News and Updates

While it is not to be unexpected for the public to attempt to scrutinise the effective performance of governmental agencies, in recent years in Kazakhstan it has been far from obvious that many resources and services, projects and finances are being provided by international financial institutions (IFIs). Indeed, very often it is the IFIs that act as catalysts for various government programs, reforms and ideas that are subsequently adapted via the bureaucratic apparatus to Kazakhstan’s reality.

Although public-private partnerships appear to become increasingly untenable for public authorities, they are further being promoted by the European Commission and the European Investment Bank. An official in-depth evaluation of this financing model, however, is still nowhere to be seen.

A phenomenon that has become quite fashionable over the last decade or so among governments is the Public-Private-Partnership, or PPP. The UK started to introduce this model in the mid-1990s, and it is also a favoured option in Spain and Hungary. One of the many dangers is that it allows private companies who enter into partnership with government to funnel the profits into tax havens.

After a long gestation period the EBRD's new draft Municipal and Environmental Infrastructure (MEI) policy finally appeared in April, bringing some good news such as the bank's commitment to start monitoring some on the ground project impacts and sustainability rather than just market-related transition impacts.