Outcome KAZ_D_1.1

By 2025, all people in Kazakhstan, especially the most vulnerable are empowered with knowledge and skills to equally contribute to the sustainable development of the country (UNSDCF Outcome 1.2.)

The outcome has not been achieved yet, however, UN Women Kazakhstan made substantial progress on the outcome in 2024. Through the collaborative efforts of the M. Kurmanov school, EPAM, and supporting organizations, the potential of over 30 8th-grade girls from Balpyk Bi, Zhetysu region, was significantly enhanced in the field of STEM on November 13-14, 2024. The training equipped participants with knowledge and hands-on experience in STEM disciplines, 3D modelling, programming, robotics, and digital security while fostering essential soft skills like teamwork, self-presentation, and creative thinking. Career guidance testing and one-on-one consultations with experts empowered the girls to identify their strengths and make informed decisions about future career paths. As a result, the initiative not only inspired the majority of participants to express a strong interest in STEM fields, but 60% of the girls confirmed their aspiration to develop skills in technology, directly contributing to efforts to close the gender gap in the tech industry. Moreover, in 2024, the Central Asian Alliance to End Gender-Based Violence (EGBV), in partnership with UN Women Kazakhstan and TechnoWomen (Kazakhstan), successfully empowered over 500 women in rural Kyrgyzstan through digital safety training. These sessions provided participants with essential knowledge of digital trends, security best practices, and strategies for preventing online violence, enabling them to navigate the digital landscape with increased confidence and safety. Additionally, 28 women and girls from the rural areas of Koshy and Taitobe villages in Kazakhstan enhanced their self-protection abilities through innovative EGBV Self-Defense Training . By integrating self-defence techniques with Emotional and Social Development (ESD) strategies, the program fostered greater self-confidence, intuition, and decision-making skills. Together, these initiatives equipped women and girls across the region with tools to address both online and physical threats, advancing the empowerment of rural women and the prevention of gender-based violence. Furthermore, in 2024, the engagement of UN Women with women’s rights organizations and civil society organizations (CSOs) through the Regional CSO Network played a transformative role in strengthening collaborative efforts to address gender-based violence (GBV) and advance gender equality in Central Asia. The Regional CSO Network actively contributed to shaping the foundational structures of the Central Asian Alliance on Gender-Based Violence (Alliance) by developing its Statute, Principles, and Regulations. This ensured that the guiding framework reflects diverse civil society perspectives and is inclusive of grassroots realities across the region. Network members also played a pivotal role in the Alliance’s conference in June 2024, aligning strategic priorities, fostering cross-border collaboration, and sharing best practices among CSOs and government institutions. By facilitating broader engagement, they ensured the participation of local organizations in the Alliance’s activities, creating a unified and robust regional response to GBV. Their efforts strengthened institutional frameworks, empowered grassroots actors, and amplified the voices of women and marginalized communities.

By 2025, all people in Kazakhstan, especially the most vulnerable are empowered with knowledge and skills to equally contribute to the sustainable development of the country (UNSDCF Outcome 1.2.)

The outcome has not been achieved yet, however, UN Women Kazakhstan made substantial progress on the outcome in 2022. The Voluntary National Review (VNR) on the progress of SDGs implementation in Kazakhstan was visibly gender mainstreamed during development and Kazakhstan's presentation at the High-Level Political Forum in New York in May 2022. International and national communities gained awareness of the progress, achievements, challenges and lessons learned in the implementation of SDGs at the national level through the VNR. https://hlpf.un.org/countries/kazakhstan/voluntary-national-review-2022 UN Women contributed significantly to the results reflected in VNR by showcasing the outcomes of the joint project with the Government of Kazakhstan on the integration of Gender Responsive Budgeting in the national planning and budgeting system. More specifically, UN Women developed the methodology and conducted gender analysis of planning and budgeting processes with the example of the Akmola region at the local level and the Ministry of Education at the central level, in the area of education, healthcare and social protection. In addition, UN Women ensured the integration of a gender dimension into the entire VNR document. The National Women's Machinery recognised the role of UN Women's significant contribution in supporting the Government of Kazakhstan and national partners in advancing Gender Responsive Budgeting as well as demonstrating it on the global level through highlighting the VNR. UN Women successfully cooperated with the National Women's Machinery, the Ministry of National Economy, the Economic Reserach Institute, the Applied Economic Research Centre, the Akmola region Local Administration, and the Ministry of Education through this work. Thus, the original strategy and ToC for this outcome is still largely applicable.

