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Smart Governance and Investment in Green Infrastructure: Analysis of Financial Mechanisms for Sustainable Urban Development

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Abstract:

This study addresses the challenge of sustainable urban development in the context of global climate imperatives and accelerating urbanisation. We analyse the economic and implementation nexus between smart governance, green infrastructure, and sustainable financing. The core objective is to conduct a technical and economic analysis of the governance mechanisms, financial instruments, that facilitate the successful implementation of green infrastructure projects in emerging economies.

Utilising a mixed-methods approach, this research combines a quantitative analysis of investment trends and project outcomes with a qualitative assessment of institutional frameworks and case studies drawn from Kazakhstan’s urban development experience. Our findings indicate that effective smart governance is a critical enabler for attracting and sustaining investment in green infrastructure. Key success factors include the establishment of robust financial mechanisms, such as public-private partnerships, green bonds, and performance-based funding, along with strategic planning and regulatory coordination among various stakeholders. The primary contribution of this research is the development of a comprehensive implementation framework that integrates technical, economic, and institutional dimensions.


Copyright© 2025 The Author(s). This article is distributed under the terms of the license CC-BY 4.0., which permits any further distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


Article’s history: Received 5th of August, 2025; Revised 3rd of September, 2025; Accepted 23rd of September, 2025; Available online: 30th of September, 2025. Published as article in the Volume XX, Fall, Issue 3(89), 2025.


How to cite:

Zhumabekova, M.  & Mukanov B. (2025). Smart Governance and Investment in Green Infrastructure: Analysis of Financial Mechanisms for Sustainable Urban Development. Journal of Applied Economic Sciences, Volume XX, Fall, 3(89), 561 – 572. https://doi.org/10.57017/jaes.v20.3(89).12


Conflict of Interest Statement: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.


Acknowledgments/Funding: N/a


Data Availability Statement: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the official statistics of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2015 – 2024) and from publicly accessible government reports on construction, R&D, and environmental indicators.


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