9 February 2010
Representatives of key line ministries, government committees and members of UN agencies gathered at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Astana, 27 January to launch the new United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2010-2015.
RK Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr. Kairat Umarov, and the UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan, Mr. Haoliang Xu opened the meeting. During his remarks, the vice-minister welcomed new UNESCO Almaty Cluster Office Director Mr. Serguei Lazarev, who also participated in the launch. Vice-Minister Umarov expressed his looking forward to continued good cooperative relations between UNESCO and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Members of the UN country team presented details of the new UNDAF document. The UN’s collaborative work in Kazakhstan falls broadly into the areas of economic and social prosperity for all, environmental sustainability, and effective governance. Ms. Laura Kennedy, UNESCO Almaty Programme Specialist, Social and Human Sciences, presented to participants the UN’s planned joint work in the area of governance. She stressed that UN cooperation in this area reflects Kazakhstan’s own developmental strategies; UN priorities in the area of governance will include increased government transparency, strengthening national and local legislative bodies, and support for human rights, especially among vulnerable groups.
After the presentation, participants shared comments and best wishes for future partnership. Senator Akhan Bizhanov thanked the UNCT for their work. Secretary Tastemir Abishev of the RK President’s High Commission on Human Rights and a valued UNESCO partner on human rights issues expressed satisfaction that the UN will continue partnership to implement and monitor the national human rights action plan.
Permanent link: http://en.unesco.kz/unesco-participates-in-launch-of-new-undaf-for-kazakhstan