Ministry of Economy and Finance of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The main objective of the event was to study the practical experience accumulated in Uzbekistan and Russia in developing participatory budgeting, discuss mechanisms for expanding citizens’ participation in budget processes, and exchange views on modern approaches applied in this field.
 

Particular attention was also paid to the “My School” project as an example of applying Uzbekistan’s experience in participatory budgeting in the education sector. Through this project, participatory budgeting practices have been brought to the school level, providing students in grades 5–11 with the opportunity to propose projects for their schools and vote on them. Since the 2025/2026 academic year, the project has covered all schools.
 

The “My School” project also places a strong emphasis on the principles of openness, digitalization and direct participation. The process is carried out through the “Open Budget” portal, with a separate earmarked fund established for each school, while students directly participate in selecting the areas necessary for the development of their schools. This approach contributes to fostering a sense of collective responsibility and initiative among the younger generation, as well as developing skills for the rational use of budget funds.
 

During the roundtable, participants also exchanged views on the Russian side’s experience and practical approaches in the field of participatory budgeting. In particular, approaches aimed at expanding citizen participation, supporting initiatives and improving the effectiveness of their implementation were discussed. At the same time, the importance of studying practices developed in different countries and applying them with due consideration of national circumstances was emphasized.
 

As part of the event, school students from the Udmurt Republic, Krasnoyarsk Krai and the city of St. Petersburg of the Russian Federation, as well as from the Kyrgyz Republic and the Republic of Uzbekistan, participated via videoconference.
 

During the dialogue, the students shared the practices and experience developed in their schools in the field of participatory budgeting and exchanged views on ongoing initiatives and students’ participation in the process. The dialogue provided an effective opportunity for young people from different countries and regions to exchange experience and learn about advanced approaches to participatory budgeting.
 

In the second part of the roundtable, participants visited Schools No. 83 and No. 56 in the Mirobod district and familiarized themselves with the practical application of participatory budgeting mechanisms in educational institutions. During the visit, views were exchanged on initiatives implemented in the schools, the conditions created, and students’ participation in budget processes.

PR and Communications Department

Ministry of Economy and Finance