Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Strategic human resource planning is one of the elements of the personnel management system, used to determine the qualitative and quantitative need for employees of various categories to achieve the tactical and strategic goals of the organisation, as well as to assess the alignment of the organization's structural and staffing potential with its goals and development strategy.

On 16 August 2024, GIZ (German Enterprise on International Collaboration) jointly with the Agency for the Development of Public Service under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan (ARGOS), hosted a kick-off seminar ‘Implementation of a system of strategic planning of human resources in public bodies and organisations’ to discuss the development of a strategic human resource planning system. This event assembled a diverse range of Uzbekistan state ministries and organisations, including the Agency of Strategic Reforms, the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Ministry of Mining and Geology, and the Ministry of Digital Technologies, among others.

The meeting was held in response to a presidential decree from October 3, 2019 aimed at significantly improving Uzbekistan’s personnel policy and civil service system. The decree assigned the ARGOS with the responsibility of coordinating activities related to State Personnel Policy. It stressed the need for human resource management to align with the strategic goals and development plans of these bodies while adapting to evolving labour market conditions.

At the seminar, Alisher Eranov, Head of the Consolidated Information and Analytical Department for Ensuring Personnel Policy of ARGOS, opened the discussion, setting the stage for a thorough examination of current HR practices.

Dr. Viktor Kessler, Manager of the Good Governance Program, implemented by GIZ on behalf of the German government, provided an overview of GIZ’s initiatives in Uzbekistan, highlighting their commitment to enhancing governance through strategic human resource management.

The seminar featured a key presentation by Damir Ahmetovic, an International Public Management Expert from Bosnia and Herzegovina with over twenty years of experience in public administration and human resource management. He shared valuable insights on effective workforce planning, addressing both current practices and future challenges.

Participants discussed systematic issues related to human resource management, including organisational-legal mechanisms, allocation of financial resources, and the removal of obsolete functions. They also discussed the current organisation and execution of HR planning, anticipating, and planning for future workforce needs (including recruitment, retention, and retirement), key challenges in HR planning, addressing competency gaps, reviewing succession planning strategies, and integrating HR planning with budgeting and other HR functions such as recruitment, performance appraisal, and training.

As part of the Good Governance Program's initiative to enhance Strategic Human Resource Planning in Uzbekistan's public bodies and organizations, GIZ jointly with the international expert and ARGOS will develop a new workforce planning system. This project, running from June 2024 to February 2025, will involve a structured approach, including the following key steps: Creation of a detailed report outlining the work plan, methodology, and data collection tools. Comprehensive analysis to identify challenges, gaps, and opportunities for improvement in the current workforce planning system. Development of a robust Workforce Planning Framework that encompasses a clear vision, strategic goals, objectives, and an actionable implementation plan. Design and implementation of capacity-building programs to equip civil servants with the skills needed to effectively adopt and utilize the new system.

The seminar concluded with recommendations to improve cooperation among state bodies on HR analysis and planning. Proposals were developed to address systemic issues in human resource management, with the aim of enhancing the overall effectiveness of HR practices across Uzbekistan’s state institutions.