CIPE Update for the Week of January 31-February 4, 2011

HIGHLIGHTS

As part of TRACE’s Anti-bribery Specialist Accreditation (TASA) program, Director of Policy Reform Alex Shkolnikov will lead a course on the private sector’s role in combating institutionalized corruption in emerging markets. TRACE, an internationally recognized anti-bribery organization, launched TASA to demonstrate credibility for anti-bribery compliance domain experts. http://tasa.acx1.coreonix.com/index.html

CIPE’s documentary film on the costs of corruption in Yemen, Destructive Beast, was screened at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Film director and Yemeni native Ms. Khadija Al Salami attended the event and was honored for her role in producing the Destructive Beast and other documentary films that have had an impact on the lives of Yemenis.

GLOBAL PROGRAMS, COMMUNICATION, AND KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT

The February 2011 Global Update went out to CIPE email subscribers and social media. This month’s Update featured CIPE’s Editorial Cartoon Competition; announced CIPE’s upcoming conference on women and democracy that delivers to be held June 20 and 21; and highlighted CIPE’s impacts in 2010 by region. http://www.cipe.org/newsletter/february2011.html

CIPE published the latest Economic Reform Feature Service article, “The Case for Business in Developing Economies” by Ann Bernstein, Executive Director of the Centre for Development and Enterprise in South Africa. This article, based Bernstein’s book, discusses the key role of private enterprise in generating growth and development; the increasingly unbalanced conversation about business and society; and the benefits of business organizations promoting market economies as essential to progress, innovation, and development. http://www.cipe.org/featureservice/?p=547

On the CIPE Development Blog, Global Programs Officer James Liddell discuses the role of the private sector and business associations in education reforms (http://www.cipe.org/blog/?p=7577); MENA Program Assistant Dorothy Smith explains what is necessary for democratic transitions to take firm root in the MENA region (http://www.cipe.org/blog/?p=7559); and CIPE Pakistan Senior Program Manager Hammad Siddiqui relays the necessity of economic reform in Pakistan (http://www.cipe.org/blog/?p=7523).

AFRICA

Nigeria - As part of CIPE’s project to strengthen the voice of business in Nigeria’s North Central Zone, CIPE partner the Jos Business School and CIPE Africa Field Representative Mrs. Wumi Gbadamosi are facilitating a four-day capacity building training program on association management in Ilorin, Kwara State. Thirty representatives of business associations, such as the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria and the Nigerian Association of Small Scale Industrialists, are being trained on topics such as strategic planning, the role of business associations in a democratic society, membership development, volunteer development and management, and association governance. This is the second of three training workshops covering three states: Kogi, Kwara and Niger, in the North Central Zone. The third and final training program will take place next week in Niger state.

Liberia – To assess the business environment in Liberia, CIPE consultant Mr. Milton Weeks traveled to Robertsport, Grand Cape Mount County; Kakata, Margibi County; and Buchanan in Grand Bassa County.  In those towns, he met with over 10 associations, including the Robertsport Fish Folks Association, the National Association of Liberian Entrepreneurs, the Grand Bassa County Business Association, the Association of Liberia Construction Contractors, and the Rice Dealers Association among others. This assessment will help inform CIPE’s future programming in Liberia.

ASIA

Philippines – On January 25, the Institute for Solidarity in Asia (ISA) met with the mayors of Bani and Alaminos, both small coastal cities in western Luzon. ISA delivered presentations on its Performance Governance System (PGS) and how the PGS can improve local government performance. Bani mayor Marcelo Navarro remarked that “good governance attracts investment”, and he went on to explain that ISA’s PGS program is central to his efforts to foster local economic development. Unlike Bani, the city of Alaminos has yet to formally adopt the PGS, but the city’s mayor, Hernanii Braganza, expressed a desire to enroll his city in ISA’s signature program.

Thailand – In a January 28 speech in Davos, Abhisit Vejjajiva, prime minister of Thailand, lauded his country’s Collective Action Against Corruption campaign led by CIPE and the Thai Institute of Directors (IOD). The prime minister boasted that “Thailand now aims to be one of the first countries in the world to implement a national Collective Action strategy against corruption….. [and] I am particularly proud of the impressive speed with which this Collective Action campaign has gained momentum and dynamism.” He also praised the more than 40 Thai companies that have already joined IOD’s anti-corruption coalition for their willingness “to lead by example.” He went on to explain that “much of this work in Thailand is based on the collective action framework put together by the World Bank Institute and the Center for International Private Enterprise.”

Eurasia

Armenia – On January 27, the Business Advocacy Network held an advocacy roundtable devoted to economic integration with Europe, one of the business community’s priority issues. Twenty-five network members, Ministry of Economy officials, and representatives of business associations, chambers of commerce and small businesses discussed ways in which the private and public sectors can cooperate to encourage harmonization of legislation with European standards, as well as attract investment and build links between businesses in Armenia and other European countries. The Network’s Secretariat plans present the event’s recommendations to the Eastern Partnership National Platform, a civil society coalition focused on European integration.

Belarus – On January 28, the Minsk Union of Entrepreneurs and Employers (MUEE), together with the Belarusian Confederation of Entrepreneurs (BCE) and the Association of Employers and Entrepreneurs, held a roundtable in Lepel (Vitebsk region) for 25 participants, including local entrepreneurs and representatives of the Lepel district Executive Committee. Roundtables help raise awareness within the government and wider civil society of problems faced by the private business community in Belarus. Participants discussed the challenges of how to most effectively implement Presidential Directive #4, signed at the end of last year and expected to contribute to liberalizing many parts of Belarusian economy. Discussion also focused on the National Business Platform (NBP-2011), the independent business community’s annually published vision on improving the business climate. 

