Evaluations of primary interventions of the budget support programme to the agri-food sector in Uzbekistan

The evaluation reviews EU budget support to Uzbekistan’s agri-food sector: BS1 (2020–23) ex-post and BS2 (since 2023) mid-term, plus ASK technical assistance. 

It follows the OECD-DAC budget support method and criteria and EU added value, based on desk review and interviews/field visits; evidence was limited by weak data sharing from MoA. 

Both programmes are highly relevant, aligned with the Agriculture Development Strategy 2020–2030 and Food Security/Nutrition Strategy, and coherent with donor actions. 

They supported reforms and outputs: abolition of cotton/wheat state quotas and verified removal of systemic child/forced labour; more transparent land allocation via e-auctions and 30-year leases; modern irrigation on ~30,000 ha; creation of ISCAD and the AKIS framework; strengthened food security policy; and PFM advances (programme-based budgeting, MTEF steps, Treasury Single Account progress). 

Effectiveness is constrained by continued state control over crop placement/prices, insecure land rights for smallholders/dehkhans, cluster monopolies, limited advisory and credit access, high input costs and slow mechanisation. 

Sustainability risks reflect MoA planning/HR gaps, frequent turnover, no costed strategy or medium-term budget programme, and weak M&E/statistics. 

Recommendations: cost and update ADS with realistic indicators, use more variable tranches, expand inclusive support to small farms and women, build a digital M&E/statistics system, and strengthen MoA capacity.