By 2025, all people in Kazakhstan, especially the most vulnerable are empowered with knowledge and skills to equally contribute to the sustainable development of the country (UNSDCF Outcome 1.2.)

The outcome has not been achieved yet, however, UN Women Kazakhstan made substantial progress on the outcome in 2023 using its convening power and creating regional platforms that reemphasised GEWE and Sustainable development agenda importance. Women parliamentarians and women activists significantly strengthened regional cooperation in GEWE through the Dialogue of Women of Central Asia chaired by Kazakhstan in 2023. The Dialogue is a platform for discussing topical development issues and strengthening cooperation between women parliamentarians and women activists in the region, supported by the UNRCCA, UNDP, and UN Women. During 2023 the Dialogue delved into the role of women in innovation and technology, emphasized the critical importance of women’s participation in building Peace and Security in the region, and joined voices and committed to combat gender-based violence. UN Women contributed significantly to the results of the Dialogue by leveraging its convening power, and strong partnership with the Parliament, the Government, Civil Society Organisations, and the UN Entities. Civil Society bridged their vision and messages with the agenda of women at the decision-making level through the Dialogue, ensuring that voices were heard and considered during the development of legislation, policies, and programmes, as a result of UN Women support. https://eca.unwomen.org/en/stories/media-advisory/2023/06/media-advisory-kazakhstan-to-chair-the-dialogue-of-women-of-central-asia-2023-under-the-theme-role-of-women-in-innovation-and-technology-development https://astanatimes.com/2023/06/kazakhstan-takes-over-chair-in-dialogue-of-women-of-central-asia/ Moreover, UN Women has strengthened regional cooperation in addressing GBV. Through the creation of the Central Asian Alliance to End GBV. Created under the Spotlight Initiative, the Alliance initiated joint efforts in combatting GBV through strengthening institutional capacities, contributing to changes in legislation, addressing social norms, improving gender-sensitive statistics and ensuring Civil Society central role in these processes. UN Women ensured the sustainability of the alliance by mobilizing resources from the Government of Kazakhstan (USD400,000). In November 2023 over 150 representatives of Civil Society, international and governmental organizations from Central Asia convened in Astana to take stock of the Spotlight Initiative results and shape the Alliance’s vision and initiatives for 2024 and 2025. UN Women played a pivotal role in building a cooperative environment, strategically guiding partners to a vision leading to robust results to be achieved during 2024 and 2025. https://kazakhstan.un.org/en/238825-uniting-progress-eu-and-un-support-launch-central-asian-alliance-end-gender-based-violence https://eca.unwomen.org/en/stories/news/2023/07/uniting-for-progress-launch-of-the-central-asian-alliance-to-end-gender-based-violence In addition, in 2023 more than 60 rural women in four regions of the country enhanced practical competencies in cheese-making, felt needlework, and hop cultivation and production with the support of UN Women, therefore boosting their economic capabilities. The initiative was implemented jointly with rural local administrations and the National Women’s Machinery. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and the National Women's Machinery highly recognised the role of UN Women's significant contribution in supporting the Government of Kazakhstan and national partners in effectively bringing to reality and implementing the crucially important strategic initiatives such as the Dialogue of Women of Central Asia and the Central Asian Alliance to End GBV. In addition, UN Women successfully cooperated with the Parliaments and Senates of Central Asian countries, as well as the representatives of Civil Society Organisations, law enforcement bodies, Ministries, National Women’s Machineries, expert communities, diplomatic missions, and the UN entities. Thus, the original strategy and ToC for this outcome is still largely applicable.