A new evaluation by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Independent Evaluation Department (IED) has called for a major strategic shift in how ADB engages with Kazakhstan. The report recommends that ADB build on its strong record of project-level success and adopt a more integrated approach that combines lending, knowledge sharing, capacity building, and policy dialogue. This, the evaluation notes, would enable ADB to deepen its engagement and address both immediate and systemic development challenges facing the country.
The Country Assistance Program Evaluation (CAPE) is ADB’s first comprehensive review of its support to Kazakhstan, covering the period from 2012 to 2024. During these years, ADB focused on reducing regional disparities, diversifying the economy, strengthening institutions, and addressing climate change. Its operations across key sectors—transport, finance, energy, and public sector management—were found to be largely successful, particularly in transport and energy. However, the report concludes that the overall development impact remains uncertain due to limited integration across programs and insufficient policy-level engagement.
According to IED Director General Emmanuel Jimenez, ADB’s achievements at the project level are commendable, but the complexity of Kazakhstan’s development challenges requires “more than business-as-usual.” He emphasized the need for innovation-driven, system-wide solutions that align with the government’s reform agenda and foster stronger collaboration with other development partners. The evaluation also highlights that ADB’s technical assistance initiatives, such as the Knowledge and Experience Exchange Program, have positioned it as an important knowledge partner. Yet, many of these efforts have not translated into lending operations, and coordination with other donors has been inconsistent.
Evaluation team leader Michael Florian noted that Kazakhstan’s renewed reform momentum presents a significant opportunity for ADB to shift from reactive to proactive engagement. CAPE outlines four key areas for improvement: linking technical assistance more closely to lending operations, integrating regional cooperation frameworks like the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) program into country strategies, strengthening private sector development through policy reforms, and prioritizing efforts to reduce regional and social inequalities.
The evaluation also provides lessons for ADB’s engagement with other upper middle-income countries. These include the strategic use of local currency lending, addressing institutional barriers to subnational partnerships, and enhancing flexibility in program design. The findings will inform ADB’s next Country Partnership Strategy for Kazakhstan and contribute to the broader learning agenda aimed at improving the bank’s approach in similar country contexts.
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