A virtual meeting was held between Yakup Beris, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan, and Yerulan Zhamaubayev, Minister of Finance of Kazakhstan, to discuss the newly approved UNDP Country Programme (2021-2025), its alignment with Kazakhstan’s development priorities, and operationalization through joint initiatives as part of the longstanding development cooperation between the Government of Kazakhstan and UNDP since 1992.

In the light of the priorities outlined in the new strategic document, as well as given the current Covid-19 global crisis and its impact on Kazakhstan, the meeting also covered emerging priorities underlined by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev in his recent State of the Nation Address. Such priorities include, among others, building a new model of public administration with active civic participation in the decision-making, a truly diversified economy supported by technological progress and end-to-end digitalisation, sustained environmental protection and biodiversity conservation, balanced territorial development, and the social wellbeing of citizens.

UNDP Resident Representative Yakup Beris reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to support Kazakhstan to realize national priorities enshrined in the long-term strategy Kazakhstan 2050, the 2025 Strategic Development Plan and other key strategies and plans. Guided by the Sustainable Development Goals, the work of UNDP will cut across national priorities, supporting Kazakhstan in its efforts to sustain its growth trajectory by diversifying the economy, modernizing institutions, reducing inequalities and sustainably managing natural resources. UNDP will continue to build upon its past work and well-established partnerships for helping the country accelerate structural transformations and better prepare for future shocks such as the negative effects of COVID-19 pandemic on human and socioeconomic development.