Redefining Civic Engagement as City Engagement in Almaty

According to research by the OECD, communities with higher levels of civic participation experience stronger social cohesion, more responsive governance, and greater overall societal well-being. This insight resonates deeply with Alesya Nugayeva, head of the Almaty-based Gorozhanym initiative. “When people are actively involved in civic processes, they are more likely to feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for their communities, leading to more sustainable and inclusive urban development,” Alesya explains. Supported by two grants from Eurasia Foundation’s Social Innovation in Central Asia (SICA) program, the Gorozhanym team has been actively working to revitalize Almaty’s civic engagement landscape through a blend of creative projects, environmental education, and community-driven development.

Gorozhanym’s journey began nearly a decade ago with the launch of “This Yard,” an initiative that aimed to revitalize neighborhoods through environmental and creative activities, particularly by engaging children. The project centered on eco-education, training, and collaborative public space improvement, laying the groundwork for a more connected and engaged community. Building on its initial success, “This Yard” spawned “Neighborhood Theater,” which sought to bring people together by creating public art spaces, such as stages, and promoting cultural practices. These efforts aimed to address the city’s monocentric nature, fostering a more diverse and participatory urban landscape.

As Alesya Nugayeva explains: “Our evolution into Gorozhanym, the name of which essentially blends two words—gorod (Russian: “city”) and zhanym (Kazakh:  “my soul”) marked the start of our mission to empower residents’ rights to the city and actively involve them in urban processes.” Over time, Gorozhanym became an official institution dedicated to community activation, support, and research in urbanism and sociology.

In 2021, Gorozhanym received a crucial grant from SICA to tackle Almaty’s environmental challenges. Despite its scenic location, Almaty struggles with severe environmental issues, including high air pollution due to infill development and urban planning flaws. Supported by the SICA grant, Gorozhanym conducted research revealing that nearly one-third of Almaty’s residents prioritized environmental concerns over other urban issues. This led Gorozhanym to create an innovative online quiz game to help users identify and address common environmental problems.

“The quiz attracted over 1,000 users in its first week, providing practical solutions and feedback,” notes Alesya.

In 2023, Gorozhanym secured a second SICA grant to launch a project focused on cultivating an urban ecosystem that encourages residential participation and public space development under the principle of “nothing for the community without the community.” The team secured city approval for new community engagement regulations and published Korpe, a comprehensive guide to Almaty’s urban communities and their transformative projects. The book, featuring insights from community development and urban experts, explores urban community values and the importance of public spaces. It marks a significant step in forming an expert community on crucial urban topics.

Expanding on these foundational efforts, Gorozhanym turned its attention to understanding and enhancing social environments within the city known as “third places”—that is, areas outside of home, work, or school that are crucial for socialization, relaxation, and community building. This exploration led to the development of an interactive city map titled “Map of Third Places/Murders/Kisses.” The map invites residents to explore places tied to significant memories: “murders,” symbolizing locations associated with loss or conflict, and “kisses,” marking spots tied to affection or personal milestones.

Recognizing the essential role these third places play in integrating newcomers and addressing urban challenges, the team continued to innovate. They launched an educational podcast called “Communata,” focusing on active citizen involvement in community life. Since launch, the podcast has significantly boosted Gorozhanym’s social media presence, broadening the reach and impact of Gorozhanym’s initiatives by 64%.

These collective efforts culminated in the formation of an expert urbanist community that played a key role in drafting amendments to Almaty’s building code and proposals to update Kazakhstan’s Law on Local Self-Governance. As Alesya explains, “The law regulates public relations in local self-governance, defining the legal status, organization, and financial-economic foundations of local government in cities, towns, villages, and rural districts.” The drafting process is ongoing, with various groups continuing to offer their versions and revisions, but the groundwork laid by Gorozhanym has already had a profound impact on the city’s future.

Together, Alesya and her peers are championing a more inclusive approach to urban development and governance in Almaty.