The Minister of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of Kazakhstan, Serikkali Brekeshev, and UNDP Resident Representative, Yakup Beris, met to discuss priority areas of cooperation under the current 2021-2025 country programme.

During the meeting, Brekeshev thanked UNDP for the fruitful partnership that supports Kazakhstan in implementing the concept of green economy and developing low-carbon strategy. He also highlighted UNDP's high-level political support in developing the Zhassyl Kazakhstan national project and other joint initiatives that contribute to sustainable natural resource management, promoting investment in ecosystem conservation, and strengthening the country's resilience to climate change.

The parties also noted the positive results of joint efforts to launch new projects funded by the Global Environment Facility, including the Small Grants Programme and the project to promote sustainable food systems and improve ecosystem services in northern Kazakhstan.

In the end, UNDP Resident Representative invited the Minister to participate in an international meeting entitled "Stockholm+50: a healthy planet for the prosperity of all - our responsibility, our opportunity," marking the 50th anniversary since the convening of the Conference on the Human Environment.

UNDP has been part of the country’s development progress since 1994 having implemented more than 200 projects worth over US$200 million on the national, regional and local levels in a wide array of areas: from improving irrigation networks to sustainable forest management, from piloting a community policing model to digital transformation of the civil service system for better service delivery to the public. Presently, UNDP’s activity in the country is guided by the Country Programme, aligned with the national development priorities.