Dear Forum Participants,
Distinguished Guests and Colleagues,
GovHR Forum 2026 brought together 50+ experts, heads of government institutions, representatives of international organizations, members of academia, and practitioners from 20+ countries to discuss the future of the civil service, human capital development, and the transformation of public administration in the age of artificial intelligence.
According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025, by 2030, 8% of existing jobs—approximately 92 million positions—will undergo transformation, while around 39% of today’s professional skills will become obsolete.
In this context, the primary task of the public sector is to build a professional civil service capable of adapting to technological change, committed to lifelong learning, and focused on creating value for society.
Endorsing the principle “People First, Technology Second” as the cornerstone of public service modernization, the Forum participants adopted the following recommendations.
SESSION I. PEOPLE
THE CORE OF THE SYSTEM
SESSION II. PROSPECT:
DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE AND INSTITUTIONAL READINESS
SESSION III. INTEGRITY
ETHICAL GOVERNANCE
SESSION IV. PUBLIC VALUE
TRUST AND QUALITY
The Forum participants reaffirmed that the sustainable transformation of the civil service is founded upon four interconnected elements:
PEOPLE – SYSTEM – TECHNOLOGY – TRUST
These four pillars form the pathway to high-quality public service delivery and the development of future-ready institutional capacity.
The participants of today’s Forum expressed their commitment to continuing international cooperation, exchanging best practices, and expanding collaboration in the areas of human capital development and responsible artificial intelligence in public governance.
Although the Forum has concluded, our partnership in advancing this agenda will continue.
Thank you all for your valuable contribution to the success of today’s Forum.
We look forward to meeting again at the next GOVHR Forum!
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, a distinguished higher educational institution dedicated to the training, retraining, and professional development of civil servants.
On November 15, an International Scientific and Practical Conference titled “Public Administration and Civil Service: Present and Future” was held to commemorate this significant milestone. The conference aimed to discuss new ideas and methods for human resources management in the civil service system and to seek effective practical solutions.
The conference opened with a congratulatory address from the President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. In his message, the President highlighted that over its 30-year history, the Academy has become one of the leading educational institutions, achieving significant success in training and advancing the skills of civil servants. It has fostered a tradition of nurturing forward-thinking specialists and true patriots of the country. The President emphasized that it is the duty of every civil servant to prioritize national interests and make every effort toward building a Just Kazakhstan. Honesty, fairness, innovation, and creativity are of paramount importance in today’s world. The Academy contributes significantly to forming a new generation of civil servants, instilling in them the best qualities, thanks to the diligent work of its institutions. The President expressed confidence that the teaching staff would continue to serve the country's interests.
The conference gathered key officials from the Presidential Administration of Kazakhstan, Members of Parliament, leaders of government agencies, state and public figures, representatives from the Astana Civil Service Hub’s Governing Council, academics and public sector representatives from both near and far abroad, education leaders, international experts, civil servants, and civil society representatives.
In his speech, Darkhan Zhazykbay, Chairman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs, emphasized that over its three-decade history, the Academy has established a robust scientific foundation and trained numerous professionals in the field of public administration.
"Throughout its 30-year history, the Academy has been instrumental in enhancing the professional skills and competencies of civil servants and has made an invaluable contribution to fostering a high managerial culture among them. In an era of increasing global competition and shifting development strategies, the importance of education and science continues to grow. To stay ahead, we must continually develop human capital by employing innovative learning approaches. President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, in his Address to the Nation, underscored the ongoing importance of enhancing the competencies of civil servants. To ensure the development of a productive dialogue between the state and society, we all need to act with integrity, objectivity, and accountability, always within the law. In line with the President’s directives, it is essential to embed the idea of ‘Adal Azamat’ (Responsible Citizen) in the consciousness of civil servants, which should become the driving force of their moral and spiritual growth," said Zhazykbay.
Conference participants noted the ongoing reforms aimed at modernizing the civil service in Kazakhstan. Personnel processes have been digitized through the eQyzmet system, ensuring transparency and fairness in competitive selection processes. As a result, the number of applicants for vacant positions has doubled.
The new Concept for the Civil Service Development for 2024–2029 outlines measures for transitioning to a hybrid model of civil service. These efforts focus on forming a professional and service-oriented public administration system, aligning with the principle that “not a person for the state, but the state for the person”.
