Central Asian countries establish a regional platform for local self-government development

December 12, 2025, Tashkent. The capital of Uzbekistan hosted the first regional Forum “Local Self-Government in Central Asia,” which brought together representatives of government agencies from across the region, municipal associations, international organizations, think tanks, and experts. The event was organized by the Association of Mahallas of Uzbekistan and the Development Policy Institute (Kyrgyzstan) with the support of the EGED Programme (the British Government through FCDO) and the Partnership “For the Development of Local Self-Government in the Kyrgyz Republic” (the Swiss Government through SDC).

The Forum became the first international platform in the region to discuss modern approaches to developing local self-government, territorial optimization, investment climate, digital solutions, and the role of municipal associations in interregional cooperation.

A key outcome of the Forum was the discussion of an initiative to establish the Council for Local Self-Government and Local Development of Central Asia – a sustainable regional platform designed to:

• develop and pilot unified standards and tools for local economic development;
• improve the investment climate at the territorial level;
• support the implementation of digital platforms and econometric models in governance;
• promote cross-country cooperation among municipalities;
• strengthen local-level human capacity.

The Council will serve as a coordination platform for government bodies, associations, municipalities, and local communities from the five countries of the region. Its activities will focus on data, pilot projects, investment solutions, and citizen engagement.

“In Central Asia, every community is a small family, and local self-government is every citizen’s responsibility for their own life and development. We are discussing the future of local economies, digital governance, and investments, as it is the community that forms the foundation of the region’s sustainable development,” said Zhovdatkhon Inagamov, First Deputy Chairman of the Mahallas Association of Uzbekistan.

“The main task of the Forum is to strengthen the voice of communities and adapt local self-government to the challenges of the time. We expect the Forum to become a key milestone in forming a shared vision for territorial development in Central Asia,” emphasized Nadezhda Dobretsova, Chairperson of the Development Policy Institute (Kyrgyzstan).

During the panel discussions, experts from Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, as well as specialists from the UK, Sweden, Italy, Switzerland, Japan, and other countries examined:

• modern models of local self-government and key challenges for the region;
• administrative-territorial reforms and fiscal decentralization;
• local economic development, investment climate, and poverty reduction measures;
• modern digital platforms and the role of data in local planning;
• the role of municipal associations in regional integration and knowledge exchange.

The establishment of the Council for LSG and LD will enable government bodies, municipalities, businesses, and citizens to access unified standards, solutions, and tools aimed at:

• improving the quality of local services;
• developing territories, including vulnerable and remote areas;
• creating an investment-attractive environment;
• implementing digital and algorithmic approaches in governance;
• enhancing civic participation and transparency.