Interpreting Conflict of Interest in Public Service: The Role of Training and Professional Competence

Abstract

This study examines how conflicts of interest are understood and interpreted within the public service system, with particular attention to the perceived role of training and professional competence in the application of related regulations. Using an exploratory mixed-methods design, the research combines 29 expert interviews with survey data from 10,255 public servants in Kazakhstan. The findings show that difficulties in conflict-of-interest regulation are connected not only to formal rules but also to how these rules are understood and applied in practice. Both qualitative and quantitative results indicate that public servants often demonstrate fragmented understandings of conflict of interest and frequently associate it with corruption. The study also reveals strong support for training and preventive educational measures, which are perceived as important for improving the practical interpretation and application of conflict-of-interest regulations. Overall, the findings suggest that effective conflict-of-interest regulation depends not only on formal compliance mechanisms but also on professional competence and the practical ability of public servants to recognize and assess ethical risks in everyday administrative practice.