Evaluating the Coherence of Kazakhstan’s Rural Water Supply Programs within the Framework of Sustainable Development

Abstract

Objective – to assess the degree of coherence between the Republic of Kazakhstan’s national strategies and program documents on rural water supply and the priorities of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), identify existing gaps, and propose measures to improve policy effectiveness. Methods – a mixed-methods approach was employed, including content analysis of over 20 strategic documents (2002–2025), comparative analysis of goals and indicators, and a SWOT analysis of the Concept for Housing and Utility Infrastructure Development (2023–2029). Quantitative analysis and visualization of regional disparities based on Key National Indicators (KNI 13 and KNI 36) were performed using the R programming language. Results – the analysis revealed substantive alignment in thematic areas such as digitalization and sustainable water use. Quantitatively, while the national average for rural water access (KNI 13) reached 97.8% in 2024, the analysis showed substantial regional underperformance in the implementation of water-saving technologies (KNI 36) in several regions, primarily due to insufficient funding and a lack of Design and Estimate Documentation. Conclusions – the study confirms the hypothesis that insufficient policy coherence, combined with territorial imbalances, limits the achievement of sustainable rural water supply targets, underscoring the necessity for reinforced interagency coordination and the establishment of unified, SDG-aligned monitoring systems.