Improving the welfare and quality of life in the Kyzylorda region through innovative approaches to delivering economic, social and environmental services to the local population, including those most vulnerable ANNUAL PROGRAMME NARRATIVE REPORT REPORTING PERIOD: 1 JANUARY – 31 DECEMBER 2015 Country, Locality(s), Priority Area(s) / Programme Title & Project Number Strategic Results • Programme Title: “Improving the welfare and Country/Region: Kazakhstan, Kyzylorda region quality of life in the Kyzylorda region through Priority area/ strategic results: innovative approaches to delivering economic, social • Diversified economic development through and environmental services to the local population, capacitating local government to plan for diversified including those most vulnerable” and balanced economic growth and for the increase of • Programme Number: the efficiency of state policy and support to the local • MPTF Office Project Reference Number: 00091552 development system and small businesses; • Reduction of inequities and disparities in social well- being and health by capacitating local authorities and civil society in addressing the negative social gradients, increase of employment opportunities; • Formation and application of sustainable development practices in response to current problems caused by climate change, natural and man-made acts, including the energy efficiency issues in housing sector and sustainable eco-management. Participating Organization(s) Implementing Partners UNDP, UNESCO, UNFPA, UNICEF, UN Women, WHO The Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Akimat of Kyzylorda Region Programme/Project Cost (US$) Programme Duration Total approved budget as per project document: $8,743,999 Overall Duration 30 months Agency Contribution: UNDP($1,500,000); UNICEF ($344,000); WHO ($250,000); UNESCO ($ 87,000); Start Date 22 July 2014 UNFPA ($70,000); UN Women ($40,000) Government Contribution: $6,769,833 Original End Date 31 December 2016 Other Contributions (donors): Samsung Co ($100,000) Current End date 31 December 2016 TOTAL: $8,843,999 Programme Assessment/Review/Mid-Term Eval. Report Submitted By Assessment/Review o Name: Norimasa Shimomura Yes No o Title: UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Mid-Term Evaluation Report – Representative in Kazakhstan Yes No o Participating Organization (Lead): UNDP o Email address: [email protected] 0 List of abbreviations JP – Joint Programme CEDAW – Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women CMC – Community Multimedia Centres IWRM – Integrated Water Resources Management CRM – Climate Risk Management DRR-– Disaster Risk Reduction EVAW – Ending violence against women FOE – Freedom of Expression FOI – Freedom of Information IFAS - International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea ICH - Intangible Cultural Heritage ICTs – Information and Communication Technologies IHD – Intangible Cultural Heritage LED –Light-emitting diode LLP – Limited liability partnership MCO – Multi-Country Office MIL – Media and Information Literacy MOHSD – Ministry of Health and Social Development NCD – non-communicable diseases NGO – Non-government organizations RP – Responsible Party SME – Small and micro enterprises PF – Public fund UNDP – United Nations Development Programme UNESCO – United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization UNFPA – United Nations Population Fund UNICEF – United Nations Children's Fund UNV – United Nations Volunteers Programme UNWOMEN – United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women WHO – World Health Organization 1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The United Nations Country Team in Kazakhstan in partnership with the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan launched the Joint Programme “Improving the welfare and quality of life in the Kyzylorda region through innovative approaches to delivering economic, social and environmental services to the local population, including the most vulnerable” in 2014. This Consolidated Annual Narrative Report on activities implemented under the Joint Programme covers the period from 1 January to 31 December 2015. This report is in fulfilment of the reporting requirements set out in the Standard Administrative Arrangement (SAA) concluded between the Administrative Agent (UNDP MPTF Office) and the Donor. In line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), the Report is consolidated based on information and data submitted by Participating Organizations. The report provides a comprehensive overview of achievements and challenges associated with the Joint Programme, enabling to make strategic decisions and correction measures where required. This annual report highlights the change that the Joint Programme, through the UN agencies, has achieved in 2015 in addressing some of the major development issues in the region of Kyzylorda that continue to affect the overall well-being people of the region. The UN agencies working as one front and in close collaboration with the government agencies and civil society partners, finding synergies in and complementing each other’s expertise has resulted in notable changes. More children are enrolled in preschool education and fewer children now live under the subsistence level. There are increased opportunities for patients to voice their concerns over health care, engage with health providers and participate in their own well-being. A significant number of economic opportunities have been created by applying innovative technologies for green energy and economy. Innovative thinking has created new economic opportunities and improved access to information has created novel opportunities to engage and participate in governance, increasing full participation in society for many vulnerable people in Kyzylorda. Interventions on the higher levels of governance have resulted in greater awareness of policy makers towards the pressing issues on the local level, resulting in increased responsiveness to the needs and concerns of local communities. Higher level interventions have resulted in the revision of the Law on Access to Information, increasing awareness of policy makers on the influence of socio-economic determinants and climate change on health, increasing capacity of local policy decision makers and civil servants to use demographic and other statistic data for development local policies, improving prioritization of protection from domestic violence and implementation of the Law on Protection from Domestic Violence at local level, preparing the ground for integrated social policy and better targeted social assistance for women and children, creating mechanisms for improved housing conditions have created a solid basis for sustainable changes in the local governance with greater inclusion of local population needs and interests into local policies and more active participation of the local communities in decision making. In the field of environmental management capacities were built both at the governance level for better water resource management and at the service and implementation level for usage of innovative farming methods resulting in water savings, and for monitoring of the impact of economic activities on wetlands. Capacities of high educational institutions were enhanced for teaching in the field of water management, in connection with climate change challenges resulting in change of curricula which adds to the sustainability. 2 The cumulative results create a strong basis for the achievement of the objectives and reaching the planned targets, creating solid partnerships and making the changes sustainable as they address all levels of society. The increased awareness of the possibilities to link economic development with environmental protection and respond to climate change challenges will further contribute to new thinking and new opportunities for the people of Kyzilorda. 3 I. Purpose The Programme is targeted to improve the quality of life of the population, and advance progress towards the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in Kyzylorda region, in particular in the districts affected by the Aral Sea crisis. The programme relies on the priorities of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) for the Republic of Kazakhstan 2010-2015, as well as on the priorities of key national strategic documents, such as “Kazakhstan – 2050”. The proposed joint programme will address the following three areas: 1. Diversified economic development of the region through capacitating local government to plan for diversified and balanced economic growth and for the increase of the efficiency of state policy on the formation of the economic growth focal points, support to the local development system and small businesses; 2. Reduction of inequities and disparities in social well-being and health by capacitating local authorities and civil society in addressing the negative social gradients, providing new employment opportunities and ensuring availability and improved access to quality health, justice, education and social services for the vulnerable families, their children and vulnerable population groups; 3. Formation and application of sustainable development practices in response to current problems caused by climate change, natural and man-made acts, including the energy efficiency issues in housing sector and sustainable eco-management. The Joint Programme has set to achieve the following three objectives: Objective 1: Local government is capacitated to plan for diversified and balanced