Kazakhstan to audit USAID activities, raising questions about foreign influence

Vice Premier Serik Zhumangarin signals willingness to review USAID-funded projects in Kazakhstan / Collage: Kursiv.media, photo editor: Milosh Muratovskiy

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a task force to review USAID-funded projects and assess whether their stated goals align with actual outcomes, Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin said in response to a parliamentary inquiry.

In early February, MP Magerram Magerramov claimed that foreign sponsors, including USAID, were funding «women’s marches and lesbian parades» in downtown Almaty. He spoke out against what he termed the promotion of «alien ideology that corrupts young people» and called for an audit of USAID operations, as well as the drafting of a law to ensure the protection and mental and physical well-being of children.

Zhumangarin expressed readiness to review USAID-funded projects in Kazakhstan. He stated that in 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs established a task force on cooperation with USAID, bringing together various government agencies. The task force will:

Examine USAID-funded projects and programs to determine whether their stated objectives align with actual results.
Review USAID’s country-specific strategies.
Analyze USAID’s relationships with governmental and non-governmental organizations to assess their potential influence on the agency’s goals.
Investigate financial flows to identify possible misuse of funds, conflicts of interest or cover-up schemes.

The Ministry of Justice responded to the proposal for a law protecting minors from «alien ideology,» stating that existing legislation already includes measures to shield children from harmful information. However, Zhumangarin added that the ministry has requested state agencies to further review the issue.

Kursiv.media previously reported that Kazakhstan would pause programs implemented in partnership with USAID following an executive order issued by President Trump on Jan. 20. The order temporarily suspends all U.S. development aid programs to foreign countries for 90 days. During this period, the new administration will assess whether such aid aligns with U.S. policy objectives.

USAID has been working in Kazakhstan since 1992, funding various educational programs and projects related to health care, energy, the environment and democracy.