Blog - Center for International Private Enterprise

CIPE’s New Role in Supporting Economic Integration In Central Asia

CIPE’s work in Central Asia is highlighted in a Joint Statement by the leaders of the C5+1 countries: United States, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Republic of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and the Republic of Uzbekistan. This follows the first-ever C5+1 Presidential Summit, whic...

En América Latina, la Economía Naranja

English version available here En América Latina, la economía naranja es considerada como el motor que impulsa la cultura y la creatividad como generadores de riqueza y del crecimiento económico, destacándose por la generación de empleo y su contribución a las exportaciones. En el 2015, se es...

Exploring Opportunities and Risks of Artificial Intelligence in Business Associations

AI has significant implications for business associations, transforming their operations and strategic decision-making. Associations can leverage AI to analyze vast amounts of data, uncover actionable insights, and predict market trends. AI-powered tools can automate routine tasks, enhance member en...

A Pragmatic Approach to Trade Facilitation

Global trade has undergone transformative shifts since 2013 when the Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) concluded the multilateral Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) negotiations.  Over the last decade, including a pandemic that accelerated digitalisation, developing coun...

Trade Reform: Even Little Things Can Make a Huge Difference

As a mother of three, being able to work from home helped me stay in the workforce. I live and work in a country with accessible childcare and accommodating work policies but even so, the seemingly light shift towards a remote work arrangement changed my life! What then could a trade facilitation m...

Unveiling the Nexus: How Customs Administrations Are Exploited to Empower Authoritarian Regimes

What is the connection between international trade and democracy? Much research has been devoted to exploring this intricate relationship, examining how international trade and market openness can strengthen democratic institutions and promote liberal values. Prominent scholars such as Douglas A. Ir...

CIPE Launches Capacity Building Program for Women’s Empowerment Organizations in Central America

In Central America, women’s entrepreneurship and meaningful engagement in the economy and political spheres are key for inclusive growth and societal prosperity. However, numerous challenges hinder the progress of Central American women in their entrepreneurial and leadership endeavors, such a...

Advancing Beneficial Ownership Transparency: The Private Sector Use Case

CIPE’s newest report, “Beneficial Ownership Transparency — Exploring the Private Sector Use Case,” arrives at a critical time. Building on the tremendous progress made by advocates in setting out beneficial ownership (BO) standards and inviting countries to commit to BO reforms, the anti-cor...

Latin America’s Orange Economy Creates Opportunity

Una versión en español está disponible aquí. The orange economy is a space where like-minded creative entrepreneurs come together as they create businesses focused on art and culture in their communities. In Latin America, the orange economy is the engine that drives culture and creativity and ...

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Rebuilding Ethiopia: 2023

As Ethiopia emerges from a destructive two-year war that destroyed many lives and property in the north, all efforts need to be focused on reconstruction and economic recovery. Even more critical is the need to include representatives of informal business, women, and youth that were particularly aff...

Bridging the Gap Between Decisionmakers and Constituents in Iraq’s Muthanna Province

This blog post is part of a two-part series on transparency in Iraq. Click here to read the first blog in the series. Communication is vital to any political system. Decisionmakers need to know what constituents want in order to advocate for favorable and demanded legislation. If policymakers don�...

Boosting Association Revenues

One of the risks facing many African associations is their dependence on membership revenues. The American Association of Association Executives (ASAE), which conducts annual studies of chamber and association executives, found that membership revenue has been declining over time and the cost of mem...

Six Things We Learned About Cooperatives and Associations in Somalia

Up to the present, little has been known about the structure and performance of Somalia’s membership organizations. In 2022, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) undertook a comprehensive field-based mapping exercise to assess the capacity, roles, and needs of 38 membership orga...

Iraqi Businessmen Union Scores a Big Win for Decentralization in Anbar

This blog post is part of a two-part series on transparency in Iraq. Click here to read the second blog in the series. For years, Iraqi provinces have lagged in economic and infrastructure development, in large part because of a lack of adequate federal funding and accountability. Despite the Iraqi...

Call to Action: Refugee Financial Inclusion in Kenya

Refugees are typically a group of people shut out from economic opportunity and the political processes that affect their lives. Enhancing the self-reliance of refugees is crucial to achieving a more inclusive and democratic society. CIPE draws on 40 years of lessons learned across the world to supp...

Combatting Gender-Based Violence by Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Republic of Moldova

Editor’s Note: Addressing GBV (gender-based violence) is a growing part of programs to advance women’s economic empowerment. This insightful article on initiatives in Moldova was first posted on the Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE) website on July 6, 2023. Gender-based violence (GBV) is a per...

Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment, Combatting Gender-Based Violence: Two Years of Wage Moldova

Editor’s Note: CIPE and partners are highlighting the outcomes of a unique two-year women’s economic empowerment program in Moldova. This article by CIPE staff was first posted on the Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE) website on September 13, 2023. In January of 2023, the Women and Girls Emp...

Stories from Guatemala: How CIPE’s Women’s Business Resource Center is Helping Women Grow Their Businesses (Part 6)

Entrepreneurship has the power to transform lives. When women are given the necessary support and resources, their businesses can thrive, and they can become more active members of their communities. María Ixchajchal and Monica Rodas are two entrepreneurs who took advantage of resources provided by...

World Refugee Day: Creating Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystems for Women Migrants and Refugees in Costa Rica

With millions of people displaced from their homes because of conflict, persecution, and other forms of violence, the current refugee crisis is one of the biggest humanitarian challenges we face as a global community. In response, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) works with pa...

Powerful Lessons: How to Harness Ukraine’s Talent and Reform the Business Ecosystem

The war in Ukraine has made a profound impact on the country’s economy and labor market: more than 10 percent of the population has left the country, and of those that remain almost 10 percent are unemployed. The government and international organizations are working together to rebuild the e...