The President of the country, at the session of the National Kurultai, expressed support for our initiative to adopt a separate law on non-governmental organizations

Dear colleagues, wonderful news!

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, at the session of the National Kurultai, expressed support for our initiative to adopt a separate law on non-governmental organizations (NGOs).

This is an important step that will greatly enhance the authority and legal status of NGOs in Kazakhstan, support their further development, and strengthen the sector. As the Head of State noted: “The civil sector plays a significant role in implementing reforms and developing society. Partnership between the state and NGOs contributes to solving pressing issues, promoting constructive values, and forming a new quality of the nation. Therefore, to increase the efficiency of the state social order, a separate law corresponding to modern realities is needed.”

Frankly, we have long awaited this moment. Today, the role of NGOs is often reduced to implementing the state social order or grants, as well as formal participation in dialogue with authorities.

The Law “On State Social Orders, State Orders for Strategic Partnership, Grants and Awards for Non-Governmental Organizations in the Republic of Kazakhstan”, in effect since 2005, essentially serves as a financial interaction tool between the state and NGOs. Credit is due to the Ministry of Culture and Information, as under this law, there is ongoing collaboration between the authorized body and NGOs to improve project formation, monitoring, evaluation procedures, and criteria for state social orders and grants.

Of course, there is the general Law on Non-Profit Organizations, which mentions NGOs only once, and only regarding the obligation to submit an annual report to the authorized body. Meanwhile, almost all other public institutions—political parties, professional unions, religious associations, media, public councils, or non-profit joint-stock companies—are regulated by their own laws, clearly defining concepts, goals, tasks, rights, responsibilities, and other provisions.

Due to the lack of legislative regulation of NGO activities, many problematic issues have accumulated in the sector. Pseudo-organizations emerged, operating under the guise of NGOs and engaging in dubious practices, as well as “one-day NGOs” or so-called “grant-eaters.”

Meanwhile, the civil sector includes the most caring, socially active, and initiative-taking citizens of the country, who respond to the suffering of any living being, protect the rights of socially vulnerable groups, raise socially significant issues affecting the population, and participate in solving them. Kazakhstani NGOs have always been at the forefront of social movements and change, mobilizing civic engagement.

A vivid example is the work of the NGO International Anti-Nuclear Movement “Nevada-Semipalatinsk”, which played a key role in closing the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site. Thus, the civil sector has always been and remains a driving force for positive change.

We are confident that the new law will ensure the sector’s sustainability and create favorable conditions for its work. It is crucial that its development involves experts and civil society, that the process is transparent, and that it reflects the real needs of society. NGOs are key partners of state bodies in implementing reforms and addressing social issues. We are ready to actively participate in discussions and work to ensure that the new law becomes the foundation for the systemic development of NGOs in Kazakhstan!