Research Network Sustainable Global Supply Chains

Research Network Sustainable Global Supply Chains

The aim of the research network is to contribute to the sustainability of global supply chains through research. It initiates new research, pools the expertise of leading scientists around the world and makes new findings accessible for political decision-makers and other stakeholders. The network is hosted by a consortium of the German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS) , the GIGA, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW) and the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP).
BMZ, 2020-2025

Cooperation Partners

German Development Institute (DIE)German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP)Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW)

Head

Prof. Dr. Jann Lay

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Globalisation and Development"

Dr. Tevin Tafese

Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Website of the Research Network

Research Questions

- How can and should global value chains be designed to achieve sustainability?
- How can standards and due diligence be agreed upon and turned into binding commitments in a transnational framework?
- What effects do sustainability standards have on trade and investment flows, on income levels and distribution, on the environment, on participation, on human rights, etc.?

Contribution to International Research

A large part of global value creation takes place in global supply chains. These are characterized by specialization of firms in multiple countries in distinct production stages and by their inter-firm relations. Global supply chains affect economies, societies and the environment in many ways. Whether they comply with labour, human rights and environmental standards and to what extent technologies and profits are shared depends on lead firms, but also government regulation and involvement of other stakeholders.

Research Design and Methods

Designing and governing global supply chains in a sustainable way thus requires a detailed understanding of their structures and involves actors as well as policies affecting them.

Edited Volume | German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) | 02/2025

Decent Work in Global Supply Chains: Sustainable Global Supply Chains Annual Report 2024

This report synthesises cutting-edge research on labour standards in global supply chains. Authored by researchers from the Research Network Sustainable Global Supply Chains, it examines the impact of global supply chains on decent work, sectoral variations, and the implications of evolving due diligence regulations.

Prof. Dr. Jann Lay

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Globalisation and Development"

Dr. Tevin Tafese

Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Journal of Development Economics | 2025

From Fields to Factories: Special Economic Zones, Foreign Direct Investment, and Labour Markets in Vietnam

Vietnam's remarkable integration into global value chains (GVCs) has been fueled by the expansion of over 300 Special Economic Zones (SEZs)—and this paper sheds light on their true and overall very positive impact on local labor markets.

Dr. Tevin Tafese

Prof. Dr. Jann Lay

World Development | 2025

The Empirics of and Policies for Sustainability in Global Value Chains

How to make supply chains more sustainable? To find answers to this question, we brought together new research on "The Empirics of and Policies for Sustainability in Global Value Chains" in this special issue in World Development, jointly edited with Stefan Pahl (UNIDO) and Rainer Thiele (Kiel Institute for the World Economy). This is the editorial.

Prof. Dr. Jann Lay

Dr. Stefan Pahl

Rainer Thiele

GIGA Focus Africa | 6/2023

Africa’s Marginal Role in Germany’s First National Security Strategy

Africa barely features in Germany’s first National Security Strategy even though the coup in Niger once again demonstrated the continent’s importance for German foreign and security policy. Nonetheless, the strategy document provides important topical impetus for future partnerships with Africa.

Dr. Julia Grauvogel

Senior Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

GIGA Working Papers | 11/2023

From Fields to Factories: Special Economic Zones, Foreign Direct Investment, and Labour Markets in Vietnam

The local labour-market impacts of special economic zones in Vietnam are examined. SEZs have led to a rapid shift in employment from agriculture and services to manufacturing, accompanied by wage increases and more formal employment, as benefitting most women and less educated younger individuals.

Dr. Tevin Tafese

Prof. Dr. Jann Lay

Van Tran