Akim of Abai Region and UNICEF Representative Discuss New Avenues for Collaboration in the Interests of Children and Youth

Semey, 28 July 2025 – The Akim of Abai Region, Mr.Berik Uali, held an official meeting today with Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, UNICEF Representative in the Republic of Kazakhstan. The visit is part of a special UNICEF mission aimed at strengthening partnerships and advancing key priorities related to child rights, sustainable development, and youth policy.

Dr. Sarwar expressed appreciation for the active support and effective coordination by the regional administration during the 2024 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS), which covered more than 1,000 households in the region. The survey provided valuable and timely data on the situation of children, women, and youth — from access to healthcare and education to protection from violence and living conditions.

Analysis of the MICS data highlights remarkable progress in the Abai Region. The region ranks second in the country for coverage of antenatal and postnatal care — with 90% of women receiving postnatal support and 89% of newborns being seen by a doctor within a week after discharge. Abai Region also has one of the lowest infant and child mortality rates in Kazakhstan: over the past 10 years, under-five mortality has decreased sixfold. Nearly all children aged 2–4 (9 in 10) are developing in line with age-appropriate milestones, according to the Early Childhood Development Index.

At the same time, the survey also identified challenges that require urgent attention. One in six children in the region suffers from stunted growth (15.3%), which is twice the national average. Abai Region also has the highest prevalence of childhood obesity — 3.5% of children under 5, and one in five children aged 5 to 9 are moderately overweight. These findings emphasize the need for a comprehensive approach to nutrition, disease prevention, and the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

During the meeting, both sides discussed priority areas for cooperation over the next two years, including the expansion of early childhood development programmes, promotion of positive parenting, scaling up universal home-visiting services, and strengthening the capacity of specialists in data collection and analysis for evidence-based policymaking.

Youth engagement was also high on the agenda. With support from the regional authorities, UNICEF will open a youth volunteer hub in the region. Tomorrow, on 29 July, the UNICEF volunteer programme will be officially launched in Semey. To date, more than 180 young people from Abai Region have registered for the initiative, and this number continues to grow. Opportunities for university students to participate in large-scale volunteer activities and environmental campaigns — including a nationwide tree-planting campaign “Taza Qazaqstan”  this October — were also discussed. Thanks to the support of Akim of the region, Mr. Berik Uali, three million trees are planned to be planted across Abai Region over the next five years.

In closing, Dr. Sarwar noted:

“Abai Region is a place of unique history and strong human potential. We are proud to deepen our partnership to invest in the wellbeing of every child — including those in the most remote villages. Our cooperation will also contribute to the restoration and greening of the region following the 2023 forest fires, and we believe that young people will be the driving force behind these positive changes.”

Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued strategic dialogue and joint initiatives aimed at fostering sustainable development and creating a nurturing environment for all children.