The inauguration of the hub was the centerpiece of a high-level UN delegation visit to the region. The event was attended by Sarangoo Radnaaragchaa, UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan; Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan; Nikita Shabayev, United Nations Volunteers (UNV) Country Coordinator in Kazakhstan; and Didar Temenov, Director of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan.As part of the visit, the delegation met with Dosulan Aitbayev, Deputy akim of the Akmola region, to discuss systemic measures to safeguard childhood in the region. A key milestone of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between UNICEF and Shokan Ualikhanov University, formalizing the hub’s status as a permanent educational and social base for meaningful youth participation. Sarangoo Radnaaragchaa, UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan, noted: “Youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow; they are the driving force for change today. The opening of this hub in Kokshetau demonstrates our shared commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We are creating an environment where every young person’s voice is heard, and their drive to contribute to society receives tangible support.” Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, emphasized the strategic importance of the new platform: “The ‘UNICEF Zhastary’ program is built on the ‘Learn – Share – Lead’ model. Through this new hub in Kokshetau, young people will gain not only knowledge on child rights and mental health, but also a space to connect, create, and lead initiatives that benefit their communities. Volunteers then pass this knowledge on to their peers through a peer-to-peer approach. Across Kazakhstan, volunteering is increasingly becoming a powerful expression of active citizenship among young people, and we are proud to support a new generation committed to building a safer, more inclusive, and child-friendly society.” Didar Temenov, Director of the Department of Multilateral Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan, highlighted the initiative's significance within the framework of state policy: “At Kazakhstan’s initiative, the United Nations proclaimed 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers. The opening of this hub in Kokshetau is another step toward expanding this powerful movement. Here in the Akmola region, volunteering will become a catalyst for shaping a new generation of leaders for whom the best interests of the child are an absolute priority.”The new space is designed as a modern coworking area, featuring:Collaborative zones equipped with digital tools;A professional media studio for recording podcasts and creating educational content;A specialized library focused on child rights, protection, and mental health.Furthermore, volunteers have access to a dedicated educational platform that offers specialized online courses and a tailored system for individual volunteer assignments.The establishment of the Kokshetau hub is part of the national “UNICEF Zhastary” network, which already connects more than 10,000 volunteers. The program’s results are impactful: in 2025 alone, volunteers across Kazakhstan collected over 500 tons of waste, planted more than 20,000 trees, and conducted educational sessions for over 100,000 children on child rights and digital safety. The total media reach of the program’s initiatives has exceeded 1 million people.Over the next two years, UNICEF plans to engage up to 20,000 young people in the volunteer movement and reach more than 2 million children through online projects and six regional hubs nationwide. The new center in Kokshetau is open to all active citizens aged 16 to 35—including schoolchildren, students, and young professionals—ready to develop leadership skills and advocate for every child.

The roundtable was organized for the first time for heads of higher education institutions and university departments responsible for implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in Kazakhstan. It aimed to generate practical recommendations to address existing challenges and facilitate the exchange of best practices. Representatives of 89 universities across Kazakhstan participated in the event. In her opening remarks, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan, Ms. Sarangoo Radnaaragchaa, noted: “Universities are at the heart of sustainable development processes and should be seen not only as educational institutions but also as key partners. Through education, research, and innovation, they are capable of generating practical solutions and supporting their implementation at national and local levels. In this regard, strengthening international cooperation and partnerships with universities is essential for advancing sustainable development and achieving the SDGs.” An active exchange of views and best practices continued through interactive group discussions structured around thematic areas, including: integrating SDG principles into university governance; universities as drivers of skills for sustainable development; university research as a factor in sustainable transformation; strengthening the role of students as leaders in SDG implementation; fostering gender-inclusive university environments; enhancing partnerships between universities and stakeholders; and developing human capital within universities. As a result of the roundtable, participants developed practical recommendations aimed at enhancing the integration of sustainable development principles into Kazakhstan’s higher education system. 

