KazAID and IOM Signed a Cooperation MemorandumOn 28 November 2025, in Almaty, the Kazakhstan Agency of International Development (KazAID) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) signed a memorandum of cooperation.The document, aimed at strengthening institutional collaboration on migration data and supporting regional projects within the Almaty Process, was signed by Arken Arystanov, Chairman of the Board of KazAID, and Serhan Aktoprak, Head of IOM in Kazakhstan.The signing of the memorandum reflects Kazakhstan’s commitment to promoting coordinated approaches and enhancing partnerships in the field of migration in Central Asia.The memorandum was signed as part of the meeting of the Almaty Process Technical Expert Group, dedicated to issues of standardization, comparability, and digitalization of migration data for the development of effective evidence-based public policy.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kazaid/press/news/details/1115629?lang=kk

Prague, 28 November 2025 – Ambassador of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Czech Republic Bakyt Dyussenbayev met with Radek Vondráček, the newly elected Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies of the Parliament of the Czech Republic. During the meeting, the parties discussed prospects for further developing bilateral inter-parliamentary cooperation and expanding the political dialogue between Kazakhstan and the Czech Republic.Mr. Vondráček expressed interest in advancing cooperation with the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan, emphasizing his readiness to contribute to the further strengthening of parliamentary diplomacy.The Czech MP informed about his intention to lead the “Czech Republic–Kazakhstan” Friendship Group in the newly elected Lower Chamber of the Czech Parliament. It was noted that the inter-parliamentary friendship group serves as an effective instrument for promoting joint initiatives and expanding cooperation.Mr. Vondráček also reaffirmed his readiness to support the development of economic, cultural-humanitarian, and interregional cooperation.Special attention was given to the prospects for advancing parliamentary dialogue between Central Asia and Central Europe.In conclusion, both sides confirmed their readiness to continue strengthening inter-parliamentary cooperation and to advance new joint initiatives.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa-prague/press/news/details/1115632?lang=kk

Almaty, November 27-28, 2025 – With the support of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia(UNRCCA), the 15th Annual Meeting of Deputy Foreign Ministers of the Central Asian States was held.The meeting focused on contemporary regional challenges and security threats, the efforts of Central Asian governments to help stabilize the situation in Afghanistan, and the strengthening of regional cooperation in the areas of water and energy management.In his opening remarks, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Yerzhan Ashikbayev, underscored that deepening integration among the Central Asian states remains a key priority of Kazakhstan’s foreign policy – particularly in light of the establishment of the UN Regional Centre on the Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty.First Deputy Minister noted that the outcomes of the recent 7th Meeting of the Central Asia Strategic Dialogue Group in Tashkent reflect growing interest in the “Central Asia Plus” format, demonstrating both the political relevance of the region and its increasing international agency.He emphasized that the countries of the region share a long-term objective: to further solidify Central Asia’s status as a region of dynamic socio-economic development, comprehensive cooperation, peace, and prosperity.The Kazakh diplomat highlighted that a stable and prosperous Afghanistan remains a central foreign policy priority for the states of Central Asia, which seek to enhance trade, transport, and logistics cooperation with the Afghan Government, as well as expand humanitarian engagement.First Deputy Minister Ashikbayev stressed that genuine regional integration requires effective mechanisms for the sustainable use and preservation of shared water and energy resources-particularly at a time of global climate change and the depletion of major transboundary water basins. In this context, he drew attention to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s initiative to develop a Central Asian Framework Convention on Water Use aimed at harmonizing national water strategies, reflecting Kazakhstan’s strong commitment to establishing regional mechanisms for protecting and sustainably managing water resources.He also noted the region’s growing exposure to challenges associated with digital security and the use of big data. Against this backdrop, Kazakhstan’s proposal to advance cooperation on artificial intelligence – including the development of a draft Declaration on the Responsible Use of AI by Central Asian States-signals the region’s ambition to strengthen mutual trust and ensure secure data exchange in joint digital projects.He reaffirmed Kazakhstan’s intention to continue close cooperation with the Central Asian states under the mandate of the UNRCCA.In his remarks, Kaha Imnadze, Head of the UN Regional Centre for Preventive Diplomacy for Central Asia, highlighted the Centre’s role in preventive diplomacy, regional coordination, and peacebuilding in line with the new UNRCCA Programme of Action for 2026-2030. The Programme is built around five priorities: advancing preventive diplomacy, strengthening conflict monitoring and early warning, deepening partnerships with regional and subregional organizations, enhancing the UN’s preventive diplomacy mechanisms, and supporting Central Asian states in addressing challenges related to Afghanistan.Delegates from the region acknowledged the strategic nature of their partnership and reaffirmed the shared need to deepen regional integration, particularly with regard to Afghanistan’s recovery and regional security.Askhat Orazbay, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea, presented his views on the preservation and rational use of water resources in Central Asia, emphasizing the need to safeguard unique landscapes, maintain ecosystem sustainability, and preserve the regional water balance.The meeting also featured presentations by young participants of the UNRCCA Academy of Preventive Diplomacy, who shared their perspectives on regional security and development and expressed strong interest in broadening dialogue on advancing strategic cooperation in the region.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/1115622?lang=kk

