On April 24, 2026, the National Museum of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Astana hosted the 3rd meeting of the National Organizing Committee (NOC) for the implementation of the International Year of Volunteers in the Republic of Kazakhstan.The meeting was chaired by Mr. Evgeniy Dmitrievich Kochetov, Deputy Chairman of the NOC and Vice-Minister of Culture and Information of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The event was attended by representatives of the NOC, the Ministry of Culture and Information, the «Astana Zhastary» Youth Resource Center, the «National Volunteer Network» (an association of legal entities), the UNV Regional Office (Istanbul, Türkiye), the International Secretariat of the International Year of Volunteers (Bonn, Germany), and UNICEF Kazakhstan. Invited guests included representatives from the Agency for State Support to NGOs of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the «Peshsaf» Public Organization (Republic of Tajikistan), and the Public Association Enterprise «Tebigy Kuwwat» (Turkmenistan).

Mr. Kochetov opened the meeting by outlining the history and objectives of the NOC. He noted that the committee was established in May last year, following which the Year’s concept was approved and an action plan adopted. The International Year of Volunteers in Kazakhstan officially launched on January 30, with the Head of State personally inaugurating the event.He further highlighted that during the RES 2026 session titled «Volunteering and Environmental Action,» organized by the Ministry, Ms. Aida Balayeva, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Culture and Information, emphasized that the recent constitutional reforms—approved via national referendum—now include a provision for the support of volunteering. He credited much of this progress to Ms. Vera Alexandrovna Kim, Deputy of the Mazhilis of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Chairperson of the National Volunteer Network. He stressed that significant systemic work lies ahead to implement these initiatives and achieve tangible results.

The floor was then given to NOC members for their reports.Ms. Gulbara Beketovna Sultanova, Chairperson of the Committee for Civil Society Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Information, presented an update on the International Year’s progress in Kazakhstan.

G.B. Sultanova: «Every year, the government funds over 50 volunteer projects and more than 60 small grants and sub-grants specifically for volunteer initiatives. Volunteering is evolving across key areas: 1. Social; 2. Medical; 3. Emergency response; 4. Conditional volunteering; and 5. Cultural heritage. The number of volunteer organizations is growing, with over 800 organizations currently registered and more than 300,000 active volunteers nationwide.

Per the Head of State’s instructions, a new international platform is being created to unite countries in solving common problems and implementing joint projects through volunteering.»

Mr. Chingiz Maratovich Tleulen, Director of «Astana Zhastary,» followed with a presentation on the volunteer movement in Astana. He reported that approximately 60 volunteer organizations operate in the capital, with over 80,000 people participating in both one-time and recurring events. In 2025–2026, these organizations conducted roughly 2,200 diverse initiatives.

The next speaker was Ms. Zarina Mirabdullaeva, Regional Coordinator for the International Year in Europe and Central Asia, who delivered an online presentation on the implementation of international initiatives within the frameworkof the International Year of Volunteers.

In conclusion, Ms. Sandra Koch,. Regional Coordinator for the International Year in Europe and Central Asia, addressed the committee. Ms. Koch thanked the Government of Kazakhstan for the excellent organization of RES 2026 and stressed the importance of regional cooperation. She encouraged countries to participate in joint actions and projects, specifically highlighting the upcoming CIS Volunteer Forum in Astana this August as a platform for sharing experience and developing action plans.

Following the presentations, participants had the opportunity to address the speakers and NOC members. Mr. Berkeli Atayev took the opportunity to thank the Ministry of Culture and Information for the invitation to speak at the RES 2026 session and the NOC meeting. He emphasized that regional cooperation is vital for the volunteer movement in Turkmenistan, citing shared historical roots, transboundary water resources, and natural landscapes. He noted that the idea of an international platform would serve as an excellent tool for interaction at both the regional and global levels.

