Meeting of the Parliamentary Commission

On January 24, 2012, a regular meeting of the Parliamentary Commission on management of the assets of the Public Foundation for the support of NGOs and other civil society institutions under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan was held. It was attended by members of the Parliamentary Commission of the number of senators and deputies of the Oliy Majlis, heads of NGOs, universities, and the mass media representatives.
 
It was noted that at present the republic has more than five thousand NGOs operating in various sectors of society. Since the establishment of the Public Foundation for the support of NGOs and other civil society institutions under the Oliy Majlis and the Parliamentary Commission on management of the assets of the Public Foundation for the support of NGOs and other civil society institutions more than 21 billion sums were spent from the State budget of the country.
 
Over the past of 2011, this sum amounted to 5 billion sums and has been distributed among NGOs and other civil society institutions based on the principles of transparency, openness, accessibility, objectivity. Government support in the form of grants, social order and state grant covered about 1,3 thousand NGOs and other civil society institutions, their active participation in implementing the State program “Year of small business and private entrepreneurship”, the socio-economic development of regions of the country ensured, social activism of population increased.
 
During the meeting, it was noted that during 2011, 5 republican grant competitions have been held, which were attended by 600 NGOs and other civil society institutions with more than 700 projects. Of these, 148 social projects were financed totaling 2 billion 131,6 million sums.
 
The first and the third grant competitions were devoted to implementing the State program “Year of small business and private entrepreneurship”. 303 applications (projects) from all regions of the country were received in these competitions, of which the Parliamentary Commission approved funding for 62 projects totaling 900,0 million sums.
 
The main theme was aimed at attracting youth and women, people with limited abilities in the sphere of small business and entrepreneurship, organization of training courses and consultancy for the development of home-based work, training, legal awareness of subjects of small business and private entrepreneurship, family business.
 
The second grant competition was aimed at increasing activity of population and NGOs in environmental protection and public health, improving the ecological situation in the regions of the republic. This competition received 174 applications from NGOs and other civil society institutions, of which the Parliamentary Commission has approved funding for 35 projects worth of 500 million sums.
 
The fourth contest was dedicated to promoting the harmonious development of young generation, educating independently intellectual, with own position in life and strong convictions of young people, forming their aspirations for a healthy lifestyle. The contest has received 94 applications, of which the Parliamentary Commission approved financing of 29 projects of NGOs and other civil society institutions totaling 431,6 million sums.
 
The fifth contest was aimed at ensuring the active involvement of independent media in addressing the priorities of governmental and public construction as defined in the Concept of further deepening democratic reforms and establishing civil society in the country, as well as strengthening the place and role of the mass media in the system of civil society institutions. This competition received 124 applications of NGOs and other civil society institutions, of which the Working Group recommended and approved 22 projects worth of 300 million sums at the meeting of the Parliamentary Commission.
 
As part of these projects 3158 events were held at places, which were attended by more than 136,4 thousand people, the material base of NGOs and other civil society institutions was strengthened with modern information and communication appliances and furniture in the amount of 803 pieces. This is more than 519 units of modern information and communication technology, diagnostic and therapeutic devices. As part of the project, office equipment (furniture, tables, and chairs) were purchased in the amount of more than 284 pieces. About 51 thousand manuals were prepared, more than 350 people - youth, women and other vulnerable segments of the population began to engage in a family business, private entrepreneurship. As a result of social partnership with the financial and banking institutions, 60 people received relevant micro-credits.
 
In the form of governmental social contracts 9 major projects and programs of NGOs and other civil society institutions totaling 1 billion 058,4 million sums are currently being implemented in the following areas:
 
- participation of civil society institutions in implementing the State program “Year of small business and private entrepreneurship”, 4 projects worth of 148 million sums were implemented;
 
- ensuring freedom of expression and information, support and development of independent media, 4 projects worth of 690 million sums were implemented;
 
- increasing activity of population and NGOs in environmental protection and public health, improve environmental conditions in the regions of the republic, 1 project worth of 220,4 billion sums was implemented.
 
