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 MPTF OFFICE ANNUAL PROGRAMME NARRATIVE PROGRESS REPORT REPORTING PERIOD: 1 JANUARY – 31 DECEMBER 2014 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: 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 Agency Contribution: UNDP($1,500,000); UNICEF ($344,000); Overall Duration 30 months WHO ($250,000); UNESCO ($ 87,000); UNFPA ($70,000); UN Women ($40,000) Start Date 22 July 2014 Government Contribution: $6,769,833 Original End Date 31 December 2016 Other Contributions (donors): n/a Current End date 31 December 2016 TOTAL: $8,743,999 Programme Assessment/Review/Mid-Term Eval. Report Submitted By Assessment/Review - if applicable please attach o Name: Stephen Tull Yes No Date: dd.mm.yyyy o Title: UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Mid-Term Evaluation Report – if applicable please attach Representative in Kazakhstan Yes No Date: dd.mm.yyyy o Participating Organization (Lead): UNDP o Email address: [email protected] Page 1 of 35 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report outlines the work conducted within 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 those most vulnerable” for the period of July 22 till December 31 2014. This report is in fulfillment 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, data and financial statements submitted by Participating Organizations. The report provides the Programme Board with a comprehensive overview of achievements and challenges associated with the Joint Programme, enabling it to make strategic decisions. The Joint Programme is the results-oriented collaborative programme jointly developed by the Ministry of Regional Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan, whose legal successor is the Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and Akimat of Kyzylorda region, and six UN Agencies - UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA, UN Women and WHO - to improve the wellbeing and quality of life in the Kyzylorda region through innovative approaches to delivering economic, social and environmental services to the local population, particularly for the most vulnerable. The Joint Programme takes into account the situation analysis of the region and results of the previous programmes and activities. The programme rely 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 programme was officially launched on July 22, 2014. Due to the delays in arrival of funds at local level, major work started only in September. Since then participating agencies set and staffed offices in the region, and conducted a number of activities, presented at the specially created Face Book page «UN Joint programme in Kyzylorda oblast». As it is the first year of implementation, the Programme started with review of vulnerable groups’ situation in the region and discussion of the joint plans and activities with local partners and stakeholders. Number of assessments were conducted in the areas of social cash transfers assessment that identified follow up recommendations for improved targeting of poor families with children, home visiting services to identify strengths and possible gaps in delivering quality services to vulnerable families, especially in rural areas, and assessment of suicide preventative measures in the region implemented using UNICEF methodology. The assessment confirmed the notable achievement of the region in reducing suicide among adolescents up to 5 times through strong management support and good coordination among different sectors involved in the programme. There was also a mapping of services and systems for children conducted with regards to juvenile justice and disaster risk reduction. These and other activities will lay a foundation for full roll out of planned projects and innovative approaches in the region during 2015-2016. Development of local self-government in the two districts of the region activated citizens in the solution of social problems of the region, improvement of infrastructure of 5 social facilities and ensured substantial budget savings. 9 inclusive projects implemented by local NGOs within the Joint Programme allowed 2 socially oriented organizations to receive new equipment and improve quality of their services, create jobs and provide employment to 22 persons, 12 are persons with disabilities and 9 are women. Due to the late launch of the project and the changing of the Head of the Health department of the Kyzylorda oblast, WHO reprogrammed some activities and planned achievement of results for 2014 and 2015 by the end of 2015. In 2014, WHO set up a multi-stakeholder project implementation team Page 2 of 35 to ensure sustainability of Project results, implement capacity building of managerial staff and prevent brain drain of quality national staff. Results achieved include: capacity built of 5 local health experts for implementation of targeted health surveys to monitor prevalence of risk factors (Global Youth Tobacco Survey, Child Obesity Surveillance Initiative (COSI) and Study on Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSCS). GYTS was conducted in 3 districts, 4 schools covered 307 children. COSI and HBSCS are fully prepared for implementation in 2015. Capacities for improving quality of health information have been built. This included training in use of (International Classification of Diseases – 10th revision (ICD-10) for coding of death, and use of WHO methodology on maternal mortality estimates. WHO also carried out a statistical analysis of the burden of mortality due to child trauma in Kyzylorda. This showed that the burden of trauma related deaths among 0 – 14 years old adolescents grows and warrants wide measures for prevention. Page 3 of 35 I. Purpose The JP has set to achieve the following three objectives: Objective 1: Local government is capacitated to plan for diversified and balanced economic growth, local self-governance system is in place, support to SME provided. Expected outputs: 1.1 Capacities of local government to plan for diversified economic growth and partnerships with SMEs are enhanced – UNDP, UNESCO and UNV 1.2 Citizen participation in local self-governance and local decision-making are strengthened – UNDP Objective 2: Disparities in social well-being and health are reduced, employment opportunities are increased, access to quality health, justice, education and social services for the vulnerable families, their children and vulnerable population groups is improved. Expected outputs: 2.1 Capacities of local government and local service providers to plan, budget, implement, monitor and evaluate programmes aimed at improved social inclusion and reduced social disparities of the vulnerable groups are strengthened – UNICEF, UN Women 2.2 New participatory mechanisms are designed for effective and efficient local level planning, budgeting and management for protection of the most vulnerable groups of society – UNICEF, UNFPA, UNESCO 2.3 Innovative approaches to providing special social services to families, children and youth are introduced in rural areas – UNICEF, UNDP 2.4 Support in formulation of policies for promoting productive employment and poverty reduction – UNDP 2.5 Advanced regional health policies development, responsive to the needs of the population at the primary health care level – WHO 2.6 Increased awareness of local decision makers on application of “Health in all policies” approach in regional development strategy – WHO Objective 3: Sustainable development practices in response to the current problems caused by climate change, natural and man-made aspects of