Planned Budget (Total)
Other resources (non-core)
Country Indexes
outcome XM-DAC-41146-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.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-KAZ_D_1.2
By 2025, all people in Kazakhstan are protected and enjoy full realization of human rights and gender equality and a life free from discrimination, violence and threats, and equally participate in decision-making (UNSDCF Outcome 2.1.)
The outcome has not been achieved, however, UN Women Kazakhstan made substantial progress on the outcome in 2024 . UN Women, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan and with support from the National Commission, enhanced the political engagement and leadership capacity of women in five regions of Kazakhstan (Akmola, West Kazakhstan, East Kazakhstan, North Kazakhstan, and Shymkent). More than 100 active women deepened their knowledge and developed essential skills in political leadership and election campaign management through dedicated sessions. These efforts were facilitated by women leaders who had previously completed UN Women's 2022 "Political Leadership" program, ensuring the dissemination of expertise and fostering peer support. This initiative significantly contributed to equipping women with the tools and confidence to increase their participation in political processes, advancing gender equality in Kazakhstan’s political sphere. Furthermore, during the 16 Days of Activism against GBV, the Central Asian Alliance to End Gender-Based Violence achieved a significant milestone by bringing together 50 activists representing organizations of people with disabilities across Central Asia . This collaborative effort resulted in the development of the Roadmap 2025 for the Network of Organizations of Women with Disabilities of Central Asia. The regional meeting served as a crucial platform to raise awareness about the persistent challenges faced by women with disabilities, particularly in the context of gender-based violence. By highlighting these issues and outlining actionable steps, Roadmap 2025 provides a strategic foundation for advancing the rights and safety of women with disabilities across the region, fostering greater inclusivity and empowerment. Also, in December 2024, the Country Office successfully increased awareness among 354 representatives of law enforcement agencies, the prosecutor's office, defence, and emergency agencies from the Atyrau, Zhambyl, and North Kazakhstan regions, in line with the Action Plan for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions 1325 (2000), 1820, 1888, 1889, 1960, 2106, 2122, 2242, and 2467. These sessions strengthened participants' understanding of conflict resolution, stability, security, and the protection of human and civil rights, contributing to more informed and effective responses in promoting peace and security within the region. In 2024, UN Women’s CO’s Theory of Change remains highly relevant, guiding initiatives focused on women’s political participation and leadership, the implementation of UNSCR 1325, and the empowerment of women with disabilities to combat intersectional discrimination. These efforts continue to advance gender equality, promote inclusive decision-making, and address the multifaceted challenges faced by women across diverse contexts.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-KAZ_D_1.3
By 2025, state institutions at all levels effectively design and implement gender-sensitive, human rights and evidence-based public policies and provide quality services in an inclusive, transparent and accountable manner (UNSDCF Outcome 2.2.)
The outcome has not been achieved, however, UN Women Kazakhstan made progress on the outcome in 2024 . The development and presentation of a Methodology for conducting gender expertise of regulatory legal acts, based on international practices , represents a significant advancement in promoting gender-sensitive governance. This methodology, supported by national partners, paves the way for the integration of gender equality considerations into the legislative process, ensuring more inclusive and equitable legal frameworks. In addition, over 60 representatives of central, legislative, executive and judicial bodies significantly increased their potential in the integration of gender aspects and gender analysis in the legislative and normative acts. Furthermore, the development of a master's academic program in "Gender Studies" represents an innovative approach to integrating gender-oriented perspectives and promoting non-discrimination within the national education system. Supported by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, this program, set to launch in 2025 at the National Women’s Pedagogical University, offers a significant step towards advancing gender equality and fostering a more inclusive and responsive educational environment. Moreover, UN Women, in partnership with national stakeholders, spearheaded a significant initiative by preparing a comprehensive study “Towards Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Kazakhstan: A Study of OECD Standards.” This high-impact endeavour assessed Kazakhstan’s alignment with OECD gender equality standards across critical areas such as education, employment, entrepreneurship, and public life, reflecting global best practices and international recommendations. Building upon the insights from this study, a transformative Roadmap and action plan were developed to address systemic challenges, foster inclusive policies, and strengthen international cooperation. This demonstrates an important advancement toward achieving sustainable, equitable progress in gender equality across Kazakhstan’s socio-economic landscape, positioning the nation as a leader in inclusive development. Moreover, UN Women, through a collaborative approach, enhanced the awareness of national partners about access to quality social services through the comprehensive analysis titled “Family Support Centers in Kazakhstan: Development Concept and Financial and Economic Assessment” to strengthen national policies and social services in combating gender-based violence. By enhancing the capacity of national partners, the study assessed the current state of Family Support Centers (FSCs) and provided actionable recommendations for their development. As a result, on June 14, 2024, the Order of the Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan, “On Approval of the Rules for the Activities of Family Support Centers” No. 34499, was officially issued. This significant outcome reflects the strengthened capacity of national partners to implement sustainable, effective solutions that address gender-based violence, fostering a more responsive and resilient support system for survivors. Considering notable UN Women’s results in providing substantial support to state institutions at all levels effectively designing and implementing gender-sensitive, human rights and evidence-based public policies and providing quality services in an inclusive, transparent and accountable manner, the original strategy and Theory of Change for this outcome is largely applicable.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-KAZ_O_2
Advancing Partnerships & Resourcing
The UN Women Country Office in Kazakhstan strategically leveraged existing partnerships with the Government of Kazakhstan to drive progress on GEWE priorities. Through these collaborations, the Office amplified advocacy and strengthened its reach across diverse sectors. CO increased capacity of national partners in international practices and standards through the exchange of experience and practices with the state and research institutions of the Republic of Korea and its experience in implementing Gender Policy in the country. Diplomatic Engagement and Advocacy The diplomatic community in Kazakhstan played a pivotal role in promoting GEWE initiatives. Ten embassies and three International Financial Institutions (IFIs) joined UN Women in the Extended Gender Theme Group, enabling cohesive messaging and advocacy efforts. Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs actively participated in the Central Asian Alliance to End Gender-Based Violence (GBV), a key regional platform championed by UN Women. Overcoming Resource Mobilization Challenges Despite challenges stemming from Kazakhstan’s upper-middle-income status, which limits access to international donor funding, the Office successfully fortified strategic partnerships. This was achieved through joint program implementation and close collaboration with the Government of Kazakhstan. These efforts underscored the value of national partnerships in addressing resource gaps and advancing GEWE initiatives. In 2024 CO mobilised resources for the continuation of the project with the Ministry of Culture and Information for 2025-2027, in addition, a project proposal has been submitted to EU Delegation for Kazakhstan to cooperate with the EU in GBV area across Central Asian countries. The new Programme is expected to be launched in 2025 til 2027. Private Sector Engagement As a result of UN Women advocacy interventions, in 2024, eight new companies with more than 50,000 employees joined the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs), representing diverse sectors, including finance, venture capital, public relations, consulting, energy, the nuclear industry, and education. Notably, three of these new WEPs signatories actively participated in the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” advocacy campaign. These initiatives included the HeForShe communication interventions in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, charity for a shelter for women living with HIV in Almaty, the OpenSoz lectorium awareness event for youth in Atyrau, and “Women in Music” closing event in Almaty. Furthermore, CITIX, a committed partner of UN Women and Central Asian Alliance to end GBV, WEPs signatory and GEF AC commitment maker, facilitated the display of HeForShe Kazakhstan advocate testimonials and videos on 132 street smartboards across Astana and Almaty cities, over 230,000 times, as part of their voluntary contribution into the “16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence” campaign. As a result of preliminary agreement between UN Women and Samruk-Kazyna JSC, women and men working in the private sector will increase their awareness and enhance their knowledge of gender and gender equality in 2025. This will be achieved after Samruk-Kazyna, the holding company with 12 affiliated companies, integrate the Gender Fundamentals online training course into their employee training packages. This course was developed by UN Women in Kazakh and Russian, in partnership with the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2024.
outcome XM-DAC-41146-KAZ_O_4
Nurturing an empowered Workforce and advancing an inclusive UN Women culture
UN Women CO prioritized strengthening leadership and enhancing team capacity to cultivate an environment of collaboration, transparency, creativity, and reflection. Senior management actively engaged all team members in participatory decision-making processes, ensuring inclusivity and shared ownership of key initiatives. Notable examples included: Collaborative design and planning of new initiatives. Joint negotiations with donors. Open discussions on resource mobilization strategies. This inclusive approach not only reinforced team cohesion but also fostered a culture of innovation and accountability within the Country Office. Additionally, the Country Office played an active role in the work of the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) working group. Through this engagement, the Office contributed to advancing transparent monitoring systems and effective response mechanisms, demonstrating its commitment to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accountability.Showing 1 - 5 of 6