Local Development in Kazakhstan

Enhancing human security in Semey Business incubator in Atyrau Employment services – SYSLAB, Almaty, Shymkent Localizing MDGs in South Kazakhstan

 

Semipalatinsk – 1 phase

2002-2005, $1.1 million (Government of Japan)

Area: former Semipalatinsk poligon

Scope: Income generation (micro-crediting for women), job creation (business advisory services), NGO development (small grants)

Achievements: At the request of the Government of Kazakhstan, UNDP has established an open Trust Fund for the Semipalatinsk Relief and Rehabilitation Programme (38 projects worth US$43 million). Micro-credit organisation Bereke self-sustainable

Lessons learnt: not enough donor cooperation to maintain all results

Challenges: funding not sufficient to extend results to all territory

 

Semipalatinsk – 2 phase, UN Joint Programme

2008-1010, $2m (Government of Japan)Partner – Semey City Akimat, East-Kazakhstan Oblast Akimat

UN agencies: UNDP, UNV, UNICEF, UNFPA

Scope: Develop entrepreneurship, health and social services, community mobilization

Achievements: Survey on opportunities for SMEs; microfinance programme starting, seminars on CSR and business managementGrant mechanism under development (+parallel funding from local authorities (130 000 USD)

Lessons learnt: Delayed start asked for update of activities

Challenges: good cooperation among UN agencies

 

Business Incubator in Atyrau

2003-2007, $306.000 (Chevron)Partners: Atyrau Oblast Akimat, Chevron, Citibank Foundation

Scope: Opening of a business incubator facility and provision of business services to entrepreneurs. The incubator offers a package of services: physical work space for micro-small production/service, initially below market rates; focused advisory; administration

Achievements: Business Incubators functioning after the end of financing from the project

Lessons learnt: Initiative successful if well rooted in the local reality

Challenges: for the Business incubator to maintain the building (owned by local administration)

 

SYSLAB Employment Services, Almaty, Shymkent

2007-2010, $300,000 (Government of Norway, UNDP)Partners: Almaty City Department of Labour, SYSTEM LABORATORY (SYSLAB Int)

Scope: Establish sustainable centers for services to unemployed with higher education using SYSLAB methodology

Achievements: Centre in Almaty opened in 2007; intake – 20 students, to be expanded to 40 students. Centre in Shymkent to open by end 2008. Third centre planned for 2009 (Kyzylorda). Graduates’ employment rate – 90%. Parallel financing from partner.

Lessons learnt: Ownership of local partners built from the very beginning

Challenges: Sustainable functioning of existing centres and opening of the third one.

 

Localizing MDGs in South Kazakhstan (2007)

2006-2007, $57,000 (UNDP)Partner: South-Kazakhstani Oblast Akimat

Scope: Advice to local authorities on integration of localized MDGs in regional development programmes

Achievements: Local Development Strategy of the South Kazakhstan Oblast developed and approved

Lessons learned: The change in staff in local bodies affect the continuity of results.

Challenges: Availability of resources

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