Unsanctioned activities in four districts of Kazakhstan
In January 2025, Kazakhstan introduced the FSM Social mobile app as a means to enhance transparency and objectivity in the allocation of social assistance. However, a review of available search results reveals a lack of evidence specifically addressing the effectiveness of this app in achieving its intended goals since its implementation.
Mobile applications designed for social assistance allocation can potentially improve transparency and objectivity by automating beneficiary identification, providing real-time updates, minimizing human bias, and enabling audit trails. Nevertheless, the success of such apps hinges on several factors, including the robustness of the technology and data integration, clear rules and algorithms for assistance eligibility, user accessibility and digital literacy, and government commitment to transparency and anti-corruption practices.
As the FSM Social app in Kazakhstan is not extensively covered in the search results, any assessment of its effectiveness would require data from Kazakh government reports, independent evaluations, or news updates specifically analysing social assistance deployment post-January 2025.
Recent developments in the app's usage have come to light, with a focus on geolocation checks. Analysis of the FSM Social app usage revealed several cases where applicant coordinates diverged from the actual location by more than 1000 meters. Information on these violations was sent to the akimats of Almaty, Turkestan, Abai regions, and Shymkent city for additional checks on the work of local commissions. To date, 9 acts of inspection conducted in violation of the law have been transferred to law enforcement agencies.
The FSM Social mobile app also simplifies the work of authorized bodies during inspections, digitizing the process of assessing applicants' material status and minimizing human influence in decision-making. Since the beginning of the year, over 91,500 applications for targeted social assistance have been inspected using the FSM Social app. This digitization not only ensures accurate need assessment but also helps timely detect violations, preventing potential abuses.
Moreover, the app has significantly increased the justification and timeliness of decisions on social assistance allocation. Remote monitoring of acts of inspection of ASB recipients for the 1st quarter, conducted by the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, further highlights the app's role in more accurately assessing need and preventing violations in benefit allocation.
In conclusion, while the effectiveness of Kazakhstan's FSM Social mobile app in enhancing transparency and objectivity of social assistance allocation remains to be fully evaluated, initial developments suggest potential improvements in the accuracy and timeliness of decisions, as well as the prevention of potential abuses. For a comprehensive understanding of the app's outcomes and metrics, it is recommended to consult official Kazakhstan government publications or trusted monitoring organizations that evaluate social programs in the region.
- Enhancements in transparency and objectivity within the social assistance allocation process in Kazakhstan could be achieved through the FSM Social app, as it has the potential to automate beneficiary identification, provide real-time updates, minimize human bias, and ensure accurate need assessment, thanks to advancements in technology and finance.
- The effectiveness of technology in the finance industry, particularly in the case of mobile applications like FSM Social, can be fully realized when supported by clear rules and algorithms for assistance eligibility, user accessibility and digital literacy, robust technology and data integration, and a strong commitment to transparency and anti-corruption practices within the government.
