The Delegation of the European Union to Uzbekistan on April 28 launched five new civil society projects under its “EU Support to Civil Society Organisations in Uzbekistan” initiative at the event in Tashkent.
With a combined value of nearly EUR 2.9 million — co-funded by the EU and its partner organisations — the new initiatives will support Uzbekistan’s ongoing reform agenda by strengthening civil society’s contribution to policy dialogue, gender equality, legal empowerment, media literacy and digital rights.
“Building on the momentum of the recent EU–Central Asia Summit, today’s projects launch reaffirms the European Union’s sustained commitment to civil society in Uzbekistan. These projects reflect our shared ambition to create space for civic actors to engage meaningfully in justice, gender equality, media, and digital rights. This is about enabling the voices that shape fairer, more open, and resilient communities. A vibrant civil society is essential for building a democratic, inclusive, and prosperous future — and the EU is proud to stand as a committed partner on this path,” said Toivo Klaar, EU Ambassador to Uzbekistan.
Designed to strengthen civic engagement and promote inclusive development, the five initiatives combine national coverage with targeted regional outreach. Activities will span in Tashkent, Karakalpakstan, Namangan, Samarkand, Kashkadarya, Surkhandarya and other regions – supporting efforts in legal empowerment, gender equality, youth and media literacy and digital rights. Each project brings together European and Uzbek partner organisations, creating strong local ownership and cross-sector collaboration. The initiatives will build the capacity of civil society actors, empower vulnerable groups, and support collaboration between civil society and public institutions across all levels.
The following EU-funded projects were launched:
EQUALITY: Strengthened Civil Society in Advancing Women’s Rights and Empowerment in Uzbekistan implemented by ACTED in cooperation with the Center of Social Protection and Education “White Sail,” the Information and Consulting Resource Centre “Yuksalish” of Kashkadarya region, and NGO Center NIHOL Uzbekistan.
SHIELD – Strengthening Human Rights Implementation, Education, and Legal Development, implemented by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) in cooperation with the Development Strategy Center.
Human Rights in Action: Championing Change with Youth and CSOs, implemented by Deutscher Volkshochschul-Verband e.V. (DVV) in cooperation with “Barqaror Hayot” International Social Educational Center.
Uzbekistan Digital Rights Media Initiative (UDRMI), implemented by the Modern Journalism Development Centre (MJDC) in cooperation with the Legal Policy Research Centre (Kazakhstan).
Empowering Civil Society for Inclusive Community Development in Uzbekistan, implemented by Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) in cooperation with the “Yuksalish” Movement.
