INTERNATIONAL “SUMMER SCHOOL” FOR REPRESENTATIVES OF UZBEKISTAN’S NGOs LAUNCHED IN RIGA

From April 20 to 25, 2026, an international “Summer School” was organized in Riga, Republic of Latvia, for representatives of non-governmental non-profit organizations of Uzbekistan. The program is being held within the framework of the project “Improving Governance in Uzbekistan — Inclusive Corruption Prevention”, implemented in cooperation with the Anti-Corruption Agency of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the European Union, the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), and the Central Finance and Contracting Agency of Latvia.

The relevance of this educational program is determined by the need to ensure openness and transparency in public administration, eliminate corruption risks, and strengthen the role of civil society institutions. From this perspective, studying international experience and introducing it into national practice is of priority importance.

The main objective of the project is to familiarize the delegation of Uzbekistan with advanced mechanisms for the development of civil society in Latvia, the institutionalization of public participation, the establishment of effective cooperation with government bodies, and best practices in corruption prevention.

As part of the program, participants will have the opportunity to study issues related to identifying corruption risks in the management of public resources, assessing conflicts of interest, strengthening public oversight in public procurement processes, and sustainable models for financing civil society.

The delegation of Uzbekistan includes employees of the Anti-Corruption Agency, as well as representatives of various non-governmental non-profit organizations, including analytical centers, human rights organizations, mass media, and social development organizations.

On the first day of the “Summer School”, lectures were organized on the legal foundations and institutional system of civic participation. In particular, representatives of the Baltic Human Rights Society and the State Chancellery of Latvia delivered practical presentations on state-society interaction and mechanisms for developing public participation.

In addition, as part of the program, participants will become acquainted with the activities of the Corruption Prevention and Combating Bureau of Latvia, the Civic Alliance, the Baltic Media Centre, and the Riga City Council, as well as study advanced practices aimed at ensuring public oversight and transparent governance.

This international educational program will contribute to the development of civil society institutions, the strengthening of openness and accountability in public administration, and the expansion of public participation in combating corruption.