Research Reports

Global Value Chains, Economic Upgrading and Gender

Case Studies of the Horticulture, Tourism, and Call Center Industries

This book provides a gendered analysis of the horticulture, tourism, and call center global value chains (GVCs) based on a survey of the literature and case studies carried out in Honduras, Kenya, and the Arab Republic of Egypt.
The studies show that GVCs and their upgrading dynamics have important gender dimensions, and that integration and upgrading are influenced by, and have an impact on, gender relations.
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Skills for Upgrading: Workforce Development and Global Value Chains in Developing Countries

This research project examines workforce development strategies in developing countries in the context of the shifting upgrading dynamics of global value chains. Funded by RTI International and carried out by Duke CGGC researchers in collaboration with RTI, this research addresses policymakers, donors and development practitioners to improve our understanding of how workforce development strategies can enhance the upgrading efforts and competitiveness of developing countries in global industries.
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Workforce Development in the Global Economy: Linking Skills and Capabilities

Value chain practice has become widely utilized in enterprise and industry development in recent years, yet there is almost no literature on workforce development in the context of what we now know about the dynamic upgrading trajectories of countries in global value chains. This introductory chapter highlights the importance of adopting a complementary GVC approach to workforce development to improve the participation and competitiveness of developing countries in the global economy.
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The Fruit and Vegetables Global Value Chain: Economic Upgrading and Workforce Development

Shows the shift of fruit and vegetable preparation from rural households to the urban kitchen, and highlights the new skills and global standards required of workers and suppliers in developing countries to meet the needs of global supermarkets.
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The Apparel Global Value Chain: Economic Upgrading and Workforce Development

Export-processing zones in low-cost countries have become synonymous with globalization, but what is the next step for developing countries in apparel? Outlines the skills required to turn assembly lines into one-stop production centers that include design, logistics and brands.
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The Offshore Services Global Value Chain: Economic Upgrading and Workforce Development

Developing countries around the world are competing to become the next Bangalore, but they need to take various steps to ensure their human capital can meet the exacting demands and professional certifications required by developed world clients.
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The Tourism Global Value Chain: Economic Upgrading and Workforce Development

Global tourists are traveling further, faster and more frequently than ever before. This report indicates how developing countries can prepare their tourism workforce to provide the high levels of customer service expected by today’s sophisticated traveler.
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Meeting the Upgrading Challenge: Dynamic Workforces for Diversified Economies

This final chapter summarizes the key findings of the "Skills for Upgrading" research project in four thematic areas: upgrading, workforce skills, institutions and stakeholders, and global standards. We also offer a list of recommendations regarding workforce development strategies for donors and development practitioners to best prepare the workforce in developing countries to respond to the growing demands of global industries.
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Global Value Chain Analysis: A Primer

The global economy is increasingly structured around global value chains (GVCs) that account for a rising share of international trade, global GDP and employment. The evolution of GVCs in sectors as diverse as commodities, apparel, electronics, tourism and business service outsourcing has significant implications in terms of global trade, production and employment and how developing country firms, producers and workers are integrated in the global economy. GVCs link firms, workers and consumers around the world and often provide a stepping stone for firms and workers in developing countries to integrate into the global economy.
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Workforce Development in Chile's Offshore Services Value Chain

This report is based on interviews with CEOs, Country Managers, HR executives and employees of 15 key companies in the offshore services sector in Chile. This report was commissioned by the Chilean Agency for Economic Development (CORFO).
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