This month CIPE held a special conference in Istanbul, Turkey, for its field office personnel (thanks to funding from the National Endowment for Democracy). A highlight of the conference was a panel in which former and current partners from central and eastern Europe participated. Four partners spoke about their experiences with CIPE and their achievements. We learned not only about the importance of true partnership between international organizations and capable local reformers, but also about the potential of strong reform networks spanning national borders.
Although some reform partners, in their organizations’ early days, were looking primarily for grants, they found they could gain a lot more through a strategic partnership with an organization like CIPE. They obtained organizational leadership training, access to a network of credible reformers, practical advice on programs and advocacy, and a broader perspective on long-term issues. These kinds of nonfinancial cooperation can be vitally important when reform institutes and coalitions are just getting off the ground in turbulent, newly democratizing societies.
Such partnerships only succeed when the initiative and ideas are driven by local demand and creativity. An international partner can support the local initiative by showing what’s feasible and nurturing institutional development. Perhaps most international development organizations now recognize the need to respect local talent and aspirations without imposing external solutions. Still, we need to work consciously and carefully toward building these long-term relationships. Ideally, reform organizations become sustainable and then continue to participate in reform networks once their need for outside grants has gone.
Dr. Boris Begovic, of the Center for Liberal Democratic Studies in Serbia, mentioned how he had benefited from horizontal linkages, such as by participating with CIPE in an anti-corruption project in Argentina. While he was sharing his expertise in fighting corruption, he learned more about his own country by witnessing the structure of similar problems in another country. Both sides can benefit from this type of exchange.
These partners have done outstanding work in fighting corruption, promoting small business development, and helping businesses advocate for sound policies. You can learn more about their innovative approaches to reform from their organizations’ web sites.
Center for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development, Montenegro
Center for Liberal Democratic Studies, Serbia
Center for the Study of Democracy, Bulgaria
Published Date: April 21, 2006