Belarus – Entrepreneurs and business associations continue their efforts to publicly promote their concrete recommendations for reform. MUEE participated in two working group sessions at the Ministry of Economy on January 24 and 26, advocating for the NBP and working with government officials on how best to implement Directive #4 to give momentum to business initiatives in Belarus. Continuing an open and transparent participatory process, on January 28, MUEE and BCE participated in a session of the Consultative and Coordination Council with other regional and national business associations to brainstorm ideas and proposals for the NBP. 

Kazakhstan – On January 25-27, the Kazakh Institute of Directors conducted a seminar, “Corporate Governance Basics” for 27 faculty members from 4 universities in Karaganda city.  Participants received the CIPE-supported textbook, “Corporate Governance: Kazakhstan Context” and CDs with supplemental materials. The textbook and seminars help strengthen the understanding of corporate governance among university professors and graduate students.

Kyrgyzstan – On January 27, the Kyrgyz Stock Exchange Press Club (KSEPC) held an informational press-session for journalists, “Local Budgets: 2010 Results and 2011 Perspectives.”  Fourteen journalists from various media outlets participated.  This press event is part of KSEPC’s ongoing effort to raise media capacity to better inform the general public of the key financial and economic issues effecting Kyrgyzstan.  After this informational press event, journalists published 2 newspaper articles, 11 articles on internet news sites, and 3 TV news reports. 

Kyrgyzstan – On February 2, KSEPC held a meeting with the Chairman of the Financial State Agency of Kyrgyzstan and the Chairman of the Capital Market Board of Turkey, to discuss and compare economic issues of their respective countries.  Fifteen journalists from different media outlets covered this discussion.

Moldova – On January 25, CIPE and the Institute for Development and Social Initiatives (IDSI) held a one-day workshop with 25 representatives of Moldovan business organizations to discuss how to institutionalize the public-private dialogue that promotes pro-business reforms through the National Business Agenda.  At this event, CIPE Program Director Camelia Bulat discussed with participants strengths and weaknesses of formal and informal advocacy coalitions. CIPE Program Officer for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus Natalia Otel Belan presented various coalition models under CIPE programs in Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Belarus. The workshop participants exchanged views on possible institutional models for the Moldovan network of business associations and agreed to continue the coalition-building process in the next few months.

Moldova – CIPE Program Officer for Eastern Europe and the Caucasus Natalia Otel Belan and Assistant Program Officer Ryan Foster visited Moldova where they met with various civil society and business associations including organizations working on youth entrepreneurship and anti-corruption. They also met US Embassy and USAID staff to brief on CIPE programs in Moldova.

SOUTH ASIA

Nepal – CIPE and its partner Samriddhi, the Prosperity Foundation, conducted entrepreneurship workshops for students in Nepal. Graduates of a recent workshop have formed a company, Educators Pvt. Ltd. The company is organizing a three-day Regional Techno Fest which will showcase 150 technology companies.

Pakistan – This week the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry announced the creation of the position of Vice President for Women Entrepreneurs. The ability of women to serve on a chamber’s executive committee was achieved in Trade Organizations Ordinance of 2006 which CIPE helped prepare.

Sri Lanka – Regional Director for Eurasia and South Asia Andrew Wilson and Program Officer for South Asia Marc Schleifer are in Sri Lanka this week conducting meetings with local partner Pathfinder, as well as with national and regional chambers of commerce, think tanks and NGOs, and other donor organizations, to assess current political and economic conditions in the country.

LATIN AMERICA

Regional- The Colombian think tank the Political Science Institute (ICP) just released issue #25 of the CIPE-sponsored Perspectiva magazine. This special edition focuses on the theme of Venezuela and is titled “The Simple Yet Complex Venezuelan Reality.”  Issue #25 features in-depth articles from a number of Venezuelan and Latin American experts including an interview with the former editor in chief of Foreign Policy Magazine, Moíses Naím. This issue is starting to be distributed by Perspectiva’s think tank network in Colombia, Peru, Uruguay, Argentina, Venezuela, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Bolivia, Panama and Chile. More information about the new edition please visit the Spanish- language Perspectiva Blog

Colombia- CIPE partner the Foundation for Higher Education and Development (Fedesarrollo) released its public policy brief # 65 of its Economics and Politics series.  This policy brief discusses the issue of land restitution for the victims of the violence in Colombia and analyzes a draft bill on the issue that is currently being discussed in the Colombian Congress. The policy brief has been distributed electronically to more than 3,000 politicians, business leaders, and public opinion leaders and was also printed and distributed directly to all members of the Colombian Congress. Policy brief #65 is also available in Spanish for download on Fedesarrollo’s website

MIDDLE EAST/NORTH AFRICA

New York – CIPE’s documentary film on the economic, political, and social costs of corruption in Yemen, Destructive Beast, was screened for an audience at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The office of Ms. Amat Al Alim Alsoswa, assistant secretary-general of the UNDP and director of the regional bureau for Arab states, organized the screening, which was attended by staff members across departments. Film director and Yemeni native Ms. Khadija Al Salami attended the event and was honored for her role in producing Destructive Beast and other documentary films that have had an impact on the lives of Yemenis.

Calendar of Events for the Week of February 6 - 12

The CIPE calendar is online at www.cipe.org/calendar. 

Have questions about CIPE events? Contact Caroline Scullin by e-mail ( Этот адрес e-mail защищен от спам-ботов. Чтобы увидеть его, у Вас должен быть включен Java-Script ) or phone (202-721-9200)