With a view to ensuring the implementation of the tasks set out in Protocol No. 15 of the Coordination Council for Strategic Planning and Development under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, the Agency for Strategic Development and Reforms organised a specialised professional development course for the heads of the information and analytical groups of the administrations of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the regions and the city of Tashkent.

The course was designed to support the high-quality development of regional development strategies through to 2030 and to enhance the professional competencies of the officials responsible for this work.

Within the framework of the dedicated programme, particular emphasis was placed on developing key skills among participants, including strategic thinking, systems analysis, determination, process management and a focus on results. At the outset of the sessions, an initial sociological survey and entry tests were conducted in order to assess participants’ understanding of strategic planning.

Throughout the programme, participants attended lectures on the priority directions of state policy in the field of strategic planning, the fundamentals of preparing the relevant documents, and the role of intrinsic motivation in shaping strategic thinking. They also acquired a detailed command of the methodology for drafting, implementing, quality-checking and monitoring strategic documents of the first, second and third tiers.

The practical component of the course gave particular attention to ensuring the implementation of the Head of State’s instructions and to strengthening the accountability of senior officials. In order to apply the knowledge they had acquired, participants worked on two major case studies:

— using the example of Bukhara Region, they analysed the process of monitoring the implementation of adopted strategic documents and reviewing the related reports;

— using the example of Kashkadarya Region, they carried out a practical exercise on independently drafting a new strategic document for the region’s development.

At the conclusion of the sessions, a final sociological survey and a final test were held in order to identify changes in participants’ perspectives and to assess their level of knowledge. All participants who successfully completed the course were presented with special certificates.