LocationsUrbathon arrived in Petropavlovsk on November 29–30 as a space where local designers, engineers, entrepreneurs, researchers, IT enthusiasts and urban development students, and active residents united by the belief that cities change when their citizens do.
Urbathon: UNDP and local innovators are making Petropavlovsk more resilient
December 3, 2025
Organizers of Urbathon: Akimats of North Kazakhstan Region and Petropavlovsk, Qyzyljar Creative Center, SKO Hub, and UNDP Kazakhstan.
Photo: SKO Hub
Organized by UNDP Kazakhstan in partnership with the Akimats of the North Kazakhstan region and the city of Petropavlovsk, Qyzyljar Creative Center, and SKO Hub, Urbathon focused on tackling real urban challenges. Participants were asked to devise practical innovations to strengthen Petropavlovsk’s resilience to climate and disaster risks and improve everyday life in the city. The stakes were tangible: not only cash prizes, but also the prospect of joining a full incubation programme and applying for funding from UNDP’s donors to bring their projects to life.
Participants of Urbathon.
Photo: SKO Hub
The atmosphere of the opening session set the tone. Welcoming remarks from representatives of regional and local authorities and partner organizations were followed by thought-provoking talks from experts who spoke openly about the challenges the city faces and the work required to address them.
The agenda moved quickly from big ideas to concrete tools: participants learned about the regional approach to the National Adaptation Plan, explored strategies for developing project ideas, and dove into business modeling and professional pitching training. By the afternoon, after the last lecture ended, clusters of participants spread across workspaces, debating concepts and preparing to pitch their solutions.
Urbathon participants attending lectures.
Photo: SKO Hub
That moment came the next day. Participants stepped forward for three-minute pitches, followed by questions from a jury of independent experts. Presenters spoke passionately about flood defense systems, digital platforms, creative educational initiatives, and ways to redesign urban spaces. Jury members listened closely, taking notes, and weighing the potential impact of each idea.
When the pitching ended, the judges withdrew to deliberate, leaving participants in anticipation. Finally, applause filled the hall as the winners were announced. For many, the competition did not end with the award ceremony: selected teams will now continue developing their ideas in an incubation programme that will run into the first half of 2026, working with mentors to prepare proposals capable of attracting real investment.
In just two days, Urbathon proved that change comes with people willing to collaborate and act. It showed that Petropavlovsk is full of young and eager talent ready to rethink how a city can adapt, grow, and protect its future.
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Urbathon was organized within the framework of a project to enhance urban resilience to disaster risks and climate change in Central Asia, funded by the Government of Japan, and a project to integrate climate change adaptation into strategic planning in Kazakhstan, funded by the Green Climate Fund.
Group photo of Urbathon organizers and participants.
Photo: SKO Hub
