Ethiopia – CIPE Field Representative Hailemelekot Asfaw met with the board and management of the Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Association (ECCSA) to discuss the upcoming partnership project with CIPE for the establishment of a Chamber Academy. ECCSA agreed to provide the venue and office space within their premise for housing the Chamber Academy, which is modeled after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Organization Management.
CIPE hosts communications workshop in Nigeria; CIPE holds anti-corruption workshop for local entrepreneurs in Ukraine; CIPE partner presents Collective Action Against Corruption campaign to business associations in Thailand
Kyrgyzstan – The Corporate Governance School (CGS) held two seminars for 17 members of auditing committees on boards of directors in state-run companies. Corporate governance experts presented on the responsibilities of internal control systems. On a scale of 1-5 with 5 being the highest, participants rated the usefulness of the information and presentations at 4.8. Knowledge tests indicated improvement in participants’ understanding of the topic. The average participant score on the test was 20 points higher following the seminars.
Bolivia – Fundación Milenio released its weekly economic analysis bulletin, featuring an analysis of the risks the Financial Services Act poses to private banking in Bolivia. This analysis was also featured in an article published by the EJU newspaper, reaching over 15,000 subscribers. These economic analysis bulletins form part of CIPE’s and Milenio’s efforts to cultivate a more informed citizenship in the area of economic policy.
Philippines – AsiaRegional Director John Callebaut was in Manila to participate in a Public Governance Forum hosted by the Institute for Solidarity in Asia. He also visited Hanoi to meet with prospective Vietnamese project partners.
Washington, DC – CIPE hosted a delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to discuss a recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with CIPE that focuses on exploring joint projects and initiatives in West Africa. The ECOWAS delegation was led by representatives from the Commission’s Private Sector Secretariat, including Director Alfred Braimah and Officer for Business/Enterprise Development Enobong Umoessien, as well as the President of the KOFA International Consulting group.
CIPE partner organizes Paraguayan presidential debate; CIPE holds roundtable on improving Afghanistan’s ranking in World Bank’s Doing Business indicator; CIPE partner conducts journalism classes at the Bishkek Humanities University in Kyrgyzstan
Bahrain – From March 17-19, CIPE Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East Abdulwahab Alkebsi, and CIPE Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Program Officer Ali Ayadi visited Bahrain to meet with several stakeholders to learn about entrepreneurship and civic education initiatives in the country. Alkebsi and Ayadi met with leaders from key bodies that work to support entrepreneurship in Bahrain, including Tamkeen, the Bahrain Development Bank, the Bahrain Family Bank, Ebdaa Bank, and the Bahrain Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
Pakistan – Under a small grant from CIPE, the Peshawar Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PWCCI) held its second focus group with financial institutions on an “Entrepreneurship Development Policy for the Women of Khyber Pakhtoonwa.” The Chief Manager of the State Bank of Pakistan, along with the PWCCI President chaired the meeting, in which more than 40 representatives of the Chamber and regional banks participated.
