“Baquatty Audan”: How a Pilot Project Transformed Social Infrastructure in Rural Kazakhstan

Participants included: Presidential Advisor for Social Policy Alexey Tsoy, AMANAT party secretary Sholpan Karinova, Executive Director of the AÑSA Foundation Murat Zhumanbai, Head of the National Center for Health Management Kamalzhan Nadyrov, Project Lead for Healthcare Leila Ishbayeva, Chair of the Board of NIS (Nazarbayev Intellectual Schools) Kulyash Shamshidinova, as well as leading experts in education and healthcare.

In his remarks, Aset Isekeshev emphasized that the project set out to demonstrate how comprehensive change can happen without massive capital investment—through targeted measures, specialist training, and the introduction of modern approaches in education, healthcare, and social inclusion.

In his remarks, Aset Isekeshev emphasized that the project set out to demonstrate how comprehensive change can happen without massive capital investment—through targeted measures, specialist training, and the introduction of modern approaches in education, healthcare, and social inclusion.

Today, 37% of Kazakhstan’s population - about 7.6 million people live in rural areas. The country is home to 6,208 auls and villages, and their development remains a strategic priority of national economic and social policy. Rural communities represent both growth potential and a repository of cultural identity. Finding sustainable ways to improve quality of life in the regions is therefore a core national objective.

One such initiative is Baquatty Audan, a pilot project implemented by the AMANAT party in partnership with the AÑSA and Esen foundations in Tselinograd District.   

Education

One of the pilot’s key goals was to improve the quality of education. During the project, over 300 lessons, trainings, and workshops were delivered with support from coaches at the NIS Center for Pedagogical Excellence.

More than 500 teachers and 90 school principals took part in professional development sessions. The Baquatty Audan project helped fill the existing gap in state-funded training quotas, which led to a 20% decrease in teacher burnout and “methodological isolation.”  

As part of the initiative, a Rural Pedagogical Academy was established, bringing together over 1,000 teachers across 7 professional learning communities. A coworking center was launched in the village of Akmol, giving teachers a space to test assignments, adjust curricula, and develop new methodologies.

Approaches developed in one school are quickly replicated in others, creating a unified educational framework across the district.

Extracurricular education has become fully integrated into the overall school system. Children no longer need to travel to the district center-clubs focused on AI, robotics, biotechnology, mobile photography, vocal performance, and theater now operate directly in village schools.

In Talapker, 59% of students (580 out of 980) are engaged in after-school activities. In Kyzylzhar, the rate is even higher at 83% (282 out of 340 students).

As noted by Kamila Basharova, moderator of the roundtable and Head of Education Programs at the ESEN Foundation, according to OECD data, the risk of rising unemployment, debt, and bankruptcy is three times higher in countries with low student literacy scores because today, functional literacy is the strongest predictor of a child’s future economic success.  

“Investing in school quality - especially in math, reading, and critical thinking - translates into higher household incomes and reduced social inequality,” she said. “That’s why it’s so important to work together to give rural children access to quality education here and now.”

Inclusion

The project placed a strong emphasis on inclusion. More than 300,000 people with disabilities live in Kazakhstan’s rural areas, and many require appropriate infrastructure. In Tselinograd District alone, there are 1,040 children with special educational needs.

Four inclusive classrooms have been launched in the schools of Orazak, Altynsarina, Kyzylzhar, and Karamen Batyr. These spaces now support 63 children, with 20 specialists trained to accompany their learning process.

This pilot experience is already scaling to the regional level: a fifth inclusive classroom - based on the same standards - has been opened in Kokshetau. This lays the groundwork for a unified model of inclusive education across the region.

Healthcare

In the third priority area - healthcare - the project focused on professional development and equipping local health points. Modern diagnostic methods are helping to identify conditions at earlier stages, while a telemedicine model allows feldshers to consult directly with doctors in real time.

Thanks to Baquatty Audan, a large number of healthcare professionals received updated training:

• A total of 492 medical workers underwent professional development;
• 40 nurses completed training at the National Cardiology Center;
• 171 nurses and 52 doctors were certified under BLS (Basic Life Support) standards.

For rural areas, this model is especially impactful - it reduces diagnostic delays, mitigates health risks, and strengthens the role of primary care without requiring large capital investment. Local schools received updated medical training materials, first-aid posts were equipped with modern devices, and staff gained practical skills.

According to the Akmola Regional Education Department, the project helped embed sustainable solutions that do not rely on one-time grants. Local talent is being developed, and new practices are becoming part of day-to-day routines.

Murat Zhumanbai, Executive Director of the AÑSA Foundation, emphasized that the project is a powerful example of public-private synergy:

“Baquatty Audan has proven that collaborative efforts can deliver real, measurable outcomes. For the AÑSA Foundation, participating in such initiatives is an investment in the development of education, healthcare, science, and creative industries. The greatest success has been the training of local specialists - these are community members who received professional preparation and are now driving change from within. That’s a long-term impact. I’d like to thank the team at Esen Foundation, as well as the Amanat party and the Akmola Region administration for their support.”

Scaling Up: A Model for Rural Transformation

The pilot has shown that targeted improvements in education, healthcare, and inclusion can be successfully scaled to other regions. With minimal investment and precise management, the project has delivered a visible improvement in rural quality of life.

As experts noted during the roundtable, the model tested in Tselinograd District can serve as the foundation for a nationwide, systemic approach to rural development.