The third Voluntary National Review on Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) was presented at a meeting of the Coordinating Council for Sustainable Development, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Economy Serik Zhumangarin.

Stephen O'Malley, Acting Permanent Coordinator of the United Nations in Kazakhstan, noted that the presented document is not just a report, but a reflection of Kazakhstan's deep commitment to the UN 2030 Agenda and an opportunity to tell the world about the country's progress, lessons and ambitions.

«Kazakhstan is one of the few countries that conducts this review every three years, which clearly demonstrates its leadership in monitoring progress on the SDGs and promoting transparency», - he stressed. - The recently opened United Nations Regional Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Central Asia and Afghanistan in Almaty is a demonstration of Kazakhstan's commitment to the implementation of the SDGs both in the country and in the region. From the point of view of the United Nations, conducting such reviews is a real partnership, a call to action.The UN fully supports the Government of Kazakhstan.

Vice Minister of National Economy Asan Darbayev informed that the third document pays special attention to the localization of the SDGs – the transfer of global goals to the level of regions and local communities. Another key feature of the 2025 Review was the active participation of civil society, the scientific and expert community in its work.

- Since the submission of the second Voluntary National Review, significant results have been achieved in improving the institutional framework for the implementation of the SDGs: in 2023, a Parliamentary Commission was established to monitor the implementation of national goals and objectives in the field of sustainable development of Kazakhstan. A Strategy has been adopted to achieve the country's carbon neutrality until 2060. To ensure effective monitoring of the Sustainable Development Goals, national SDG indicators have been updated, their total number today reaches 200, - Asan Darbayev said. 

Assel Sarsenbayeva, Chairman of the Board of the Institute of Economic Research, stressed that the Review was prepared in accordance with the principle of the SDGs «leaving no one behind» and reflects the assessment of their implementation by both the government and civil society. She provided information on the implementation of priority goals, determined taking into account the opinion of the population.

«For the purposes of sustainable development and in response to global challenges, the government is taking systematic measures to support business and train personnel in accordance with the requirements of the labor market», - Assel Sarsenbayeva said.

According to her, civil society believes that the Social Code has strengthened the foundations of social policy. Kazakhstan is one of the ten countries with the fastest decline in maternal mortality (according to WHO estimates). Progress is being made in the field of gender equality both at the State level and in the private sector, where large companies are implementing gender strategies and anti-harassment policies. The growth of the legal culture leads to new requirements for the judicial system, and society rightly expects its further improvements.

Summing up the results of the Coordination Council, Serik Zhumangarin noted that the implementation of the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals is primarily aimed at improving the quality of life of the population, adopting the best international standards, which generally contributes to strengthening the country's reputation in the international arena.

The Council members approved the third Voluntary National Review of Kazakhstan. The document will now be presented at the High-level Political Forum in New York in July this year.

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/economy/press/news/details/998709?lang=kk