The conference featured breakout sessions discussing topics such as service- client-oriented public administration, modern trends in governance, the digitalization of HR processes and public services, artificial intelligence, the professionalization of the civil service, rectors’ session with heads of public administration academies from various countries, and an alumni forum.
During the sessions, speakers shared their initiatives, visions for public administration, and opinions on the further development of the civil service.
As part of the event, civil servants and Academy staff who contributed to advancing the professional qualifications of civil servants were recognized with honorary certificates ("Құрмет") and badges of distinction ("Алғыс"), as well as letters of gratitude from the President of Kazakhstan.
In conclusion, the Chairman of the Agency thanked the participants for their insightful presentations and contributions, noting that their suggestions would be considered in the future work of the Agency and the Academy of Public Administration. He also wished the Academy’s team fruitful results in their endeavors.
The Agency for Civil Service Affairs hosted a Roundtable on the Topic "Civil Service in the Republic of Kazakhstan: Achievements and Prospects for Further Development within the Framework of the Address of the Head of State to the People of Kazakhstan: “Just Kazakhstan: Law and Order, Economic Growth, Social Optimism” organized by the Committee on Constitutional Legislation, Judiciary system and Law Enforcement Agencies of the Senate of the Parliament of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The roundtable was attended by Senate deputies, the leadership of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs, representatives of the Institute of Parliamentarism, the Ministry of National Economy, and the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry.
During the event, plans for the further systemic development of the civil service as well as the development and implementation of new legislative mechanisms were discussed.
Chairman of the Committee on Constitutional Legislation, Judiciary system, and Law Enforcement Agencies of the Senate, Nurlan Beknazarov, noted that an effective civil service plays a key role in the socio-economic development of the country and the well-being of its citizens.
The Chairman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs, Darkhan Zhazyqbay, informed participants about the upcoming plans for the implementation of the Civil Service Development Concept for 2024-2029, approved by a Decree of the Head of the State. These plans aim to promote a service- and customer-oriented civil service model, further professionalization of the state apparatus, and the digitalization of human resource management processes.
He highlighted that the implementation of the concept will involve the introduction of innovative HR tools, early career guidance covering both school and university levels, the introduction of horizontal career progression, expansion of rotation to key positions, and improvement of social guarantees.
"The new Concept for Civil Service Development is aimed at improving civil service based on the principle of 'People First' and in line with the modern demands of society. Civil service is not just about performing administrative procedures, it is above all about civil servants’ understanding of their responsibility to society and serving the people in accordance with laws and order," said the Chairman of the Agency.
In turn, the Senate deputies shared their views on the civil service development plan.
As part of the event, the deputies were presented with work on optimizing HR business processes and digitizing civil service recruitment procedures through the "eQyzmet" system, which has enhanced the attractiveness of public service. They were also introduced to the work of the Media Studio aimed at improving the communication skills of civil servants.
The Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Civil Service Affairs and the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan organized the Elge Qyzmet Run. The event was dedicated to the 30th Anniversary of the Academy. The run, held in the Triathlon Park, gathered 400 participants committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Participants of the Elge Qyzmet Run completed distances of 10 km, 5 km, and 2.5 km. All participants were awarded medals. The overall winners received diplomas for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places, as well as prizes. Additionally, prizes were awarded to participants who achieved high results in various age categories.
The awards were presented to the winners by the Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Civil Service Affairs, Darkhan Zhazykbay.
The leadership and staff of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs and the Academy of Public Administration participated in a citywide cleanup as part of the ecological campaign "Taza Kazakhstan," initiated by the Head of State.
Through the joint efforts of the teams, saplings were planted, and the area along Fariza Ongarsynova Street was cleaned.
The ecological campaign aims to promote the values of environmental stewardship, foster a sense of civic responsibility, and raise environmental awareness among the population.
Such initiatives to improve and green urban areas will continue in the future.
The Chairman of the Agency of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Civil Service Affairs, Darkhan Zhazykbay, held a meeting with civil servants who have been admitted to the Master's and Doctoral Degree Programs at the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Addressing the attendees, he noted that all conditions have been created today for the development of the necessary skills and competencies of civil servants. He spoke about the measures being taken and the upcoming tasks in the development of civil service and highlighted the increasing responsibility of civil servants to society, emphasizing the importance of adhering to high ethical standards and developing communication skills.
