Uzbekistan evaluates anti-corruption performance: 2024 rankings released

In 2024, "Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine" JSC achieved the best results in combating corruption, while the Agency for the Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex ranked as the worst. This was detailed in the report of the Anti-Corruption Agency, which presented findings on the “Implementation of Presidential Instructions at the Expanded Meeting of the National Council on Combating Corruption and the 2024 Corruption Combating Effectiveness Ratings.”

According to the report, in line with the Presidential Decree issued on January 12, 2022, titled "On Introducing a Rating Assessment System for Evaluating the Effectiveness of Anti-Corruption Efforts," the performance of 102 state organizations for 2024 was evaluated on a 0-100 point scale. Among these, 13 organizations were evaluated for the first time, while the remaining 89 were reassessed.

Evaluation Results

• "Good" Performance (81-100 points): 41 organizations.
• "Satisfactory" Performance (55-80 points): 53 organizations.
• "Unsatisfactory" Performance (below 55 points): 8 organizations.

Overall, the average score was 73.8 points, improving by 4.9 points compared to 2023 (68.9 points for 95 organizations) and by 14.3 points compared to 2022 (59.5 points for 62 organizations).

The introduction of effective anti-corruption mechanisms led to a noticeable reduction in corruption-related crimes. For instance, the Ministry of Digital Technologies reported a 71.4% decrease in corruption cases compared to the previous year, the Ministry of Water Resources reported a 47.8% decrease, and similar reductions were observed in local governments (43.2%), commercial banks (31.9%), the Ministry of Justice (21.9%), and the Ministry of Economy and Finance (8.3%).

Improvements were also noted among organizations previously rated "unsatisfactory" in 2023, thanks to targeted measures implemented in collaboration with the agency. Examples include:

• Youth Affairs Agency: 85 points (2023: 10 points).
• "Uzbekinvest" Export-Import Insurance Company JSC: 83 points (2023: 28 points).
• Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Innovations: 82 points (2023: 50 points).
• Cultural Heritage Agency: 82 points (2023: 22 points).
• State Inspectorate for Supervision of Water Use Safety: 78 points (2023: 5 points).
• Ministry of Investments, Industry, and Trade: 72 points (2023: 18 points).

On the other hand, some organizations showed a decline. For example, "Uzbekcoal" JSC scored 48 points in 2024, down from its positive rating of 60 points in 2023. Additionally, the Agency for the Development of the Agro-Industrial Complex scored only 9 points (2023: 16 points), maintaining its "unsatisfactory" rating for two consecutive years.

Eight organizations in this category failed to demonstrate effective anti-corruption measures, such as the implementation of preventive mechanisms, monitoring the effectiveness of anti-corruption procedures, or improving staff knowledge and skills.

The highest-scoring organizations, including "Navoi Mining and Metallurgical Combine" JSC (96 points), the Ministry of Mining and Geology (95 points), the Central Bank (94 points), the State Tax Committee (92 points), and others, will have their positive experiences disseminated widely.

For "satisfactory" organizations, specific recommendations will be provided to enhance their anti-corruption efforts. Organizations rated "unsatisfactory" will receive tailored improvement plans, and their leadership will present quarterly reports to the National Council on Combating Corruption.

Following Presidential instructions on March 5, significant changes were made in compliance structures. Leaders of compliance units in 112 ministries and agencies were dismissed, with five more undergoing review. Open competitions for these roles are to be conducted by April 20 to appoint honest, dedicated, and professional candidates tasked with carrying out clearly defined objectives.