The third regional conference of the Effective Governance for Economic Development (EGED) Programme brought together more than 150 representatives of governments, think tanks, academia, international organizations, and development partners from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan in Dushanbe.
The conference explored how data, research, and citizen feedback can support more effective public policies for sustainable economic growth. Discussions focused on evidence-informed policymaking, the role of civil society in monitoring and evaluating reforms, gender equality, investment and job creation, climate action, and the protection of vulnerable groups.
During the panel session, “Listening to Citizens to Improve Public Policy,” Kazakhstan shared its experience in strengthening public trust in official statistics. Gulmira Beksautova, Director of the Department at the Bureau of National Statistics of Kazakhstan, highlighted the importance of regular public perception surveys, including the World Bank’s Listening to Kazakhstan initiative, in helping policymakers better understand citizens’ views on the reliability and transparency of official statistics.
She noted that Kazakhstan has taken significant steps to improve access to statistical information, including modernizing the national statistics website, introducing interactive dashboards, launching a researcher’s portal with access to anonymized datasets, establishing a unified contact centre, conducting regular user surveys and online consultations, and expanding digital publication formats.
The conference was organized by the World Bank with the support of the UK Government through the EGED Programme, providing a regional platform for sharing practical solutions that strengthen evidence-based governance across Central Asia.
