Honorable Members of the Senate,

Members of the Government and Maslikhats,

Distinguished Guests,

It is a great honor to address this extended meeting of the Council for Cooperation with Local Representative Bodies, Maslikhats.

Maslikhats, as local representative bodies, function as the bridge between the people and the government, ensuring that policies are responsive to local needs and aspirations. The Law on Maslikhats clearly outlines their core responsibilities, which include - budget and development oversight, urban planning and land management, environmental and resource management, and social support. Their role and mandate have been further strengthened—and even expanded—following the establishment of the Parliamentary Commission on Monitoring the Implementation of National Goals and Objectives for Sustainable Development.

Each of these mandates directly aligns with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, which aim to improve the well-being and quality of life for every individual in the country - whether by overcoming poverty or acting against climate change. Therefore, achieving the national SDG agenda requires strong local engagement, with Maslikhats playing a crucial role in shaping policies that drive local and regional sustainability.

Today, I would like to emphasize the pivotal role of Maslikhats in advancing people’s well-being through SDGs, territorial development, and participatory budgeting - three key pillars that, in our view, might shape the future of sustainable local governance in Kazakhstan.

We fully support the Government’s priority of local development. In collaboration with the Government, we are implementing a Regional Programme to launch projects in the Abay and Ulytau regions. With further support from the Government, we aim to expand these initiatives to Zhetysu, Kyzylorda, and other regions. These projects will be carried out through participatory budgeting and will focus on developing social infrastructure, enhancing access to green technologies, and improving the well-being of local communities.

Over the past month, we have had the opportunity to engage with Maslikhat members from the Abay, North Kazakhstan, and Kyzylorda regions through consultations on the upcoming country’s 3rd Voluntary National Review, a national report on SDG progress, to be presented at the United Nations in July this year, as well as through capacity-building training on the integration of SDGs into local development planning. We were truly delighted to see such active participation, insightful discussions, and a strong commitment to advancing sustainable development at the local level.

As Maslikhats oversee and approve territorial development plans, they play a decisive role in ensuring that development is not just about economic growth but also about long-term sustainability and equity.

Territorial development programs tend to prioritize GDP growth, infrastructure expansion, and job creation, often overlooking the efficient use of natural resources and environmental sustainability. This gap leads to challenges such as environmental degradation, regional disparities, inefficient investments, and, ultimately, a stagnation in long-term economic growth. To address these issues, Maslikhats must advocate for more integrated planning tools that incorporate environmental, social, and economic factors into regional development strategies.

UNDP is currently piloting a new approach to territorial development in the North Kazakhstan region, supporting the adoption of innovative solutions. Upon successful implementation, we plan to scale this approach across Kazakhstan’s regional planning system, strengthening agricultural sustainability, enhancing climate adaptation, developing green supply chains, and promoting long-term regional development. And we encourage Maslikhats to engage actively as partners in this process.

A fundamental principle of sustainable development is people-centered governance. And the legal establishment of Participatory budgeting in the newly adopted Budget Code offers an opportunity to make local budgeting more transparent, participatory, and aligned with community needs. Maslikhats must play a leading role in institutionalizing participatory budgeting mechanisms that allow citizens to influence how public funds are allocated and spent.

To make this initiative successful, we propose:

• Expand the existing Participatory Budgeting digital platform to cover rural areas (rayons and auls), enhancing transparency by allowing citizens to track public spending and provide input.

• Organizing public consultations on budget priorities to align government spending with local needs.

• Ensuring a greater share of local budgets is allocated toward SDG-aligned initiatives, such as green energy, social inclusion, and climate resilience.

We can collaborate on developing an efficient mechanism for implementing Participatory Budgeting in rural areas within the four pilot regions, facilitating its further expansion to other regions.

Following our recent engagement with the Maslikhats, UNDP is committed to offering tailored capacity-building training that aligns with and supports your mandates. Drawing on best practices from global examples such as the USA, Great Britain, and South Africa supporting local elected officials by equipping them with the necessary tools, best practices, and knowledge to enhance local government performance.

We propose the development of a Handbook or Guidance Document for Maslikhats. This resource will address critical aspects of local governance, including legal frameworks, budgeting, strategic planning, sustainable territorial planning, and SDG localization, all of which are directly relevant to Maslikhats’ roles and responsibilities. This initiative will strengthen the capacity of Maslikhats as representative bodies, enhancing decision-making processes, fostering transparency, and building public trust. Additionally, it will equip Maslikhat members with essential tools for effective and impactful leadership.

Dear participants,

Maslikhats are at the forefront of Kazakhstan’s sustainable regional transformation. Their legislative, oversight, and policy-making functions give them a unique capacity to shape development in ways that are equitable, inclusive, and sustainable. By strengthening their role and enhancing their capacity, we can build more resilient and sustainable regions.

At the regional level, Maslikhats might play a crucial role in contributing to the work of the Parliamentary Commission, ensuring systematic monitoring of SDG implementation through their representation and connections with constituencies. Through this channel, Parliament can continuously receive valuable feedback and reflect these recommendations in the programs and tools through which SDGs are implemented in the regions.

I urge all representatives here today to champion these priorities and work together to empower local governance as a key driver of national progress.

Together, let’s continue to elevate the role of Maslikhats, ensuring they become the pillars of sustainable development in our regions.

By working together, we can further enhance their role in sustainable local development, ensuring that no one is left behind and that progress reaches every corner of Kazakhstan.

Looking ahead, we hope to continue this collaboration and build strong, lasting partnerships with Maslikhats across the country.

Thank you!