“Open budget” projects can now win without collecting votes

The opportunities will be created to finance “Initiative budget” projects on a partnership basis between the population and the state. If residents cover half of the project’s cost, such projects will automatically be recognized as winners. This is stated in the resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan dated August 29 of this year, “on measures to strengthen cooperation between representatives of the people and voters within the framework of improving the processes of the Initiative budget".

According to the resolution, starting from 2026, a procedure will be introduced for financing social projects on the basis of public–state partnership.

In this case, if citizens voluntarily finance 50 percent of a project’s cost, the project will automatically be declared a winner, and the remaining 50 percent will be covered by the state budget.

When projects are financed on a partnership basis:

• They will be recognized as winners without participating in the voting process;
• The practice of suspending participation for the respective neighborhoods will not be applied.

In addition, an interactive map of the winning projects under the “Initiative budget” will be launched on the “Open budget” information portal by October 1, 2025

It is worth noting that earlier, the practice of “Deputies’ initiative” was reportedly introduced within the framework of the “Initiative budget”. According to this practice, projects that did not win within the program may still be recognized as winners by members of parliament.