Access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation

Spanning over 2.7 million km² from the Caspian Sea to the Altai Mountains, Kazakhstan is the world’s ninth‑largest country. Nearly 90% of its land is arid or semi‑arid, and water resources are unevenly distributed. This geographic reality, combined with a highly dispersed population, means that many rural settlements depend on decentralized water supply systems such as standpipes, boreholes, and delivered water, often over long distances. In certain areas, water and sanitation systems operate intermittently or depend on substantial household storage, conditions that may compromise both service quality and reliability. According to the data provided by the Ministry of Industry and Construction of the Republic of Kazakhstan, an estimated 60% of water infrastructure is in worn or unsatisfactory condition, creating additional challenges for equitable access. Climate change is intensifying these pressures through increased drought frequency, seasonal water shortages, and flood risks in some river basins.

Against this backdrop, Kazakhstan launched a national self‑assessment on equitable access to water and sanitation, applying the recently updated Equitable Access Score‑card 2.0 under the UNECE‑WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health. The self-assessment will cover four thematic dimensions: governance frameworks, geographical disparities, vulnerable and marginalized groups, and affordability concerns. It marks a decisive step towards the country’s accession to the Protocol and reinforces its commitment to Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all).

Ms. Roza Kozhapova, Deputy Chairperson of the Committee of Sanitary and Epidemiological Welfare of the Population, Ministry of Healthcare, stated: “Launching a national self‑assessment process is a critical step toward updating Kazakhstan’s draft national targets under the Protocol on Water and Health. Through coordinated efforts of government representatives, experts and international partners, we can identify existing barriers, especially for vulnerable groups and develop practical measures to eliminate them, which will lay the groundwork for full implementation following ratification of the Protocol.”

The two‑day National Inception Workshop on Assessing Equitable Access to Water and Sanitation (19–20 August 2025, Astana) brought together national and local authorities, water and health experts, civil society, academia, and development partners to review the current situation, identify disparities, and set priorities for improving access to water and sanitation across all communities. Participants explored the methodology of a national self-assessment process, examined the roles of key stakeholders, and defined strategies for data collection. The workshop also provided a platform for peer learning, with experts from Armenia and Belarus sharing their experiences in implementing equitable access measures and the national target-setting process— fostering dialogue, mutual inspiration, and practical takeaways.

Ms. Sarangoo Radnaaragchaa, UN Resident Coordinator in Kazakhstan, said: “I commend Kazakhstan for being the first Central Asian country to apply the Equitable Access Score‑card 2.0 under the UNECE‑WHO/Europe Protocol on Water and Health and look forward to Kazakhstan taking the final steps in acceding to the Protocol already this year.”

Jointly organized by the Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), and the International Water Assessment Centre (IWAC), in cooperation with the United Nations Country Office in Kazakhstan, the World Health Organization (WHO), and other key ministries of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the workshop showcased a strong spirit of collaboration. Each partner contributed its unique expertise to the initiation of a national self‑assessment process, underscoring a shared commitment to advancing equitable access to water and sanitation for all.

Mr. Skender Syla, WHO Representative and Head of WHO Country Office in Kazakhstan, stated: “Kazakhstan’s application of the Equitable Assessment Score‑card signals its strong intention to pursue equity, sustainability, and health protection in water and sanitation governance. WHO encourages broad participation – especially from the health sector – and the active engagement of vulnerable groups, rural communities, schools, healthcare providers, and local governments.”

Released in December 2024, the Equitable Access Score-card 2.0 builds on a decade of implementation across 12 countries, offering a refined tool to assess access to water and sanitation. Developed under the Protocol on Water and Health, the updated version responds to priority issues and challenges such as climate threats, disasters, and pandemics. It broadens the scope to include policy coherence and the emergency preparedness of service providers, helping governments identify and address equity gaps more effectively.

The findings of self‑assessment will be incorporated into Kazakhstan’s ongoing process on revision of draft national targets on water, sanitation, hygiene and health under the Protocol, guiding the development of equity‑focused national targets. By undertaking this process, Kazakhstan seeks to strengthen evidence‑based policymaking, modernize infrastructure, enhance the climate resilience of water and sanitation systems, and ensure no one is left behind in accessing these essential services.

This initiative is supported by the UNECE‑WHO/Europe project “Equitable access to water and sanitation services for all and in all settings and strengthened climate‑resilience in the water and sanitation sector” (2023–2026), funded under the United Nations Development Account (UNDA).

Photo credit: UNECE

*

*