Discussion on KCHI

On May 25, 2021, a meeting of experts of the Economic Research Institute was held to discuss the draft Methodology for assessing the Kazakhstan Index of Child Well-being.

The Director of the SDG Secretariat, Bakhytgul Khambar, made a presentation on the draft index methodology developed by the Institute, and spoke about the discussions and hearings on this issue.

According to her, in parallel with the tool for measuring children's well-being, a budget for children is being developed and the justification and effectiveness of public spending aimed at their needs is being determined.

During the discussion, the experts of the Institute raised questions about the methodology of the Index, the possibility of conducting a sociological survey.

Dolores Tyulebekova, Director of the Center for the Study of the World Economy, proposed to involve qualified child psychologists and teachers in the development of survey indicators.

Saule Samekina, Deputy Director of the Center for Regional Studies, believes that the opinion of both children and parents should be equally taken into account when developing survey indicators.

The event was held in online format on the ZOOM platform.

At the fourth meeting of the National Council of Public Trust, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said that it is necessary to develop and implement a national monitoring mechanism – the Index of Child Well-being from 2022. This index will track the effectiveness of national policies to improve the situation of children in different areas and by region.

The State Program for the Development of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan for 2020-2025 provides measures to test and implement the Child Well-being Index.

Child well-being is measured in most countries of the world: the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, the OECD and the CIS. Kazakhstan is also joining these countries in the nearest future. The purpose of the Index is to ensure the well-being of children from birth to adulthood, and to improve the situation of children in various areas. The index will allow us to determine how well the country's children are in general and in certain areas, and will make it possible to track the effectiveness of national policies in different areas, broken down by region.