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/almobl/press/news/details/1115621?lang=kk

Astana, November 26, 2025 – The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan hosted a roundtable dedicated to the development of professional social work and the improvement of human rights protection mechanisms.The event brought together representatives of relevant government agencies, universities, NGOs, and international organizations. Participants discussed key directions for modernizing social legislation, issues of labor protection, freedom of association, migrant rights, as well as the institutional development of social work as a professional field.In her opening remarks, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan Alua Nadirkulova emphasized that President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev pays special attention to strengthening the status of social workers. The Social Code adopted in 2023 became an important step in this direction. It strengths professional training through education, certification, and qualification categories, as well as introducing a new remuneration system based on professionalism and job complexity.The Ambassador noted that Kazakhstan’s recommendations under the UN Universal Periodic Review related to vulnerable groups – women, children, and persons with disabilities can be most effectively implemented through strengthened social work mechanisms.Dinara Yesimova, Executive Director of the National Alliance of Professional Social Workers (the Alliance), presented the key provisions of the draft Law “On Social Work,” which will formalize the profession at the cross-sectoral level and establish a sustainable system of training and supervision.Deputy Director of the Alliance Asiya Bekenova presented the results of a two-year analytical study covering key human rights issues in labor protection, trade union activity, freedom of peaceful assembly and association, as well as the rights of migrants and stateless persons. She noted that the analysis includes a comprehensive review of existing legislation, assessment of its practical application, comparative analysis with international standards, and recommendations for their implementation. Deputy Director Bekenova emphasized that strengthening the professional community of social workers and creating a modern and stable legal framework are key conditions for the effective development of social work in Kazakhstan.International expert from the United States, Aitakin Huseinli, spoke about global trends and standards in social work, highlighting the need to integrate international approaches into national training programs. She noted that more than half of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals relate to social and economic issues, making the role of social workers essential in achieving these goals and building resilient support systems.Additionally, Professor of Law Muslim Khasenov presented recommendations on updating legislation related to freedom of association, labor protection, and the legal status of social sector specialists. He stressed that the current regulatory framework does not always meet modern requirements and Kazakhstan’s international commitments for protecting the rights of workers and vulnerable groups.Speaking about the right to peaceful assembly, the professor emphasized the need to legally establish a mediation procedure with the participation of a neutral mediator chosen by the parties in accordance with the Law “On Mediation.” This would help prevent conflicts, reduce social tension, and ensure a more civilized resolution of disagreements between the public and authorities.Head of the Alliance’s Almaty branch Zhanar Abdykhalykova, Alliance Deputy Director Ayagoz Aubakirova, and Head of the Kyzylorda branch Sandugash Ismagulova presented research results on supervision, professional standards, and the classification system of social professions.Through “supervision” – an internationally recognized system of professional support, the quality of social work improves across key areas: protection of women from domestic and gender-based violence, safeguarding children’s rights and developing the child protection system, and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. Supervision strengthens competencies, reduces risk-assessment errors, prevents secondary trauma and victim-blaming, improves interagency coordination, and promotes the implementation of a human-rights-based model.Participants paid particular attention to advancing the draft Law “On Social Work” as a key sectoral reform. The practical recommendations developed will serve as a basis for further legislative and institutional work, ensuring a systematic and sustainable approach to the development of the social sector.Overall, the discussion was open and constructive. Participants unanimously emphasized the importance of strengthening interagency cooperation, developing a unified system of training and supervision for social workers, and further consolidating the efforts of the state, NGOs, and the academic community.Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/mfa/press/news/details/1115612?lang=kk