The first Central Asian Seminar on the Economics of Care was held in Almaty on October 29–30, bringing together more than 70 representatives of government agencies and parliaments from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, as well as the European Union, UN agencies, international financial institutions, the expert community, civil society, trade unions and the private sector.
The participants discussed how improving the efficiency of care systems can contribute to the economic development of the region, improve employment opportunities, create decent jobs and reduce the unequal distribution of unpaid household and care responsibilities. Special attention was paid to the development of the platform economy and its potential to expand the care services market. Digital platforms can connect families in need of care services with professional workers, providing more convenient access to services and additional employment opportunities.
Over the course of two days, the participants explored five interrelated areas of the care economy: public policy and institutional mechanisms, investment and financing, decent working conditions and quality standards, innovation and digitalization, as well as multilateral partnerships.
"Investments in care systems are investments with high economic impact. According to experts, the development of universal access to care services can create hundreds of millions of decent jobs worldwide, stimulate productivity growth and promote inclusive development," said Katarzhina Vaviernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.
Deputy of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Commissioner for Family Affairs – Deputy Chair of the National Commission for Women and Family and Demographic Policy Snezhana Imasheva, in turn, noted that Kazakhstan has already established a relatively well-developed system of care and social support.
"There are benefits and social payments for child care, support measures for citizens caring for people with disabilities, and special social services provided at home, in residential and semi-residential facilities. The annual amount of financing in this area is about 190 billion tenge, and it is important to consider these funds not only as budget expenditures but also as investments that can bring long-term social and economic benefits," the speaker said.
Among the issues discussed were professional training and skills recognition, social protection, labor standards and career opportunities. Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakhtiyar Zhazykpayev noted in his speech that the social protection system in Kazakhstan is steadily improving alongside the development of social services, the professionalization of the workforce and the introduction of digital solutions.
"At the same time, the care economy for us is not only a system of support for citizens, but also an important area for labour market development, the professionalization of social workers and the creation of decent working conditions," the Vice Minister said.
Interactive sessions allowed participants to compare the experiences of the four countries, discuss preliminary analytical findings and identify areas requiring further study.
Following the seminar, participants identified promising areas for cooperation, including the introduction of digital tools to assess and forecast the needs of the population, the development of platform-based models for the provision of care services, and the expansion of partnerships between government agencies, the private sector and civil society.
These outcomes will inform further public policy analysis, national consultations and the planning of activities related to the care economy under the CHANGE and EQUANOMICS programmes.
The participants discussed how improving the efficiency of care systems can contribute to the economic development of the region, improve employment opportunities, create decent jobs and reduce the unequal distribution of unpaid household and care responsibilities. Special attention was paid to the development of the platform economy and its potential to expand the care services market. Digital platforms can connect families in need of care services with professional workers, providing more convenient access to services and additional employment opportunities.
Over the course of two days, the participants explored five interrelated areas of the care economy: public policy and institutional mechanisms, investment and financing, decent working conditions and quality standards, innovation and digitalization, as well as multilateral partnerships.
"Investments in care systems are investments with high economic impact. According to experts, the development of universal access to care services can create hundreds of millions of decent jobs worldwide, stimulate productivity growth and promote inclusive development," said Katarzhina Vaviernia, UNDP Resident Representative in Kazakhstan.
Deputy of the Kurultai of the Republic of Kazakhstan and Commissioner for Family Affairs – Deputy Chair of the National Commission for Women and Family and Demographic Policy Snezhana Imasheva, in turn, noted that Kazakhstan has already established a relatively well-developed system of care and social support.
"There are benefits and social payments for child care, support measures for citizens caring for people with disabilities, and special social services provided at home, in residential and semi-residential facilities. The annual amount of financing in this area is about 190 billion tenge, and it is important to consider these funds not only as budget expenditures but also as investments that can bring long-term social and economic benefits," the speaker said.
Among the issues discussed were professional training and skills recognition, social protection, labor standards and career opportunities. Vice Minister of Labour and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Kazakhstan Bakhtiyar Zhazykpayev noted in his speech that the social protection system in Kazakhstan is steadily improving alongside the development of social services, the professionalization of the workforce and the introduction of digital solutions.
"At the same time, the care economy for us is not only a system of support for citizens, but also an important area for labour market development, the professionalization of social workers and the creation of decent working conditions," the Vice Minister said.
Interactive sessions allowed participants to compare the experiences of the four countries, discuss preliminary analytical findings and identify areas requiring further study.
Following the seminar, participants identified promising areas for cooperation, including the introduction of digital tools to assess and forecast the needs of the population, the development of platform-based models for the provision of care services, and the expansion of partnerships between government agencies, the private sector and civil society.
These outcomes will inform further public policy analysis, national consultations and the planning of activities related to the care economy under the CHANGE and EQUANOMICS programmes.
30.10.2026
