In recent years, the system of international cooperation has been undergoing a transformation driven by the growing role of developing countries in global development. Rapid economic strengthening across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America has created new centers of influence that are initiating their own models of development cooperation. Today, these economies account for more than half of global GDP, significantly increasing their contribution to shaping the global sustainable development agenda.
As traditional donor systems refocus on addressing short-term challenges, demand is rising for alternative formats of engagement based on solidarity, reciprocity, and respect for the national priorities of partner countries. These trends enhance the importance of professional development agencies capable of ensuring the practical implementation of projects aimed at sustainable growth, and they elevate the role of states with successful modernization experience of their own.
Kazakhstan’s independence became not only the foundation of its statehood, but also the starting point of the country’s transformation into a responsible participant in international relations. Over the years of sovereign development, Kazakhstan has built a resilient diplomatic system, become an active participant in multilateral institutions, and developed its own model of global engagement grounded in good-neighborliness, mutual support, and fair access to development opportunities.
Today, Kazakhstan delivers Official Development Assistance (ODA) in line with the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness (2005), the Accra Agenda for Action (2008), and the Busan outcome document (2011). Kazakhstan actively cooperates with UN system organizations, the OECD, the SCO, the EAEU, as well as international financial institutions—thereby contributing to greater regional resilience and to expanding ties through South–South and triangular cooperation formats.
A key feature of Kazakhstan’s engagement in ODA is the priority placed on the regional dimension. Kazakhstan supports capacity-building in Central Asian countries, including Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, as well as Afghanistan. This aligns with strategic objectives to ensure sustainable development and security across the region. Through ODA project implementation, interstate ties are strengthened, long-term economic relations are formed, investments are attracted, and conditions are created for the exchange of technologies and experience.
The evolution of independent Kazakhstan’s foreign policy reflects a shift from the role of aid recipient to that of a country able to share knowledge, resources, and technologies in the interests of sustainable development. This logic became a natural continuation of the country’s modernization trajectory and led to the formation of a national development cooperation model, institutionalized through the establishment of the ODA operator—the Kazakhstan Agency of International Development, KazAID. This year marks the 5th anniversary of the Agency’s establishment.
A major role in building and advancing the national ODA system has been played by the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. At the initiative of the Head of State, the institutional foundations of Kazakhstan’s development cooperation model were laid, oriented toward international standards, practical effectiveness, and regional responsibility. The President’s strategic vision, rooted in the principles of multilateralism, solidarity, and good-neighborliness, ensured KazAID’s integration into the global development architecture and provided the Agency with a clear foreign-policy vector. High-level state support enabled KazAID, within a short timeframe, to secure a sustainable position among national development agencies and to become an effective instrument for advancing Kazakhstan’s international agenda.
Guided by the Agency’s mission—advancing sustainable development through international collaboration—KazAID implements initiatives in education, healthcare, digitalization, humanitarian response, and institutional strengthening. Special attention is given to the exchange of experience, the introduction of innovations, and human capital development. Over five years, Kazakhstan has provided assistance exceeding USD 183 million, covering more than 40 countries worldwide and expanding the geography of partnerships from Central Asia and the Caucasus to Africa and Latin America. More than 10,000 students from 32 countries have studied in Kazakhstan through academic mobility programs and the Study in Kazakhstan project, contributing to the integration of education systems and the strengthening of humanitarian ties.
Kazakhstan’s assistance encompasses both crisis response and long-term initiatives aimed at developing future generations. The construction of a school in Türkiye following the devastating 2023 earthquake became a symbol of solidarity with a brotherly nation and a contribution to restoring social infrastructure. In Azerbaijan, the Kurmangazy Creative Development Center has been established, providing children with access to modern education and the arts. Kazakhstan is also developing capacity in the fields of security and medicine: specialized seminars, trainings, and professional development courses will be conducted in Almaty at the Center for Emergency Situations and Disaster Risk Reduction, as well as at the WHO European Centre for Primary Health Care. These platforms form a network of training centers aimed at preparing specialists in medicine, public health, and risk management.
KazAID is actively expanding international cooperation. Partnerships have been established with the development agencies of Japan (JICA), the Republic of Korea (KOICA), and Türkiye (TIKA), and joint work is underway with Thailand, Indonesia, Brazil, and other countries. Cooperation with UN system organizations is being strengthened; OECD reporting standards and tools are being introduced, enhancing the transparency and quality of implemented initiatives. Particular importance is attached to training young professionals and promoting volunteer engagement, supported by the UN General Assembly’s proclamation—at Kazakhstan’s initiative—of 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development. A special place is held by the Regional Environmental Summit in 2026, initiated by President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and aimed at advancing the “green” agenda, uniting Central Asian countries, and developing joint solutions to combat climate change in partnership with the UN.
As the role of middle powers grows, Kazakhstan continues to shape its own development cooperation model based on solidarity, mutual respect, and practical effectiveness. In the coming years, a key task will be to further strengthen KazAID’s capacity, expand the geography of partnership projects, develop trilateral mechanisms, and introduce innovative solutions into the social, educational, and digital agenda. Enhancing the institutional sustainability and transparency of ODA will contribute to further recognition of Kazakhstan as a responsible participant in the global development architecture.
Official Development Assistance is becoming a key foreign-policy instrument that strengthens Kazakhstan’s standing, expands international ties, and creates conditions for the sustainable growth of partner countries. Implemented initiatives contribute to human capital development, infrastructure modernization, and the formation of a strong environment of trust and good-neighborliness. Today, Kazakhstan is confidently establishing itself as a responsible donor, a regional leader, and a reliable partner, making a practical contribution to a sustainable future for our region and the world.