Regions and Countries

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p. 11 of 20 BACK | NEXT I. Country Performance Assessment II. Country Operational Strategy III. Sector Strategies A. Agriculture B. Infrastructure C. Social Infrastructure and Environment D. Governance Dimensions of ADB Operations E. Gender Dimensions of ADB Operations F. Private Sector Operations IV. Regional Cooperation V. Donor Activities and Aid Coordination VI. Cofinancing and Catalyzing External Resources VII. ADB’s Operational Program VIII. Economic and Sector Work Program IX. Local Cost Financing

Country Assistance Plans - Kazakhstan : III. Sector Strategies

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C. Social Infrastructure and Environment

37. The objective of ADB’s education sector strategy is to continue support for education reform and provision of education services. This will be achieved by
(i) improving efficiency of resource utilization;
(ii) strengthening educational management;
(iii) developing new skills needed by the emerging labor market;
(iv) providing equipment, textbooks, and instructional materials to ensure the quality of education services;
(v) training teachers; and
(vi) encouraging private education.

2. Water Supply

38. Kazakhstan is suffering poor water services and a shortage of safe drinking water, especially in the rural areas. This has undesirable consequences for its people. Consumers incur significant time costs and inconvenience in coping with deficient services; many collect water from rivers, irrigation channels, and other villages and towns. Poor and unsafe water services are responsible for deteriorating public health and increased expenditures on health, with the poor being affected most. The poor water supply and sanitation systems result from deficient design, use of poor construction materials and methods, insufficient maintenance, and timely rehabilitation. Given the lack of funds and the poor state of repair of sector assets, the quality of household water services will continue to deteriorate.

39. The Government is conscious of the urgent need to improve water services through policy and institutional reforms, repair and rehabilitation of existing infrastructure. The Government has developed the state water strategy and plans to prepare the state strategy for rural household water supply soon to set out specific targets and action plans. The Government also intends to rehabilitate the existing water supply and sanitation systems through its budgetary allocations and external borrowing.

40. ADB will assist the Government to improve household water services in the rural areas. This will include assisting in the formulation and implementation of the state strategy for rural water supply, strengthening institutional capacity for better household water management, improving the quality and efficiency of drinking water services, and rehabilitating household water supply infrastructure and facilities.

3. Environment

41. The major environmental issues and the Government’s responses are discussed in paragraphs 13-14. Given ADB’s limited resources, the coverage of environmental issues by other aid agencies and a number of major initiatives already underway, ADB's direct involvement in addressing environmental concerns will remain limited. However, the current COS stresses that as a minimum, ADB will ensure that (i) none of its activities will have negative environmental effects; and (ii) wherever possible, proactive environmental components will be included in its operations.

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