UNicef and Kazakhstan's Joint Efforts in Combating Climate Change and Enhancing Cyber Security
In Kazakhstan, a series of challenges are emerging in the realms of cybersecurity and online safety, with 21% of children experiencing cyberbullying, 12% stumbling upon explicit content, 7% receiving sexually explicit messages, and 21% not informing anyone when meeting someone they initially encountered online. Recognising the gravity of these issues, Dr. Rashed Mustafa Sarwar, the UNICEF Representative in Kazakhstan, is leading efforts to address these challenges head-on.
Climate change poses a significant threat to children's safety and mental health in Kazakhstan. 84% of children are exposed to extreme heat, 55% experience water shortages, and 73% face air pollution due to climate change. To combat these issues, UNICEF is working closely with the National Education Academy to integrate climate change and environmental issues into the school curriculum. The consultancy, running from August 2025 to March 2026, aims to review subjects and teacher development, embedding climate education systematically.
Mental health issues, particularly among adolescents aged 13 to 17, are a significant concern in Kazakhstan. UNICEF is collaborating with various government ministries, the Deputy Prime Minister's Office, and other partners to address these challenges. The organisation is shifting towards long-term, sustainable programs, such as initiatives supporting children with special educational needs.
Dr. Sarwar commends the Kazakh government for working with UNICEF to address the challenges facing Kazakhstan's children. He emphasises the importance of deepening a culture of giving in Kazakhstan and engaging corporations and individuals in UNICEF's initiatives to contribute to Kazakhstan's child development.
UNICEF's approach to addressing geographical hurdles in service provision includes decentralizing volunteer-led programs and educational opportunities. This strategy helps reduce service access inequality and supports children and youth in regions where institutional support and programs have been limited.
To engage youth in promoting children's rights, UNICEF launched the first Youth Forum and Volunteer Hub in Kokshetau in 2025. The Volunteer Hub provides free, high-quality training in key areas such as children's rights promotion, violence and bullying prevention, mental and physical health, eco-volunteering, leadership skills, and UNICEF’s mission. Over 10,000 young volunteers have joined the UNICEF movement in Kazakhstan since 2020, reinforcing grassroots efforts to create safer environments for children, including online safety.
The UNICEF Volunteer Hub's educational program includes training aimed at preventing violence and bullying, which incorporates promoting safer online behaviors. By strengthening youth involvement and leadership, UNICEF seeks to empower young people themselves to become advocates and change agents in mitigating cyberbullying and enhancing online child safety in their communities.
Addressing issues at the local level often brings faster results, according to Dr. Sarwar. He draws on his experience assisting Ukrainian children in Poland to emphasise the importance of working with local authorities to address immediate needs. Dr. Sarwar and his team are committed to collaborating with the government, local authorities, and individuals to ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.
UNICEF remains optimistic about Kazakhstan's potential to address emerging threats to children's well-being. The devastating floods in spring 2024 disrupted education for thousands of children in Kazakhstan, but the organisation is working tirelessly to support recovery efforts. Reduced child mortality, expanded access to education, social services, and immunization are some of the advancements made over their 30-year partnership.
At the governmental level, Kazakhstan's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs has actively engaged with UNICEF's Regional Director to strengthen cooperation and design the UNICEF Country Programme for 2026-2030. This cooperation focuses on enhancing joint work in key areas, likely including child protection, environmental advocacy, and digital safety.
In summary, Kazakhstan and UNICEF are simultaneously advancing climate education, empowering youth volunteers to promote children's rights and safety (including online), and overcoming geographic barriers to service access through decentralization and education-based volunteer hubs. These multifaceted, youth-centric strategies form the core of their joint response to climate change, cyberbullying, and online child safety challenges in Kazakhstan.
- To further ensure the safety and well-being of children in Kazakhstan, it might be beneficial to incorporate environmental science and climate-change education into the school curriculum, as suggested by the National Education Academy, to help students understand and tackle these pressing issues.
- As personal growth and development are crucial, UNICEF's Volunteer Hub offers free training programs, such as leadership skills and UNICEF’s mission, equipping over 10,000 young volunteers in Kazakhstan with the necessary skills to become advocates for children's rights and online safety.
- In line with the mission of education and self-development, the integration of technology in these programs can help empower youth volunteers to promote safer online behaviors effectively in their communities, bridging the gap between the digital and physical worlds.
