Outcome 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.

Advancing Partnerships & Resourcing

The Country office strategically focused on existing effective partnerships with the Government of Kazakhstan. The diplomatic community in Kazakhstan joined UN Women in amplifying messages and advocacy for GEWE through Extended Gender Theme Group (10 embassies, 3 International Financial Institutions). In addition, UN Women engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the work of the Spotlight Initiative Regional Programme and mobilized the funding for the Regional SGBV Alliance. The Office encountered challenges in resource mobilisation due to the upper middle-income status of the country where international donors are not present; however, the strategic partnership was strengthened in the course of the implementation of joint programmes and close cooperation with the Government of Kazakhstan. UN Women played a pivotal role in the Spotlight Initiative Regional Programme to address GBV in Central Asia and Afghanistan, the Economic Empowerment of Afghanistan Women Regional Programme, the Empowerment of Women living with HIV and a Project funded by the Government of Kazakhstan aimed at effective implementation of Gender and Family Policy in the country.

Advancing Partnerships & Resourcing

The Country office strategically focused on existing effective partnerships with the Government of Kazakhstan. In 2022, the new project was funded by a new donor the Ministry of Information and Social Protection ($1.2 mln) for achieving results in the implementation of the National Concept on Gender and Family Policy, WEE, Gender sensitive education and strategic level plans and policies. Also, the Office expanded its cooperation with the Private Sector (13 new private and quasi-state companies became WEPs signatories in 2022). https://www.weps.org/companies The largest bank in Kazakhstan Halyk Bank expressed interest in the implementation of a joint WEE initiative announcing a 2 million funds allocation for the development of women's entrepreneurship in Kazakhstan. The diplomatic community in Kazakhstan joined UN Women in amplifying messages and advocacy for GEWE through a newly established Extended Gender Theme Group (10 embassies, 3 International Financial Institutions). In addition, UN Women engaged the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the work of the Spotlight Initiative Regional Programme to ensure financial investments and potential contributions to the Regional SGBV Alliance. The Office encountered challenges in resource mobilisation due to the upper middle-income status of the country where international donors are not present, however, the strategic partnership was strengthened in the course of the implementation of joint programmes (for example, European Union and MPTF) and close cooperation with the Government of Kazakhstan.