The choice of the National Museum as a venue was intentional. After the meeting, guests were treated to a guided tour. The museum’s exhibitions span the nation’s history from ancient times to the present day, featuring its centerpiece: the hall of unique gold artifacts, including the world-famous «Golden Man.» With its cutting-edge multimedia technologies and interactive installations, the museum is recognized as one of the most modern and visited cultural hubs in the region.

Berkeli Atayev.

There is a word in Kazakhstan—Asar. It describes a simple but powerful idea: when someone is in need, the community comes together to help. No contracts, no formalities, just people showing up for one another.

That spirit has not disappeared. If anything, it has strengthened. Over the past few years, Kazakhstan has made a deliberate effort to elevate volunteerism—from declaring 2020 the Year of Volunteers, to championing 2024 as the Year of the Volunteer Movement in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and creating momentum toward 2026 as the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development.

What stands out is not just the ambition but the way it has been implemented. In Kazakhstan, volunteering is not treated as a side activity. It is embedded in how things get done—in disaster response, education, environmental protection, healthcare, or search and rescue—as ministries, local authorities, and volunteer networks increasingly work side-by-side.

With its new Constitution encouraging volunteerism in Article 31, Kazakhstan is also making a broader point: volunteering matters socially and institutionally. For countries looking to strengthen civic engagement, this offers a compelling model.

This evolution is not happening in isolation. Around the world, volunteering is being rediscovered as something deeply practical—a flexible way to respond to complex and fast-moving challenges.

Traditional forms of engagement remain essential. Community cleanups and tree planting—these continue to anchor environmental action. But new models are emerging alongside them. Online volunteering is expanding rapidly, allowing people to contribute skills, share knowledge, and collaborate across borders.

As we have learned from the State of Volunteering in Central Asia Review, led by United Nations Volunteers (UNV) in 2024, the region reflects this global shift while staying rooted in its own traditions of mutual support. Governments, civil society, business, and communities are working together more systematically, and volunteerism is gaining recognition from environmental action to education, social services, and emergency response.

And yet, there is a paradox.

Volunteers are everywhere, doing essential work—reducing risks, protecting ecosystems, supporting services—but their contributions often remain invisible in national systems. They are felt but not always counted. Appreciated, but not always supported.

This is the key message emerging from the State of the World’s Volunteerism Report 2026: recognizing volunteerism is not about counting hours. It is about understanding how volunteers strengthen social cohesion, improve resilience, and help countries develop.

For Central Asia, this is particularly important. While the region has a strong foundation of solidarity, to fully harness it, that tradition now needs to be matched with recognition, evidence, and investment. Volunteers need training. Systems need coordination. Contributions need to be reflected in policies and plans.

Volunteering should not be about goodwill alone. It can become part of how countries nurture capacity.

This is also where the role of the United Nations (UN) is evolving.

Through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), we work with governments to integrate volunteer action into national development, climate, and environmental strategies—so that volunteers do more than fill gaps; they strengthen public systems. Through UNV, we mobilize volunteers—skilled, diverse, and increasingly digital—matching needs and capabilities, widening access, and ensuring that contributions are effective.

In Central Asia, similar approaches are already taking hold at both national and regional levels. Around the Aral Sea, for example, volunteers — including UN Volunteers — are contributing to environmental restoration and strengthening community resilience.

But this cannot stop there.

Environmental risks do not respect borders—and neither should the responses. This is not about one-off campaigns. When volunteer efforts are properly supported and aligned with policy, they can build real, lasting capacity.

That is why 2026 matters.

The International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development should not be another awareness campaign. It can be a turning point—a moment to invest in regional and national systems that make volunteerism more effective, more inclusive, and more visible in Central Asia’s development.

Ultimately, the story of volunteering in this region is not new. What is new is that moments like the Regional Ecological Summit in Astana create a new opportunity to turn tradition into something even more powerful: a structured, recognized, and resourced force for sustainable development.

That is an opportunity we cannot afford to miss.

Authors: Haoliang Xu is the Associate Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme,

Toily Kurbanov is the Executive Coordinator of United Nations Volunteers.