Amount of savings for ASP recipients in Kazakhstan
In a bid to alleviate financial pressure on vulnerable households and improve the targeting of state social support, the government of Kazakhstan is set to launch a pilot voucher program for essential product savings targeting recipients of Targeted Social Assistance (TSA) this fall. The initiative, scheduled to commence in October 2025, will cover three cities: Akkol, Kokshetau, and Pavlodar, involving approximately 5,000 TSA recipients.
The program aims to offer discounts of up to 15% on the market price for socially significant food products, allowing TSA recipients to purchase these essential goods at the purchase price without trade markups. According to the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan, a family of four receiving TSA could receive a voucher worth approximately 16,000 tenge.
Key details of the program include the participation of the cities Akkol, Kokshetau, and Pavlodar in the pilot phase, the voucher amounts for each family member receiving TSA, the discounts on essential food products, the purpose of the program, and its management as part of broader government efforts to digitalize trade, monitor markups, and increase transparency in pricing.
The funds for the program will be sourced from the stabilization fund resources. Additionally, 65% of the funds will be used for forward purchases of products from Kazakh producers and farmers, while 35% will be used to provide preferential loans to entrepreneurs. However, the specifics regarding how the "Social Wallet" service or the eGov Mobile app will be affected by the new funding remain unclear.
The program is also designed to reduce costs on basic goods while ensuring support is specifically for socially significant products. If successful, the program will be scaled nationwide. To activate the voucher, TSA recipients simply need to show the QR code at the store's checkout, and the discount will be applied automatically. Families receiving TSA can find their digital vouchers through the "Social Wallet" service in the eGov Mobile app.
It's important to note that the project does not specify if the discounts on socially significant food products will be the same across all regions or if they will vary based on the region's specific needs. Furthermore, it's unclear if the project's funding will affect the amount or terms of the vouchers for TSA recipients.
In exchange for the preferential loans, stores must sell essential products at alternative prices. The project does not specify if the preferential loans are only for the pilot regions (Aqkol, Pavlodar, and Kokshetau) or if it applies nationwide. Pilot projects for selling products at reduced prices for TSA recipients are planned in Aqkol, Pavlodar, and Kokshetau.
Retail outlets will be provided with preferential revolving loans to obtain working capital for the pilot projects. This initiative is distinct to Kazakhstan’s TSA recipients and focuses on tangible price reduction by voucher use at authorized points, combining social assistance with market control measures for essential goods.
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- The social voucher program in Kazakhstan, aimed at reducing costs for essential goods and improving social support, will be financed via funds from the stabilization fund resources.
- To enhance business prospects and secure reliable supply of socially significant products, 65% of the program funds will be used for forward purchases from Kazakh producers and farmers, while 35% will be offered as preferential loans to entrepreneurs.
