Uzbekistan pledges full support for foreign grant-funded NGOs

Non-governmental non-profit organizations (NGOs) operating in Uzbekistan, as well as recipients of foreign grants, will not encounter financial difficulties, according to Otabek Khusanov, director of the Public Fund for Support of Non-Governmental Non-Profit Organizations and Other Civil Society Institutions under the Oliy Majlis.

“We are ready to fully support them—before, now, and in the future—by creating all the necessary conditions for them to continue their projects. At the same time, we want to emphasize that if any issues arise with foreign grants in 2025, we are prepared to develop additional projects for them,” Khusanov stated.

He noted that several civil society initiatives in Uzbekistan have faced setbacks due to the Trump administration’s decision to suspend funding for grant programs provided by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In response, he urged all civil society institutions to actively engage in state grants and social orders announced by the Public Fund.

For reference, USAID is an independent agency of the US government established in 1961 to assist foreign countries in economic development, health, education, humanitarian aid, and democracy-building. Although formally independent, it operates under the guidance of the US President, Secretary of State, and National Security Council.

Following his inauguration on January 20, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order suspending US foreign aid programs for 90 days to assess their alignment with the new administration’s political goals. Trump criticized USAID’s leadership, calling them "radical" and "insane," while the agency warned that the suspension could jeopardize US national security and result in significant job losses. In response, federal judge Carl Nichols temporarily blocked the government’s decision to place approximately 2,200 USAID employees on administrative leave.