Institute of Development Studies

Biography

A socio-economist with extensive experience in the field of international development. Carries out academic research, training and consultancy on private sector development, industrial organisation and innovation in Latin America, Asia and Europe. Clients include the Inter-American Development Bank, ILO, Ford Foundation, UNIDO, UNDP, ITC, UNCTAD and government agencies in developing countries. Academic contributions involved advancing measurement tools for governance and upgrading attainment of developing country firms and clusters operating in global and national value chains; highlighting the role of domestic markets in the acquisition of higher value-added capabilities (marketing and branding); proposing 'multichain' strategies for increased competitiveness and analysing ways to enhance the impact of donor-led value chain programmes on poverty alleviation.

Currently undertaking research on the financial and innovation processes needed to upgrade developing countries' position in value chains. These projects focus on light manufacturing in China as well as natural resource based and IT industries in Latin America. Teaching and training both postgraduate students and development practitioners.

Selected Projects and Recent Work

• Rising Powers in International Development
• Urban and Productive Integrated Sustainable Settlements - El Salvador
• Inter-Firm Linkages and Financing: The Role of Large Firms, Value Chains and Enterprise Clusters
• The Impact of Emerging Power: China-EU Cooperation and Global Governance
• Global Brands from China?

Thematic Expertise

Globalisation; Asian Drivers; Innovation and Value Chains.

Geographic Expertise

Latin America and the Caribbean; Brazil; China; Costa Rica; El Salvador.

Selected Publications »»

• Navas-Alemán, L. (2011) 'The Impact of Operating in Multiple Value Chains for Upgrading: The Case of the Brazilian Furniture and Footwear Industries ', Journal of World Development 39.8:1386-97
• UNIDO (2011) 'Diagnostics for Industrial Value Chain Development - An Integrated Tool' , Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization
• Humphrey, J. and Navas-Alemán, L. (2010) 'Value Chains, Donor Interventions and Poverty Reduction: A Review of Donor Practice', IDS Research Report 63, Brighton: IDS
• Humphrey, J. and Navas-Alemán, L. (2009) 'Multinational Value Chains, Small and Medium Enterprises, and ‘Pro-Poor’ Policies: A Review of Donor Practice', IDS Research Summary of IDS Research Report 63, Brighton: IDS
• Navas-Alemán, L. and Bazan, L. (2005) 'Making Value Chain Governance Work for the Implementation of Quality, Labour and Environmental Standards: Upgrading Challenges in the Footwear Industry' in Giuliani, E., Rabellotti, R. and van Dijk, M.P. (Eds) (eds), Clusters Facing Competition: The Role of External Linkages, Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing Limited
• Navas-Alemán, L. and Bazan, L. (2003) 'Local Implementation of Quality, Labour and Environmental Standards: Opportunities for Upgrading in the Footwear Industry', SEED Working Paper Series on Upgrading in Small Enterprise Clusters and Global Value Chain 45, Geneva: ILO
• Bazan, L. and Navas-Aleman, L. (2001) 'Comparing Chain Governance and Upgrading Patterns in the Sinos Valley, Brazil' , Brighton: IDS