The OSCE Programme Office in Astana and inDrive have launched a new online course on gender-sensitive communication for drivers and couriers in Kazakhstan, building on a partnership initiated in 2025 to promote safer public spaces, respectful communication and prevention of harassment.
The nine-module video course was developed with the support of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana and is now available through inDrive's educational platform Drivers Academy , expanding access to gender-sensitive communication training course across Kazakhstan. The initiative supports Kazakhstan's Concept of Family and Gender Policy until 2030 and contributes to OSCE commitments on advancing gender equality, preventing gender-based violence and promoting inclusive security.
The co-operation began in June 2025 with the first pilot in-person training course on gender-sensitive communication for 60 inDrive drivers. The event brought together representatives of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Interior of Kazakhstan, gender experts and law enforcement professionals. The training course was opened by Kairat Kambarov, Chairperson of the Committee on Youth and Family Affairs of the Ministry of Culture and Information, and Police Major Nargiza Zhaxylykova, Senior Lecturer of the Karaganda Academy of the Ministry of Interior, highlighting the importance of joint efforts between State institutions, law enforcement and private sector partners in creating safer public spaces.
The pilot initiative received strong visibility and was highlighted as an innovative approach to engaging the private sector in preventing harassment during the Human Dimension Committee Meeting, chaired by Sweden in 2025.
To further increase outreach, in December 2025 the Office and inDrive launched a public awareness campaign promoting respectful communication with women passengers through the local radio station "Zhuldyz" in Almaty city and the Almaty region, reaching an estimated audience of 2 million people.
Commenting on the launch of the course, Ambassador Alexey Rogov, Head of the OSCE Programme Office in Astana, said:
"We hope that thanks to this course, drivers will become among the most respectful and inclusive service providers for people of all genders in Kazakhstan, Central Asia and the wider OSCE region. Taxi services are not only about speed and comfort - they are also about respectful treatment of passengers, taking into account their individual needs and identities".
Aray Bekembayev, Head of Business Development at inDrive Kazakhstan, emphasized the importance of respectful interaction in everyday services:
"We believe that the development of the industry cannot rely on technology alone. It starts with people, communication culture and service quality. That is why we made this course available to all drivers and couriers in Kazakhstan, regardless of the platform they work with. We see such educational initiatives as an investment in the development of the entire industry. The higher the standards of professional communication, the safer and more comfortable rides become for millions of people".
Aigerim Kussaiynkyzy, gender expert involved in developing the course, added:
"When developing the course, we aimed to provide drivers with practical tools for professional communication that will help make rides more comfortable and reduce the likelihood of conflict situations".
Aligned with OSCE Ministerial Council Decision No. 4/18 on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women (2018), the partnership demonstrates the role of private sector actors in promoting gender-sensitive approaches and safer communities. With Kazakhstan's ride-hailing sector involving more than 500,000 drivers and couriers, the initiative builds on a successful pilot activity and transforms it into a sustainable educational tool with broader national outreach.
Founded in 2013 and incorporated in the United States in 2018, inDrive operates in more than 1,200 cities across 48 countries, providing ride-hailing and other mobility services. The platform was ranked the world's second most downloaded ride-hailing application in 2022 and 2023, based on Google Play and App Store data.
The online video course is available here: Drivers Academy
