On October 31 of this year, a scientific seminar was held at the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion "Ijtimoiy Fikr" on the topic “Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations in Uzbekistan: Civic Engagement, Public Oversight, and Partnership with the State.” The seminar was organized in cooperation with the Public Fund for Supporting NGOs and Other Civil Society Institutions under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the National Association of NGOs of Uzbekistan, the Anti-Corruption Agency of Uzbekistan, the nationwide movement “Yuksalish,” and the Center for the Analysis of Democratic Processes.

The development of civil society is a key priority within the 2021–2025 Civil Society Development Concept. Non-governmental non-profit organizations (NGOs) operating in various spheres of public life in Uzbekistan play a crucial role as social institutions of civil society.

Today, creating effective and constructive mechanisms for dialogue between the state and civil society, expanding the activity of civil institutions in the development and implementation of socio-economic programs, broadening the work of NGOs, and increasing public participation in these organizations are all pressing issues.

On August 26, 2024, the President of Uzbekistan issued a Decree aimed at improving the system of state support for civil society institutions. Significant attention is focused on raising public awareness about the importance of this Decree and enhancing the effectiveness of existing NGOs.

The seminar was opened by Rakhimova Nigina Khayrullayevna, the Director of the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion "Ijtimoiy Fikr", who wished the participants success in their work.

During the event, the Deputy Director for Scientific Research and Innovation at the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion "Ijtimoiy Fikr", Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) Alekseyeva Viktoriya Sergeyevna, and the Head of the Operational Research Department at the Republican Center for the Study of Public Opinion "Ijtimoiy Fikr, Doctor of Philosophy in Sociology (PhD) Seitov Mansur Sherikbayevich, presented a report and video presentation on the topic “Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations in Uzbekistan: Civic Engagement, Public Oversight, and Partnership with the State,” based on the results of sociological studies.

The main goal of this scientific event was to examine the role of NGOs in the country’s reform and modernization processes, assess the significance of civic initiatives as a factor in democratic development, and develop recommendations to enhance the effectiveness and impact of NGOs in Uzbekistan based on sociological survey data. It also aimed to study the perceptions of Uzbekistan’s citizens about NGOs and the conditions for citizens' involvement in NGO activities.

The seminar focused on strengthening civic activity and NGO partnerships with government agencies, as well as exchanging experiences between NGO representatives and government institutions. Experts and NGO representatives participated in the event, discussing achievements, existing challenges, and promising directions for societal development in Uzbekistan.

At the conclusion of the seminar, participants discussed the topic, shared their views, and adopted proposals and recommendations.