As part of realization of social orders 179 big events were carried out, of which 2 national competitions, 57 conferences, festivals, forums, business schools and camps, 120 training seminars, “round tables”, presentations and fairs of vacancies. These activities reached more than 15,8 thousand people, of which about 12,5 thousand are young people.
 
As part of implementing social order on “The participation of civil society institutions in implementing the State program “Year of small business and private entrepreneurship”, forums of young entrepreneurs were held (“Kelajak ovozi”), 10 presentations and fairs, four seasonal schools of republican scale were organized. For more than 2 thousands young people from all over the country was provided with consultation, more than 100 people are employed. Methodical manual on “How to open and maintain a successful business” is prepared for publication in 2 thousand copies, as well as under the state program a reporting bulletin on youth entrepreneurship is published at 2 thousand copies. A database of young specialists and job bank on www.vacant.uz website is created.
 
As part of implementing the social order on “Ensuring freedom of expression and information, support and development of independent media” activity of 101 non-governmental media entity was supported, including 30 television stations, 30 radio stations and 41 cable television studios, stable operation of satellite television and “TV Forum” channel is provided. 10 issues of the “Ozod yurt tulkinlari” (“Waves of free country”) journal were prepared and published, 712 transmissions, about 100 public social rollers were broadcasted.
 
More than 30 TV programs of “Parliamentary Hour”, 6 talk shows, 10 transmissions of “Yuzma-yuz” (“Face to face”) and 300 informative essays were created and posted on air of non-governmental TV stations. 5 documentaries on the progress of democratic reforms in Uzbekistan, the participation of civil society institutions in implementing the State program “Year of small business and private entrepreneurship” were created and posted on air. 
 
National contests “Oltin Kalam” (“Gold Pencil”), “Eng ulug, eng aziz” (“The greatest, the dearest”) with participation of more than 862 journalists were held, where more than 11,4 thousand creative works were represented, the winners were awarded cash prizes totaling 149,2 million sums. About 10 thousand (9970 pieces) electronic and print media products were produced: 3,5 thousand are electronic – television-radio broadcasts, social rollers, essays, talk shows, and etc., 6 thousand printings - books, magazines, newspapers, brochures, manuals, and etc. Machinery, equipment, computers, furniture were purchased, a website was created, thus material-technical base of NGOs and other civil society institutions to 233 million sums was strengthened. The total number of purchased equipment and inventory makes 89 pieces, including the use of innovative technologies around 7 pieces, such as solar collectors, photo-electric station, equipment of drip irrigation and biogas plants.
 
During the reporting period funding of statutory activities of unions and associations is provided, which include about 1000 NGOs in the form of a subsidy of 1 billion 810,0 million sums. The recipients of governmental grants conducted 1360 events, which were attended by more than 40 thousand people, equipment valued at 16,3 million sums was purchased, and printed materials on project activity of more than 4,585 types were produced.  Qualification of 140 people is improved.
 
During the meeting, members of the Parliamentary Commission discussed the issues of allocating the state budget funds aimed at supporting the activities of NGOs and other civil society institutions, for implementing social projects and programs on the State program “Year of the Family”, providing their active participation in the implementation of government and regional development programs in 2012. It was noted that in 2012 for the support of NGOs and other civil society institutions, implementation by them of specific social projects and programs on the State program “Year of the Family”, strengthening social partnership in society from the State budget of the country 6 billion sums will be allocated, that is compared to 2011 year is more by 20 percent.
 
Taking into account the priorities of political and economic modernization of the country, as well as in accordance with further development of civil society, the Parliamentary Commission on management of the assets of the Public Foundation for the support of NGOs and other civil society institutions under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, in the framework of the accumulated funds, proposals for allocation of funds have been developed. According to them, in 2012, government support of NGOs and other civil society institutions will be mainly focused on subsidies, placing social orders and conducting republican grant competitions.
 
Issues were also considered on monitoring of the intended use of funds and determine the effectiveness of the implementation of projects funded by Social Fund under the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan. It was decided that the results of held monitoring will be considered at the next meeting of the Parliamentary Commission.
 
Relevant decisions of the Parliamentary Commission on all the discussed issues were adopted.