On 16 January 2026, the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty, with the support of the National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ICESCO, officially launched UNESCO’s Readiness Assessment Methodology on Artificial Intelligence in Kazakhstan at Astana Hub.
The Readiness Assessment Methodology, or RAM, is one of UNESCO’s key tools for supporting Member States in the implementation of the UNESCO Recommendation on the Ethics of Artificial Intelligence. It provides a structured assessment of a country’s readiness to develop and use AI in a responsible, ethical and inclusive manner.
The launch event brought together some 80 representatives of government institutions, academia, the private sector, civil society and expert communities to begin a national dialogue on the future of AI governance in Kazakhstan.
The event was opened by Ms Zhanar Shaimenova, Secretary-General of the National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ICESCO; Dr Amir Piric, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty; and Mr Dmitriy Mun, Vice-Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
In her opening remarks, Ms Shaimenova underlined Kazakhstan’s support for international cooperation in the field of responsible artificial intelligence and highlighted the role of the National Commission in supporting the RAM process in the country.
Dr Piric noted that the launch was particularly timely given Kazakhstan’s growing focus on digital transformation and artificial intelligence. He stressed that, “the faster AI spreads, the more important it becomes to ensure that it serves people — fairly, safely, and transparently.”
Mr Mun provided an overview of the work of the Ministry of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Development, including Kazakhstan’s priorities in digital transformation, AI development and the creation of a modern national AI ecosystem.
As part of the programme, Mr Maxat Baibekov, Programme Officer for Social and Human Sciences at the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty, delivered a presentation on the Methodology and the Recommendation on the Ethics of AI. The presentation introduced the structure and logic of RAM, its connection to human rights, gender equality and inclusion, and the expected outcomes of the assessment process for Kazakhstan.
A key part of the event was the introduction of the National Stakeholder Team, which will support the implementation of RAM in Kazakhstan. The team includes representatives of relevant ministries, the National Academy of Sciences of Kazakhstan, Atameken National Chamber of Entrepreneurs, Astana IT University, Ozim Academy, the Association for the Development of Artificial Intelligence in Kazakhstan, Technowomen, the National Commission of the Republic of Kazakhstan for UNESCO and ICESCO, civil society organisations and the UNESCO Regional Office in Almaty.
The RAM process is expected to result in practical recommendations to support Kazakhstan in developing a human-centred AI ecosystem aligned with international standards, national priorities and the principles of responsible innovation.
The launch marks an important step in Kazakhstan’s efforts to shape artificial intelligence in a way that supports sustainable development, protects human rights and strengthens public trust in emerging technologies.
READ MORE: https://www.unesco.org/en/articles/kazakhstan-launches-unescos-ai-readiness-assessment-methodology-ram
