Dear ladies and gentlemen,

Qurmetti Maulen Sagatkhanuly,

SDG 9 "Build Sustainable Infrastructure" and SDG 11 "Sustainable Communities" play a key role in ensuring the sustainable regional development of the country. 

The development of sustainable and inclusive infrastructure contributes not only to improving access to basic services, but  also to strengthening the autonomy of regions, increasing their institutional and economic capacity to effectively plan and implement their own development strategies.

In addition to the measures implemented by the Government in the area of fiscal decentralization, the development of infrastructure management and the expansion of the powers of the regions, it is necessary to simultaneously introduce mechanisms for citizens' participation in management and systemic feedback from the population. 

Regional development requires rational, verified approaches aimed at the effective and targeted use of budget funds to improve the quality of life at the local level.

In this context, the role of Maslikhats is of particular importance. Already today they are endowed with broad powers - from the distribution of budgets to the exercise of control over the implementation of socio-economic policy. However, in the current conditions, it is important not only to have these powers, but also to implement them in close cooperation with the population.

It is necessary to build sustainable and constructive communication in the link "population – maslikhat – akimat". This will ensure the prioritization and validation of decisions made on the ground with an emphasis on the real and critical needs of the population.

Taking into account the fact that maslikhats have a mandate to approve plans, economic and social development programs, and the local budget, it is necessary to promote more integrated approaches to local planning, which will take into account environmental, social and economic factors in the development of regional development programs.

In turn, the SDGs can become a useful tool for maslikhats, allowing for a more objective assessment  of how the policies developed at the local level and the measures taken are coordinated with each other and are really aimed at solving the priority tasks of the region.

In this regard, UNDP proposes to consider the possibility of creating Sustainable Development Commissions under maslikhats. This will not only strengthen the involvement of maslikhats in the process of localizing the SDGs, but will also become an additional support in the implementation of the tasks of the Parliamentary Commission, ensuring closer coordination between the center and the regions. 

UNDP, in turn, expresses its readiness to support maslikhats both in the creation of such commissions and in strengthening their expert capacity by providing practical tools and methodological approaches for integrating the principles of sustainable development at the regional level.

Secondly, attention should be paid to the need for a systematic and well-thought-out approach to the process of localization of the SDGs. The integration of the list of 25 SDG indicators into the Oblast Development Programs has laid a good foundation for this process. However, further implementation on the ground may be difficult, especially in those localities that do not have their own planning documents. This requires a different, more adaptive, and practice-oriented localization model.

As such an approach, it is proposed to use the System of Regional Standards (RSS) as a  framework for localizing the SDGs. The twelve pillars of  the SDS set basic standards for people's access to infrastructure and services, directly contributing to improving the quality of life – which, in turn, is a central task of localizing the SDGs.

Each of the 12 areas of the SDS correlates with one or more SDGs. Collectively, the SDS covers at least 10 SDGs of particular relevance at the regional level.

It is proposed that for each category of locality (city, town, village)  a list of relevant SDG indicators should be formed, taking into account the specifics of local conditions. For example:

• for urban schools – the indicator "Share of schools provided with infrastructure and materials for students with disabilities";

• for rural schools –  indicators "Share of schools provided with basic sources of drinking water", "availability of separate, minimally equipped toilets" and "handwashing facilities".

Thus, it is possible to form a set of qualitative and quantitative criteria based on the SDGs, adapted to the conditions of specific types of settlements, which will allow for targeted improvement of infrastructure and services on the ground in accordance with the Regional Standards System.

With the coordination of approaches to the localization of the SDGs with the System of Regional Standards, the NDP-2029 national indicator "The level of provision of social goods and services in accordance with the SRS" can be transformed into an integral indicator of progress in achieving the SDGs at the local level.

In addition, since the SDS has already been integrated into the Development Plans of regions, cities of republican significance and the capital, the localization of the SDGs agreed with it will make the process more systematic, institutionally sustainable and effective.

Thirdly, let me briefly dwell on the example of the Ulytau region, where UNDP is currently working on the development of a Sustainable Development Strategy for the region. This region, like many others, faces typical challenges, especially in the context of single-industry towns, and can serve as a model for developing systemic solutions at the level of the whole country. 

Let me highlight a few key ones:

First, there is weak coordination between government agencies and large private players in the region, especially in single-industry towns. In addition, the policy documents do not take into account the uncertainty of future production and processing. We propose to consider the creation of an independent platform that could become a bridge between central and local executive bodies and business, ensuring the strategic coherence of joint actions. This approach can be scaled to other single-industry towns.

The second is the modernization of transport infrastructure and the connection of the region to key transport arteries. Without effective connectivity, it is impossible to talk about either industrialization or the development of tourism. The key priority should be to ensure communication with the southern macro-region through the Zhezkazgan-Kyzylorda highway, as well as with the northern routes through Karaganda, Astana and Arkalyk.

The implementation of these connections will open up new opportunities for expanding the supply of agricultural and other products, attracting labor resources from the southern regions with lower labor costs, intensifying domestic tourism and developing the service sector. This will also help strengthen the food and logistics resilience of the region and reduce transport costs for business. 

Third,  the structure of employment in  the region requires serious attention. Today, 35% of young people are employed in industry, which is four times higher than the national average. This significantly narrows the horizons of career growth. In addition, there is an acute shortage of personnel in such areas as education, medicine, IT and logistics, as well as a gender imbalance. the introduction of a system of incentive allowances for employees in remote settlements,  similar  to the Australian Remote Area Allowance model, as well as a targeted internship program with a separate quota for girls. 

Thus, a systematic and coordinated approach will make the development of the Ulytau region more sustainable, and the proposed solutions can form the basis of policy for other regions of the country where there is a problem of developing single-industry towns. 

UNDP is ready to continue to provide all possible support to Kazakhstan in the development and implementation of measures for sustainable development of the regions.

Thank you for your attention!