"This year, the Head of State, in his Address to the Nation, noted that “since the introduction of the concept of a "Listening State”, we have successfully changed the culture of interaction between society and the authorities. To ensure the further development of dialogue between the state and society, we must all be conscientious, objective, act strictly within the law, and take responsibility for our words and actions”. This underscores the importance for civil servants to continue adhering to the principles of openness and fairness” said the Chairman of the Agency.
Darkhan Zhazykbay outlined the main objectives of the new Civil Service Development Concept for 2024-2029 and highlighted the priority areas for civil service development. The Chairman of the Agency noted that, in accordance with amendments to the legislation, graduates of the Academy with high performance are provided with opportunities for non-competitive career advancement. As part of this innovation, 24 graduates were appointed to higher positions without competition.
In turn, the Academy's students voiced their proposals regarding the training of civil servants and further progression in the civil service, and they received answers to their questions. In conclusion, Darkhan Zhazykbay encouraged the Master's and Doctoral students to be more active in improving the civil service and highlighted his willingness to receive and consider new ideas and proposals.
Chairman of the ACSA Darkhan Zhazykbay met with young civil servants. The meeting was attended by students of advanced training courses for first-time applicants to the civil service of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan. The event was also attended by representatives of the School of a young Civil servant in Astana.
The head of the Agency stressed that today there is a great demand in the state apparatus for creative, hardworking and patriotic youth.
During the meeting, the role and importance of the principles of public service, as well as modern requirements for the moral and ethical appearance, professional and personal qualities of civil servants in accordance with the ideals of «Adal Azamat» were discussed. Special attention was paid to the role of youth in the ongoing transformations in the country.
Darkhan Zhazykbay spoke about measures to develop the civil service, which provided opportunities for young people to realize their potential for the benefit of the country. He called them to decent and honest work.
The participants of the meeting asked their questions and shared their opinions on opportunities for young people in public service.
The Agency for Civil Service Affairs held a board meeting on the results of work for 2023.
It was attended by representatives of the Presidential Administration, the Academy of Public Administration, members of the Public Council, the Ethics Commission and the Advisory and Expert Group on the formation of the service state apparatus and the de-bureaucratization of its activities at the Agency.
Opening the meeting, Chairman of the ACSA Darkhan Zhazykbay pointed out that last year all the Agency's initiatives were aimed at implementing the tasks set by the Head of State on the formation of a «human-centered» and service model of the state apparatus.
According to the order of the President, a special HR institute has been created in the structure of the Academy of Public Administration, using modern human resource management tools.
Darkhan Zhazykbay presented the Agency's projects aimed at improving the quality of the country's human resources potential, such as the Presidential Youth Personnel Reserve. As he noted, over 30,000 people applied to participate in the third selection, which demonstrates its high popularity among young people.
Due to the possibility of direct appointment to grassroots positions, more than 100 university graduates have been appointed to junior positions at the district and rural levels without participating in competitions, as well as about 300 experienced specialists have been attracted to public service from the private sector.
The Chairman of the Agency said that work on attracting young professionals to the public administration system will continue – for this reason, this year, for the first time, selection for Regional youth personnel reserves will take place. Candidates for the regional reserves will be selected in 7 industry areas.
Separately, Darkhan Zhazykbaу spoke about the successful implementation of the pilot project of a new system of selection for public service under the «E-qyzmet» system in 6 government agencies. Thus, there is a positive trend in the increase in the number of participants in competitions. Under the new system, more than 650 people were accepted into the civil service, and the total number of participants was 5800 4,6 people applied for one place, which increased 2,7 times compared to the previous year. This year, it is planned to scale the project in stages in government agencies.
A number of legislative initiatives have been adopted aimed at creating favorable conditions in the civil service. Rotational payments have been introduced for civil servants who are rotated to another region. The Rules for the use of flexible schedules and remote work have been approved, the practice of using which has shown an increase of 72,4%.
In addition, the ratio of management and executive staff is regulated by law, and the institute of «contract civil servants» has been introduced.
The board also talked about measures to protect the rights of civil servants. Thus, Darkhan Zhazykbay drew attention to the fact that by the end of 2023, the ACSA monitored working hours in 513 government agencies, as a result of which 234 civil servants were provided with additional rest hours.
