LocationsUNDP and Samruk Kazyna JSC signed a statement of cooperation
June 21, 2024
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Kazakhstan and Samruk-Kazyna JSC signed a non-financial statement of intent today. The aim of the cooperation is to support socially vulnerable youth in the regions of Kazakhstan, promote responsible business practises to address potential human rights violation risks, and introduce the principles of gender equality to overcome all forms of gender discrimination in the holding companies’ business operations.
"As part of our cooperation with the UNDP, we are launching an internship programme at our companies to support socially disadvantaged young people from the various regions of Kazakhstan. We are also planning a number of initiatives in the field of human resources and social policy, which are based on global standards of gender equality and human rights protection,"said Gibrat Auganov, Managing Director for Corporate Governance, Social and Labour Relations and Occupational Health and Safety of Samruk-Kazyna JSC.
More than 300 young people from the Mangystau and Kyzylorda regions are expected to complete internships at Samruk-Kazyna JSC companies this year. The joint internship programme is one of the main components of the UNDP regional initiative "Strengthening Community Resilience to Prevent Violent Extremism in Central Asia", which is funded by the Government of Japan. This initiative aims to address the social and economic vulnerability of young people in the region.
As part of the partnership, UNDP will also provide technical support to Samruk-Kazyna JSC to conduct a gender assessment of the holding's activities, develop an action plan and provide training on human rights due diligence and gender equality.
"This partnership has three main objectives that reflect our shared desire to create a more just, responsible and inclusive future. Implementing human rights standards and gender equality strategies brings tangible economic benefits. This helps businesses attract and retain talented employees, encourages innovation, improves financial performance and enhances their reputation among consumers and investors,"said Sukhrob Khojimatov, UNDP Deputy Representative in Kazakhstan.
The UNDP also supports companies around the world in establishing gender-responsive corporate governance systems, which, according to the International Labour Organisation, have a positive impact on business outcomes.
The UNDP plays a leading role in supporting the implementation of the most important global standards for responsible business, namely the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. These principles require companies to undertake human rights due diligence to identify, prevent and mitigate the adverse impacts of business activities on people and the environment.
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