Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev met Wednesday with Executive Coordinator of the UN Volunteers (UNV), Toily Kurbanov, who arrived to participate in the First CIS Volunteer Forum, Qazinform News Agency cites the MFA press service. The parties discussed key areas of cooperation within the framework of the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026, proclaimed at Kazakhstan’s initiative.
Kurbanov highly commended Kazakhstan’s leadership in promoting the volunteer movement globally, noting the adoption by the UN General Assembly of the relevant resolution initiated by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, as a landmark contribution to advancing the international volunteer agenda.
The Kazakh side also presented the country’s achievements in environmental volunteering, including initiatives and projects aimed at preserving the Caspian Sea and restoring the Aral Sea region, as well as the nationwide Taza Qazaqstan campaign, which has become an example of mobilizing civil society.
The parties also discussed strengthening the engagement of Kazakh volunteers in UN agencies' activities, including through the UNV Full Funding Programme, and agreed to enhance Kazakhstan’s participation in promoting volunteer initiatives through the UNV Special Fund.
In addition, they discussed further development of the volunteer agenda beyond 2026 at the national, regional and international levels and reaffirmed their readiness to deepen cooperation. Toily Kurbanov expressed UNV’s interest in further promoting Kazakhstan’s experience in volunteering internationally.
It was previously reported that UN officials praised Kazakhstan’s volunteerism model.