International Seminar on Behavioral Public Policy for Kazakhstan's Government agencies held at the NAC

On March 18, 2026, Nazarbayev University hosted an international seminar "Applying Behavioural Insights to Policy Making". The event was organized by the National Analytical Center (hereinafter NAC) with the participation of experts from the Behavioural Insights Team (hereinafter - BIT).
The seminar aimed to introduce representatives of Kazakhstan's government agencies and analytical centers with contemporary approaches in behavioral science and their application to public policy. In particular, it focused on how behavioral insights as empirical findings about human behavior can be used to design more effective governance policies.
The seminar was attended by representatives of central government agencies and analytical centers.
Saltanat Janenova, Director of the Center for Public Administration and Behavioral Public Policy at NAC, noted: "Behavioral science is not merely a trend, but a powerful tool for improving policy effectiveness without requiring significant additional resources, but by an understanding of 'choice architecture.' Government agencies in Kazakhstan are attempting to apply behavioral insights, however there is a lack of rigorous evaluation of pilot trials and outcomes to support evidence-based decision-making."
BIT experts presented international experience in applying behavioral insights to public policy and governance. Particular attention was given to how these approaches can be adapted to the Kazakhstani context.
Andres Cueto, an international expert at BIT, shared results from behavioral interventions based on the United Kingdom's experience: "Simplifying the tax filing process increased completion rates by 22%, while the introduction of a tax on sugar- sweetened beverages led to a reduction of 45 million kilograms of sugar consumption per year. When applied effectively, behavioral science can deliver significant policy impact."
Events of this kind support the development of applied, evidence-based research and strengthen collaboration between universities, think tanks, and government institutions, contributing to the design and implementation of more effective public policy.