He also noted that in 2023, 195 meetings of Ethics Councils were held, at which more than 1300 issues were considered. 62% of them were preventive in nature and were aimed at preventing ethical offenses.
Special attention is paid to the professional and personal development of civil servants. Work has begun to promote the principles and ideals of Adal Azamat and the formation of a new management culture.
A separate aspect in the activities of the ACSA is the work on quality control of public services. In 2023 the ACSA conducted 498 inspections. Thanks to the practice of proactive monitoring, more than 11 thousand offenses were identified. In general, as a result of these measures, the Agency restored the rights of 360 citizens.
In addition, the board announced the preliminary results of the work of the ACSA on the de-bureaucratization of the state apparatus. As a result of joint work with government agencies, more than 550 cases were prepared. The implementation of 152 recommendations requires legislative decision-making.
The chairman of the ACSA Public Council, B. Agibayeva, said that over the past year 5 meetings of the public council were held, and 31 regulatory legal acts were considered. In turn, the Chairman of the ACSA thanked the members of the Public Council for their active participation in the Agency's activities and called on them to cooperate even more closely.
In addition, during the board, the Agency's work plans for the coming year were announced. These include continuing work on professionalizing the civil service, strengthening legislative activities to de-bureaucratize the state apparatus, attract young people to the civil service system and further digitalization.
Head of State K. K. Tokayev in his Message to the People of Kazakhstan in 2022 «A just state. A united nation. Prosperous Society» instructed the Agency for Civil Service Affairs to become a full-fledged institute of strategic HR.
Chairman of the Agency for Civil Service Affairs Darkhan Zhazykbay spoke about measures to implement the President's instructions at the board of the state agency following the results of work for 2023. He noted that in pursuance of this instruction, the ACSA has done a lot of preparatory work and last year an Institute for Human Resource Management was established in the structure of the Academy of Public Administration under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
This Institute will work in five main areas, including HR analytics, talent management, competence assessment, testing and maintenance of the e-Qyzmet information system.
An appropriate development plan has been developed for the current year, which provides for the necessary measures and the achievement of indicators:
- data analysis of the results of certification, testing conducted in the e-Qyzmet system, training, retraining of civil servants and other available data;
- development of recommendations to the authorized bodies on improving the quality of the personnel potential of the civil service;
- development of methodological approaches to talent management in the public service;
- improving the methods of evaluating candidates through testing;
- replenishment of the relevant test base for evaluating candidates entering the civil service and testing candidates;
- integration of the current information system into the e-Qyzmet system.
The new algorithm for selection for public service was tested last year in 6 government agencies. These are the Agency for Civil Service Affairs, the Ministry of Transport, the Ministry of Industry and Construction, the Ministry of Trade and Integration, akimats of the Akmola region and the city of Shymkent. For this purpose, last year the Agency for Civil Service Affairs carried out work on the modernization of the integrated information system «e-Qyzmet» by fully digitalizing the selection.
A new algorithm for selection for public service has been developed on the external portal, as well as the format of the competitive procedure has been revised. Thanks to the new format, candidates were able to participate in the competition at all stages at any time and from anywhere in the world, with the exception of interviews conducted at a predetermined time.
5815 candidates took part in 1246 contests held in government agencies where the pilot was launched, 652 of them were recognized as winners.
This was announced by the Chairman of the ACSA Darkhan Zhazykbay at the board of the state body following the results of work for 2023.
According to Darkhan Zhazykbay, the number of participants in competitions under the new system increased 2.7 times (4.6 people) compared to the selection rate under the old system (1.7 people). This, in turn, indicates that the interest of citizens in public service within the framework of the new project has increased. This year, it is planned to gradually scale up the new selection system in all government agencies.
Also at the board, the head of the ACSA spoke about the Agency's measures to further digitalize personnel processes as an important tool to get rid of unnecessary bureaucracy in the civil service.
It was noted that integration with all important information systems was carried out in «e-Qyzmet». As a result, the processes of obtaining information about a candidate from other information systems, checking for criminal records or involvement in other violations, and checking compliance with qualification requirements have been automated. This frees candidates for public service from collecting unnecessary documents.
At the same time, 24 modules of the «e-Qyzmet» system have been updated, including «Disciplinary control», «Assessment», «Business trips», «Training». Full information about all government agencies has been entered into the system and its mobile version has been developed. Currently, the number of users of the system is about 88 thousand government employees.