The sides discussed key areas of cooperation between the United Nations and Kazakhstan, including advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), utilizing international expertise in the legislative process, and further strengthening partnership in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Particular attention was given to the work of the Senate and the Parliamentary Commission on monitoring the implementation of national SDG targets, as well as Kazakhstan’s leadership role in promoting sustainable development.During the meeting, the participants also discussed SDG-aligned budget planning, increasing women’s representation in Parliament, implementation of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) recommendations, as well as preparations for regional initiatives and the environmental agenda within the framework of the Regional Environmental Summit.The sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation between the UN system and the Parliament of Kazakhstan to accelerate progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. 

 The programme, titled “Challenging Harmful Attitudes and Norms for Gender Equality (CHANGE)” will be jointly implemented by UNDP, UNFPA and UN Women, working closely with national authorities, civil society organizations and the private sector.“Empowerment of women and girls, prevention of all forms of gender-based violence and promotion of lasting measurable progress in gender equality is crucial for further development of the region. The CHANGE, that reflects the strong partnership between the European Union and the United Nations, will be another programme supporting the efforts and cooperating with the countries of Central Asia in advancing the gender equality in the region,” highlighted Ms. Aleška Simkić, Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan. Despite progress in legislation and policy frameworks, prevention of gender‑based violence remains a priority in Central Asia, where UN estimates indicate that around one in three women and girls has experienced violence in her lifetime, while pervasive stigma and silence continue to suppress reporting. Recent regional trends show rising numbers of registered incidents across multiple countries, reflecting both increased awareness and persistent gaps in protection.“Gender-based violence cannot be addressed by institutions alone — it demands sustained societal change,” said Ms. Sarangoo Radnaaragchaa, UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan. “The United Nations is committed to advancing gender equality and supporting solutions that address the root causes of gender-based violence through inclusive dialogue and long-lasting partnerships.” The programme is expected to contribute to a reduction of gender-based violence in Central Asia by promoting social norms that increasingly reflect zero tolerance for violence; strengthening the capacity, coordination and advocacy of civil society organizations to prevent and respond to GBV; and expanding women’s economic empowerment and access to sustainable livelihoods, recognising economic independence as a key protective factor against violence.“Gender-based violence is not only a human rights violation but a major barrier to inclusive and sustainable development,” said Katarzyna Wawiernia, UNDP Resident Representative. “Through this Multi-Country Programme, the United Nations and the European Union are combining expertise, partnerships and resources to support governments in delivering practical, measurable change.”Deeply rooted discriminatory social norms reinforce these risks: the 2023 Gender Social Norms Index shows high levels of gender bias across Central Asia, with the vast majority of respondents expressing at least one discriminatory attitude towards women and widespread tolerance of intimate partner violence in some contexts. Technology‑facilitated violence is also becoming a significant concern, with substantial proportions of women reporting online harassment and intimidation.“The launch of the CHANGE programme underscores the power of partnerships in our collective journey to eliminate all forms of GBV, a pervasive human rights violation, by prioritizing evidence-based strategic pathways at legislative, policy, system, household and individual levels”, said Chinwe Ogbonna, UNFPA Country Representative in Kazakhstan and Country Director for Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan. “Together, the European Union, United Nations and national partners across Central Asia, can, and will contribute meaningful results for the women and girls we serve, as we count down to Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development”. At the same time, economic inequalities, including lower female labour‑force participation and the disproportionate burden of unpaid care, limit women’s ability to seek safety and support. Evidence across the region indicates that sustainable progress requires long‑term prevention efforts that challenge harmful attitudes, strengthen community‑based actors and expand women’s economic opportunities. By taking a regional approach, the programme will support countries in addressing shared challenges, exchanging lessons learned and reinforcing prevention efforts at scale.“Civil society lies at the heart of effective prevention efforts, especially those working on the front lines to challenge harmful norms and support women and girls,” said Dr. Ceren Güven Güres, Head of the UN Women Central Asia Liaison Office and Representative of the Kazakhstan Country Office. “Through the EU-UN CHANGE programme we are strengthening these frontline actors, expanding women’s opportunities, and driving the social transformations needed to reduce gender‑based violence across Central Asia.” The programme will run from 2026 to 2028 and cover all five countries in Central Asia, creating a shared regional framework to address gender-based violence while responding to national priorities and local realities.