Kazakhstan Shows Strong Gains in Child Well-Being Index and Birth Registration – The Astana Times

Report on Child Well-being and Sustainable Development Goal Alignment in Kazakhstan

Introduction: Progress in Child Rights and Legal Identity

Kazakhstan has demonstrated significant progress in aligning its national policies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly concerning child welfare. According to national data and a 2024 UNICEF Situation Analysis, the country has achieved high indicators in child well-being and birth registration, directly contributing to SDG 16.9 (Legal Identity for All). This achievement is foundational for protecting children’s rights and ensuring their access to essential services.

• Children constitute 34% of the nation’s growing population.
• The birth registration rate is maintained at nearly 100%, meeting global standards.
• State policy reflects a long-term commitment to supporting families and protecting children.

Financial Support for Children: Addressing SDG 1 and SDG 4

The government has implemented innovative financial mechanisms to support every child, directly targeting SDG 1 (No Poverty) and facilitating future access to higher education and housing, in line with SDG 4 (Quality Education).

1. National Fund Initiative: Since 2024, 50% of the National Fund’s investment income is allocated to individual savings accounts for all minors.
2. Disbursement Data:
   • In 2025, over 324,000 beneficiaries each received approximately $130.
   • The total accumulated savings per child reached $233 over a two-year period.

Nutrition Programs: Advancing SDG 2 and SDG 3

Kazakhstan’s national policy prioritizes child nutrition, a critical component for achieving SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). Comprehensive meal programs have been established for young learners.

• Since 2023, all 1.7 million primary school students receive state-funded hot meals.
• An additional 953,000 children in preschool institutions are also fully covered by nutrition programs.
• The UNICEF MICS-2024 survey confirms that child nutrition indicators are stable and comparable to European and Central Asian standards, indicating the effectiveness of these programs.

Child Protection Framework: Strengthening SDG 16

The nation has reinforced its legal and institutional frameworks to protect minors from violence, a direct action towards achieving SDG 16.2 (End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children).

1. Legal Reforms:
   • Harsher penalties, including life imprisonment, have been introduced for severe offenses against children.
   • The possibility of case dismissal through reconciliation between parties has been eliminated for crimes against minors.
2. Institutional Capacity Building:
   • Legislation now mandates a standard of one guardianship officer per 5,000 children, increasing the number of specialists from 303 to 1,028.
   • This measure strengthens the institutional capacity required under SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
3. Future Strategy: The “Children of Kazakhstan” program, launching in 2026, will consolidate all support measures into a single strategic framework.

Monitoring Progress: The Child Well-Being Index

To track the effectiveness of its policies across multiple SDGs, Kazakhstan utilizes a national Child Well-Being Index. The index measures progress in health, education, safety, and material well-being, reflecting a holistic approach to development.

• The index was developed in 2022 in partnership with UNICEF and the Economic Research Institute.
• The national index score increased from 56.1 in 2023 to 58.6 in 2024, indicating steady improvement in overall child welfare.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty

  The article addresses this goal through its description of Kazakhstan’s financial support program for children. By directing 50% of the National Fund’s investment income into individual savings accounts for minors, the state is implementing a social protection system aimed at providing future financial security and reducing potential poverty by giving children a financial foundation for education or housing.

• SDG 2: Zero Hunger

  This goal is directly connected to the national policy of ensuring access to nutritious food for children. The article explicitly states that since 2023, all primary school students (1.7 million children) and 953,000 preschool children receive state-funded meals, which contributes to ending hunger and ensuring access to safe and nutritious food.

• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

  This goal is central to the article, which highlights several related aspects. Firstly, Kazakhstan’s achievement of a near-100% birth registration rate provides a legal identity for all children. Secondly, the article details significant legal and institutional strengthening to protect children from violence and abuse, including harsher penalties and a “zero tolerance” policy. Finally, it describes the increase in institutional capacity through the hiring of more child protection specialists.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 1.3: Implement nationally appropriate social protection systems and measures for all, including floors, and by 2030 achieve substantial coverage of the poor and the vulnerable.

  The “National Fund for Children” program, which allocates investment income to savings accounts for every child, is a clear example of a nationally appropriate social protection system aimed at supporting a vulnerable group (children) and providing them with long-term financial security.

• Target 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious and sufficient food all year round.

  The state-funded program providing hot meals to 1.7 million primary school students and full meal coverage for 953,000 preschool children directly addresses this target by ensuring access to sufficient and nutritious food for a large segment of the child population.

• Target 16.2: End abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against and torture of children.

  The article’s section on “Child protection and zero tolerance for abuse” directly relates to this target. It mentions the introduction of “harsher penalties for severe offences against children, including life imprisonment,” and the state’s “zero tolerance” position, which are concrete actions to end violence against children.

• Target 16.9: By 2030, provide legal identity for all, including birth registration.

  This target is explicitly met and mentioned in the article, which states that “Kazakhstan maintains a birth-registration rate close to 100%, meeting global standards.” This directly contributes to providing a legal identity for every child from birth.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator for Target 16.9: The article provides a direct indicator: the “birth-registration rate close to 100%.” This is a quantitative measure of progress for Indicator 16.9.1 (Proportion of children under 5 years of age whose births have been registered).
• Indicator for Target 1.3: Several quantitative indicators are mentioned for the financial support program:
  • The number of beneficiaries: “more than 324,000 beneficiaries” in 2025.
  • The amount allocated per child: “approximately $130” in 2025 and an accumulated total of “$233 per child” over two years.
  • The funding mechanism: “50% of the National Fund’s investment income.”
• Indicator for Target 2.1: The article provides clear coverage numbers for the school meals program:
  • “1.7 million children” in primary schools receiving hot meals.
  • “953,000 children in preschool institutions are also fully covered.”
• Indicator for Target 16.2 & Institutional Strength: The article mentions several indicators related to strengthening child protection systems:
  • The increase in the number of guardianship specialists from 303 to 1,028.
  • The establishment of a unified staffing standard of “one guardianship officer per 5,000 children.”
  • The introduction of specific legal measures like “life imprisonment for the gravest crimes” against children.
• Composite Indicator: The “Child Well-Being Index” itself is a comprehensive indicator. The article notes its rise from 56.1 in 2023 to 58.6 in 2024, tracking progress across multiple domains including health, education, safety, and material well-being, which relate to several SDGs.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators” to present the findings from analyzing the article.

Source: astanatimes.com