Kazakhstan: 'Buon Governo Award', Italy cooperates in reforms

Astana - Today three winners of the Italian award 'Il Buon Governo' have been announced by Basillio Buffoni, the head of Astana office of consultancy Lattanzio Group. Buffoni noted that the goal of the award was to motivate and stimulate young people to conduct research. 'Il Buon Governo Award' is an international grant aimed at enhancing the quality of public governance in Kazakhstan, promoted by the Academy of Public Administration in collaboration with the Embassy of Italy in Astana and Lattanzio Group, a leading Italian consulting firm for public administrations and institutions.

The Award is intended to provide an opportunity for development of significant research ideas of students and professionals, with the aim of contributing to the reform of Kazakh Public Administration. Overall, 45 applications have been received for the 2017 award. Stefano Ravagnan, the ambassador of Italy to Kazakhstan, noted that this award would provide the basis for new sphere of cooperation between two countries. "Kazakhstan is engaged in public administration reform and Italy is also in the process of deep reform. Both countries will cooperate in this process. Since my work as the ambassador, there has been a double-digit increase in agreements and initiatives between Italy and Kazakh academic institutions", Ravagnan noted.

Yerbol Bazilov earned the first place for his research work on the use of random-control studies to increase the effectiveness of state programs in Kazakhstan. As an award recipient, he will spend one month in Rome working at the Lattanzio office and learning the best practices from Italy and other countries. Overall, Bazilov will receive stipend of 800 Euro during the period of 6 months while conducting his research. Lattanzio Group established its office in Astana in early 2016. As Buffoni mentioned Astana office was increasing and on the way to become a full branch of the Lattanzio. During the ceremony, he also announced that Lattanzio planned to open the representative office in Cairo.