FEMALE LEADERSHIP AS A TOOL FOR STRENGTHENING POLITICAL AND CIVIL INSTITUTIONS IN KAZAKHSTAN

Female leadership is one of the tools for improving civic engagement in governance. The aim of this article is to examine the factors that hinder women’s participation in political and civic institutions and the development of female leadership in the Republic of Kazakhstan. To this end, an analysis was conducted on the representation of women in representative, legislative, and executive bodies, as well as in leadership and decision-making positions. The study also analyzed the results of expert interviews conducted with women from the North Kazakhstan Region regarding their perspectives on the development of female leadership and existing gender barriers to career advancement. The findings reveal relatively low female representation in high-level political positions within the public service, local councils, and Parliament. However, the high percentage of women in public councils (42%) indicates the potential for further development of female leadership in Kazakhstan. Key challenges restricting women’s access to leadership roles in government institutions include societal stereotypes, the difficulty of balancing work and family responsibilities, high workloads, and the specific demands of leadership positions. Based on the research findings, several recommendations are made to improve policies that support female leadership.