In Short : An independent evaluation has called for a strategic shift in the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) engagement with Kazakhstan. The report recommends focusing on green growth, innovation, and private sector partnerships. It highlights the need for sustainable development strategies that align with Kazakhstan’s economic diversification goals and evolving regional dynamics to enhance long-term resilience and inclusivity.
In Detail : MANILA, PHILIPPINES — A new evaluation by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Independent Evaluation Department (IED) calls for a strategic shift in ADB’s engagement in Kazakhstan. ADB should leverage its successful project-level investments and fully tap its diverse tools—lending modalities, knowledge work, capacity building, and policy dialogue—for an integrated approach that drives deeper engagement and tackles both urgent and systemic development challenges.
This message is reflected in the country assistance program evaluation (CAPE), the first of its kind for Kazakhstan. It is a comprehensive review of ADB’s support to the country from 2012 to 2024, during which ADB’s engagement with Kazakhstan focused on persistent development challenges, including reducing regional disparities, diversifying the economy, addressing climate change, and strengthening institutions. Operations in the four main sectors—transport, finance, energy, and public sector management—were largely successful, with comparatively stronger performance in transport, finance, and energy. However, the evaluation finds that the overall development impact remains uncertain.
“ADB has delivered solid results at the project level, but the scale and complexity of Kazakhstan’s development challenges demand more than business-as-usual,” said IED Director General Emmanuel Jimenez. “To make a lasting difference, ADB must pursue integrated, innovation-driven solutions that align with the government’s reform agenda and build stronger partnerships with development actors.”
The evaluation highlights that technical assistance (TA) has emerged as a vital platform for sustained engagement, with initiatives like the Knowledge and Experience Exchange Program positioning ADB as a key knowledge partner. However, TAs have not consistently translated into lending, and coordination with development partners has often been limited.
“Kazakhstan’s renewed reform momentum presents a real opportunity,” said evaluation team leader Michael Florian. “ADB must seize this moment to move from reactive support to proactive engagement that tackles structural issues and delivers lasting impact.”
CAPE identifies four areas where ADB can enhance its engagement: leveraging TAs to support operations, integrating regional cooperation platforms like the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) into country programming, strengthening private sector development through upstream policy work, and mainstreaming efforts to reduce regional disparities and social inequalities.
The evaluation also offers lessons with broader relevance for ADB’s engagement in upper middle-income countries (UMICs), including the strategic use of local currency lending and the importance of addressing institutional constraints to subnational engagement. The findings will inform ADB’s next country partnership strategy for Kazakhstan and contribute to IED’s broader learning agenda on UMICs.
About Independent Evaluation at ADB
ADB’s Independent Evaluation, reporting to the Board of Directors through the Development Effectiveness Committee, provides objective assessments of ADB’s strategies, operations, and results to help improve development outcomes across Asia and the Pacific.
