Malika Toqmadi

Advancing my doctoral research on institutional change and elite formation in Central Asia while actively contributing to the Center's intellectual community through organizing academic events as a co-chair of the Central Asian Studies Club "Chaikhana" (academic year 2025-26) and presenting my own findings at various venues, including: - Book Launch of the The Global Encylopaedia of Informality, Volume 3: A Hitchhiker’s Guide to Informal Problem-Solving in Human Life; - Visiting Scholar Colloquium on Russian and Eurasian Studies, - Graduate Student Conference on Сentral Asia, - American Political Science Association (APSA) 2024 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, PA, - Central Eurasian Studies Society (CESS) 2023 Annual Meeting at University of Pittsburgh.

- Taught the "Research Practice in Qualitative Methods" course - Advised Harvard College students on their dissertation projects

Conducting doctoral research on institutional change and elite transformation in authoritarian contexts, with a focus on Western-educated state managers in Kazakhstan. Research combines political sociology, elite studies, and anthropological methods to examine how international education shapes institutional norms and practices.

Co-Edited the Global Encyclopaedia of Informality, Volume 3 (UCL Press, 2024) and the Online Encyclopaedia of Informality (in-formality.com). The online encyclopaedia and the published volumes explore informal practices and informal structures from a global perspective. The project is made possible by a remarkable collaboration of hundreds of scholars from five continents.

Taught the "Causes, Consequences and Control: Corruption and Governance" undergraduate course

Founded and led one of Central Asia's most authoritative independent public policy research centers, regularly cited by international media and policy stakeholders. Key Achievements: - Built and led a team of 15+ permanent researchers and analysts, developing one of the region's most capable policy research units; - Pioneered a horizontal organizational model that fostered collaborative research and knowledge-sharing among Central Asian think tanks; - Introduced innovative research methodologies combining academic rigor and highest ethical standards with participatory approaches and practical policy applications; - Established a network of partnerships with international organizations and leading research institutions; - Ensured sustainable funding through diverse sources including international grants, research partnerships, and industry research projects.

Led a complex multi-year research and capacity-building project while serving as a key liaison between international partners and local stakeholders in Central Asia. Key Responsibilities: - Managed multiple research projects from inception to completion, ensuring timely delivery and quality outputs; - Provided strategic briefings on regional context and political developments to international partners and stakeholders; - Organized and executed conferences, professional development seminars, and capacity-building trainings; - Ensured effective project monitoring and evaluation, including impact assessment and reporting.

Analysed and reported on Kazakhstan's democratic development and institutional changes for Freedom House's flagship "Nations in Transit" rating on democratic governance in post-communist states. Key Contributions: - Authored annual country reports evaluating Kazakhstan's democratic institutions, transparency, civil society, media freedom, and governance; - Developed comprehensive ratings and assessments using Freedom House's established methodology; - Maintained extensive networks with local experts, civil society leaders, and government bodies to ensure depth and accuracy of reporting.

Analytical support to the Poverty and Equity Program of the World Bank Country Office in Kazakhstan.

Led fundraising initiatives for UN migration programs in Central Asia. - Developed project proposals and conducted research to identify funding opportunities and align them with the Agency's regional priorities; - Designed project frameworks addressing migration challenges in Central Asia; - Coordinated with technical teams to ensure project feasibility and sustainability.

- Conducted research on migration governance in Central Asia; - Presented research findings and contributed to departmental research seminars and academic events; - Published a policy paper: Tukmadiyeva, M. 2016. 'Propiska’ as a Tool of Discrimination in Central Asia. Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University. Central Asia Fellowship Papers. Washington, DC.

- Contributed to research on state-business relations in Kazakhstan, producing policy analysis on interest group dynamics and public-private sector interactions; - Supported organization of conferences, expert roundtables and policy dialogues.

The Master of Advanced Studies (MASt) is jointly run by the Geneva Centre for Security Policy and the Global Studies Institute (GSI) of the University of Geneva. It is based upon the internationally recognized training expertise of GCSP’s Leadership in International Security Course.

The OSCE Academy in Bishkek is a regional centre of postgraduate education and a forum for regional security dialogue and research in Central Asia. The Master of Arts in Politics and Security Programme offers an interdisciplinary curriculum in areas of politics, comprehensive security and international relations based on international standards of teaching. The programme is designed for young people who wish to broaden their education and gain the knowledge and skills necessary for professional or academic careers in areas of politics, security, international relations, conflict prevention, international development etc.