This research was prepared on behalf of the partnership between the National Analytic Center (NAC) at Nazarbayev University in Astana, Kazakhstan and Duke Global Value Chains Center (GVCC) at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, USA. The partnership aimed at fostering collaboration in value chain research to advance Kazakhstan’s economic performance and participation in Global Value Chains (GVCs).
Duke’s involvement with Kazakhstan goes back to 2003, when Center Director Gary Gereffi participated in a World Bank mission on economic diversification, with special emphasis on the oil and gas value chain. The Duke GVC Center engaged in a three-year (2015-2017) collaboration with the National Analytical Center (NAC), an affiliate of Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan. NAC established a Regional Competitiveness and Growth Center (RCGC) in November 2015 to serve as an analytical platform to inform decision-making for both public and private sectors in Kazakhstan.
The Duke GVC Center supported this new center in three key areas:
1) Capacity Building: researcher recruitment, training of research staff, mentoring and supervision of projects, among other roles.
2) Research Agenda Support: The Duke GVC Center and RCGC are developing proposals and projects.
3) Visibility and Relationship Development: The Duke GVC Center and NAC will work together on issues related to research priorities, publicity and the RCGC’s relationship development with universities and development organizations.
Researchers from the Duke GVC Center:
– Consulted on the creation and structure for the RCGC (launched in November 2015).
– Advised on the recruitment of research staff for the RCGC.
– Developed an annual project plan.
– Provided rigorous training for a staff of eight RCGC researchers. This training is not merely assisting the RCGC team in developing their research skills. The GVC Center is fully participating with them in final reports (co-branded as Duke GVC Center and RCGC research).
– Hosted the RCGC team in Durham, North Carolina once per year for week-long workshops and meetings.
– Took part in field research in Kazakhstan on multiple occasions.
– Presented findings with the RCGC team during annual conferences in Kazakhstan for internal and external stakeholders.
Gary Gereffi gave a presentation on “Global Value Chains and Duke GVCC’s Collaboration in Kazakhstan” at the Regional Competitiveness and Growth Center (RCGC) launch event in Astana, Kazakhstan on November 18, 2015.
As part of the Center’s collaboration with the National Analytical Center (NAC), an affiliate of Nazarbayev University in Kazakhstan, Professor Gary Gereffi presented an overview of global value chain and development. The presentation included a section dedicated to value chains and economic diversification in Kazakhstan.
Mike Hensen, gave this presentation at the Regional Competitiveness and Growth Center (RCGC) launch event in Astana, Kazakhstan.
