of the Khorezm Regional Branch of the Sustainable Development Center