WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Center for International Private Enterprise is introducing a new resource in the fight against corruption: a bi-weekly “Democracy that Delivers” audio podcast hosted by CIPE’s Anti-Corruption & Governance Center. The podcasts, to be released every other Wednesday starting September 16, will focus on global and country-specific corruption challenges, as well as innovative practices and ongoing reform efforts.
The inaugural podcast is available now and looks at corruption in Lebanon. Poor governance issues contributed to a series of crises, including a massive August explosion in Beirut that killed nearly 200 people and injured thousands. CIPE Anti-Corruption & Governance Center Director Frank Brown tackles the topic with guest Badri El Meouchi, President of the Lebanese Transparency Association Board of Directors. They are joined by Stephen Rosenlund, CIPE’s Deputy Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
El Meouchi asserts that Lebanon’s political system is being held hostage by a handful of corrupt politicians. He shares his organization’s aggressive reform agenda for improving Lebanon’s governance and economy. Rosenlund, who oversees CIPE programs in Lebanon, offers context to help explain the connection between the country’s governance gaps and corruption.
Future podcasts will feature other thought leaders and pivotal anti-corruption advocates from around the world. Upcoming guests include James Wasserstrom, a former United Nations official who exposed a $500 million kickback scheme in Kosovo many years ago. In a special trio of podcasts set to release September 30, Wasserstrom discusses the important role whistleblowers play in fighting corruption and why protections for them are necessary.
The new podcast expands CIPE’s “Democracy that Delivers” family of podcasts, hosted by Communications Director Ken Jaques on Mondays and Fridays. CIPE has worked with chambers and associations worldwide on issues involving economic freedoms since its founding in 1983, with a current portfolio of anti-corruption programs in more than 30 countries. Additional resources can be found on the CIPE Anti-Corruption & Governance Center web page, with frequent updates on social media via @CIPE_ACGC.
Published Date: September 16, 2020