LocationsMaslikhat deputies advance regional sustainable development
September 30, 2025
Kazakhstan, September 2025 — More than 100 maslikhat deputies of all levels participated in training seminars on the localization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), held in Aktau, as well as in the Abai and Ulytau regions. These events marked an important step in strengthening the role of local representative bodies in strategic planning and budgeting aimed at sustainable regional development.
The seminars were organized by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan in partnership with the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and JSC Economic Research Institute.
The training covered a wide range of local community representatives, providing a deeper understanding of the integration of SDGs into regional programs and budgets. The focus was on implementing the recommendations of the Parliamentary Commission on Monitoring National SDG Implementation, as well as discussing the Regional Development Policy Concept and the new Budget Code.
“Today’s event is dedicated to discussing the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals at the regional level and the role of maslikhats in this process. Regional development is a key factor in the country’s sustainable progress. People’s quality of life is shaped primarily in the regions. Therefore, only through active local engagement can the SDGs be successfully achieved,” said Nurgul Zhannazarova, Director of the Department of Social Policy and Development of Public Authorities at the Ministry of National Economy.
The new Budget Code enhances transparency and accountability in resource allocation, while the Regional Development Policy Concept outlines strategic priorities and mechanisms to reduce territorial inequality. In this context, maslikhats play a vital role in citizen engagement, budget oversight, and SDG integration into regional development programs.
As representative bodies, maslikhats ensure that the needs and priorities of the population are considered in regional policy formation. Their role as a bridge between citizens, local executive bodies, and central government institutions requires systematic strengthening of deputies’ competencies and the development of expert skills.
The seminars aimed to provide deputies with a comprehensive understanding of local budget structures, revenue sources, and expenditure directions. Special attention was given to key stages of the budget process—from planning to execution—as well as financial control mechanisms and tools for evaluating the effectiveness of budget spending.
A separate module focused on the fourth-level budget—the rural district budget. Participants discussed the mechanisms for forming and executing such budgets, the powers of akims, and reporting procedures. Modern tools for public participation in budgeting were also reviewed, including participatory budgeting, public hearings, and initiative-based budgeting.
“This training is one of the truly necessary initiatives, as it addresses sustainability, the role of maslikhat deputies in improving the socio-economic level of the region, and the exchange of experience with other regions,” said Daulet Seitpekov, Deputy of the Satpayev City Maslikhat.
The seminars helped enhance deputies’ competencies in adapting and integrating SDGs into regional socio-economic development plans and fourth-level budgets. Recommendations were developed for including SDGs in strategic and programmatic documents of the regions, and directions for further cooperation between maslikhats, government bodies, and international organizations were identified.
An important outcome was the exchange of experiences among deputies of different levels, which will allow successful practices to be implemented in other regions of the country and strengthen the role of maslikhats as a key institution of public representation and oversight in the sustainable development process.
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