The event was organised as part of the UNECE project “Improving water, sanitation, hygiene and health through implementation of the programme of work of the Protocol on Water and Health”. Since Kazakhstan is at an advanced stage in the accession to the Protocol, it is well placed to benefit significantly from the capacity-building and technical assistance activities within the Project.
Among objectives of the launching event are
- introducing the project’s objectives, activities and expected results to the national authorities and the general public;
- raising awareness of the relevant commitments and benefits of accession to the Protocol on Water and Health;
- building a more in-depth understanding of Kazakhstan’s needs in the area of WASH and health and facilitate further information exchange among different stakeholders;
- providing detailed guidance to the Kazakhstani authorities on the process of target setting/reviewing of targets and reporting given Kazakhstan's prospective accession to the Protocol in the near future;
- discussing the way forward and follow-up steps in initiating the development of a baseline analysis on water, sanitation, hygiene and health and, subsequently, reviewing the already existing targets/setting of all targets required under the Protocol in parallel with the ongoing accession process;
- discussing the process of preparing national summary report under the Protocol in Kazakhstan (due in April 2025) and the related support needs.
The launching event was attended by government authorities responsible for water, sanitation and health in Kazakhstan as well as water and sanitation operators, national experts, civil society, private sector and academia.