OSCE Centre helps enhance local self-governance in Kazakhstan

A panel discussion on enhancing public participation in self-governance at the local level with a particular focus on citizens’ involvement in developing and implementing local budgets took place in Astana on 21 May 2014 within the framework of the Seventh Astana Economic Forum.

It was co-organized by the OSCE Centre in Astana, the Embassy of Poland and the Polish Foundation for Local Democracy Development.

Some 80 representatives of the Ministries of regional development and economy and budget planning, local authorities,  non-governmental and international organizations and academia as well as participants of the Astana Economic Forum from various countries took part in the event to discuss the progress and challenges of the first stage of the local self-governance reform implementation in Kazakhstan.

Experts from Kazakhstan, Poland and the United Kingdom addressed the issues of budget development in rural areas as a key element of the local self-governance. Participants of the discussion stressed the importance of step-by-step decentralization of the decision-making process in the country. They also noted the need to introduce an effective model of local self-governance based on the best international practices, local traditions and requirements of the current national legislation of Kazakhstan.

The event was part of the Centre’s long-term efforts to promote and support good governance.