We have a lot of different initiatives that we're doing with different parts of the government – Stephen O'Malley on UN-Kazakhstan ties
On the sidelines of a Feb.26 UN anniversary panel in Astana, UN Resident Coordinator Stephen O'Malley emphasized the organization's strong partnership with Kazakhstan, Kazinform News Agency reports.
In an exclusive interview with Kazinform, he outlined key initiatives in policy reform, sustainability goals, and digital transformation.
"The UN collaborates with the government of Kazakhstan, with the people of Kazakhstan, and with civil society organizations in a number of different areas," he said.
O'Malley highlighted key policy initiatives, including support for the domestic violence law passed last year and improving school meal programs.
"We help the government to look at options for things like the domestic violence law, which was passed last year, and then how to expand that, how to expand the services to women and girls, principally. So that would be an example. We work with the government on a number of issues related to school meals. [Editor’s note: improving the quality and the variety and the nutritional value of school meals.],” he said.
Beyond policy, the UN is also engaged in ‘hands-on’ projects, particularly in agriculture and environmental sustainability.
"We also have some more hands-on things in the field of agriculture and the environment where we're helping the government to implement projects from the Global Environmental Facility that deal with issues like irrigation," O'Malley explained.
When asked about the UN’s key projects for 2024, O'Malley noted that while there isn’t a single flagship initiative, digitization remains a major area of focus.
"I wouldn't say we necessarily have a key project, but there are a couple of areas that we're working in. So one of those would be, for example, a number of projects in the broad areas around digitization. We have digitization support for social services. We have digitization support for agriculture as well. (...) So I wouldn't want to say that we have this big flagship project, but rather we have a lot of different initiatives that we're doing with different parts of the government," he said.
Another significant effort highlighted by O'Malley is the UN’s assistance in shaping Kazakhstan’s nationally determined contribution for the upcoming climate conference in Brazil.
"For the conference of parties, for the environment, for climate change in Brazil, every country has to come with its contribution, and it's very complex. You have to work that out. What is the industry going to do? What is the government going to do? And that's what we're helping the government with now, providing expertise to support the government's experts in doing that."
Looking ahead, O'Malley expressed confidence in Kazakhstan’s ability to achieve its Sustainable Development Goals.
Earlier, in his first interview with Kazinform News Agency, Stephen O'Malley, UN Resident Coordinator a.i. in Kazakhstan, outlines his vision to build on the UN’s strong ties with Kazakhstan.
