Abstract
Digital transformation and the growing complexity of urban governance require the adoption of innovative governance approaches capable of improving institutional coordination and strengthening citizen participation. This study aims to develop an evidence-based framework for enhancing urban public governance in Kazakhstan through a comparative analysis of international best practices in urban governance, artificial intelligence, and citizen engagement. The research employs a qualitative comparative methodology based on institutional analysis and comparative case study methods. Kazakhstan is systematically compared with internationally recognized leaders in urban governance, including Korea, Netherlands, Spain, United States, Germany, Japan and China. The findings indicate that Kazakhstan has a strong digital infrastructure and a well-developed e-government system. However, urban governance remains fragmented, interagency data integration is limited, the adoption of artificial intelligence is still insufficient, and citizen participation in urban decision-making remains relatively low. International experience demonstrates that successful urban governance increasingly depends on integrated institutional coordination, interoperable digital platforms, effective urban data governance, and AI-supported decision-making systems. Based on the comparative analysis, the study proposes an integrated smart governance framework tailored specifically to Kazakhstan. The research contributes to the growing body of literature on digital governance by advancing Smart City studies. In addition, it offers practical recommendations for developing data-driven, AI-enabled and citizen-centred urban governance in Kazakhstan.