Volunteerism has deep historical and cultural roots in Kazakhstan. The country has been always an active and committed partner for volunteerism, supporting relevant movements at global, regional and national level. At the EXPO 2017 in Nur-Sultan, Future Energy, 5,000 volunteers were mobilized, and 3,000 served at the 28th World Student and Youth Sport Winter Games "Universiade 2017" in Almaty.
To date in 2019, 33 UN Volunteers have been serving in Kazakhstan, 25 of them on national and eight on international assignments. They are placed with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Children's Fund, UN Population Fund, UN Refugee Agency, UN Resident Coordinator's Office, UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and UN Environment Programme. An additional 14 Kazakhstanis serve on international assignments abroad. While contributing their knowledge and expertise for sustainable development, they gain unique experience and professional exposure to multilateral development cooperation.
One such UN Volunteer is Anar Kassymova, who served as a national UN Volunteer Communications Officer with UNDP from 2017 to 2018.
Becoming a UN Volunteer was a critical stepping stone for me in building a promising career. It is a dense, yet truly unforgettable experience that greatly advances one's professional skills, helps to establish a network of key contacts across institutions and borders, and truly enriches one's life. I highly recommend to everyone - whether you are just starting or have years of experience - to apply and join the UNV family. --Anar Kassymova, national UN Volunteer Communications Officer with UNDP
My journey as a UN Volunteer in Kazakhstan has opened up an array of opportunities for me â on my career path, in my personal development and the way I see this world. --Kwok Yi Ching Macy, UN University Volunteer funded by Hong Kong SAR and serving with UNFPA
Partnership with UNV is not new to Kazakhstan, which has been supporting the organization financially with contributions to our Special Voluntary Fund since 2016.
UNV has been active in Kazakhstan since 1993 and about 200 Kazakhstani nationals and 50 international UN Volunteers have served in the country since then. The newly signed cooperation agreement will help to increase the number of Kazakhstani citizens serving internationally on UN Volunteer assignments.