Kazakhstan

[Past initiative]

In Kazakhstan, as in any large and developed country in the world, many current development trends are relevant: rapid urbanization, growing local government responsibilities in the context of decentralized government and growing importance of cities and towns in the country’s political and economic systems. To safeguard the interests of every child in the development process, UNICEF has been implementing the International Child Friendly City Initiative in Kazakhstan since 2008. To date, 25 cities and rayons have joined the CFCI.

The Child-Friendly City initiative in Kazakhstan is aimed at fulfilling children’s rights at the local level; it promotes child participation and supports communities by ensuring that children’s rights are reflected in the local development goals, policies, programs and budgets. The Child-Friendly City framework assists cities and regions to become child-friendly in all aspects of governance, environment and services.

The Child Rights Protection Committee under the Ministry of Education and Science supports the implementation of the initiative. UNICEF in Kazakhstan has provided support in developing the CFCI implementation methodology, assessment system an CFCI minimum package. The minimum package was developed on the basis of the current system of CFCI assessment and accreditation. It includes activities covering for example health, education, child safety and the environment, social justice. It should ensure the development of more specific and reliable participation mechanisms through which akimats (mayors’ offices), sectoral administrations and users of social services for children can effectively collaborate in order to improve the quality of support provided, as well as quickly identify the need for new services.

Capacities of the local level authorities and CFCI coordinators have been strengthened on child-centered planning, M&E, implementation and child participation.

In 2015, 5 cities and rayons were awarded the status of “Child-Friendly City”. The status is given for two years, after which the city or district must confirm it by passing the next assessment.