Mexico

Since 2018, CIPE has collaborated with local think tanks, universities, and private sector leaders in Mexico to design and implement innovative programs aimed at empowering the private sector and enhancing civic engagement. These efforts have resulted in a diverse portfolio of initiatives that promote entrepreneurship, strengthen civic participation, advocate for greater transparency and accountability, and champion women’s economic empowerment. CIPE’s work in Mexico demonstrates the important role of the private sector in strengthening democratic values and fostering meaningful cross-sector collaboration to empower local communities and address complex challenges.

Current Programming 2024

Supporting Youth Entrepreneurship and Civic Participation in the Creative Industries

For three years, CIPE has collaborated with CETYS University to strengthen the capacity of young creative entrepreneurs in Tijuana’s creative economies, encourage youth civic and economic participation, and promote creative industries entrepreneurship as a viable pathway for economic development.

CIPE and CETYS University have developed an Accelerator program to strengthen the business skills of young entrepreneurs in the creative and cultural industries to successfully scale up their businesses. The Accelerator program includes training workshops on civic engagement, financial management, branding and marketing, networking, artificial intelligence, and intellectual property rights. In 2024, CETYS graduated five companies from the Accelerator program. From their participation in the program, the businesses have gained greater visibility and recognition within Tijuana’s creative industries, developed business connections with other creative industries companies, and strengthened their companies’ overall performance through increases in sales, hiring of new personnel, and restructuring of internal operations based on the lessons learned.

CIPE and CETYS have also established Acelerart, an online platform that promotes the importance of the creative industries in Tijuana as a viable economic pathway for young entrepreneurs. The platform provides resources for local entrepreneurs to learn more about Mexico’s creative industries and develop their businesses. In addition to Acelerart, CETYS University utilizes its social media channels Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok to promote Tijuana’s creative industries.

Partner: CETYS University

Fostering Transparency & Accountability in State-Owned Enterprises

Since 2018, CIPE has worked closely with México Evalúa (ME) to promote transparency and accountability within Mexico’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and private sector actors operating in the energy sector. In previous programs, CIPE and ME successfully identified opportunities, policies, and case studies that strengthen transparency and corporate governance practices in SOEs, published in ME’s online newsletter, El Sextante.

Currently, CIPE and México Evalúa are establishing an online digital Observatory to monitor and analyze transparency practices and corporate governance standards in state-owned enterprises within the energy sector. ME will develop standardized metrics, data, and indicators that establish the Observatory platform as a benchmarking tool for both energy sector SOEs and private companies. CIPE and ME will use this research to identify best practices for SOEs and the private sector to adopt strong corporate governance standards, improve transparency metrics, and ensure citizens can access transparent and accountable information about their energy companies. ME will also examine SOE responses to economic competition practices and challenges under the framing of nearshoring initiatives and the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) free trade agreement. The Observatory will also serve as a repository for case studies, policy briefs, and other research documents on corporate social responsibility, corporate governance best practices, and other energy sector topics.

Partner: México Evalúa

Promoting Ethics & Integrity in Mexico’s Private Sector

CIPE’s Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) has collaborated with its Anti-Corruption and Governance Center (ACGC) to strengthen and expand integrity and ethics practices within Mexico’s private sector. Under this program, CIPE works directly with the private sector in the automotive, construction, and semiconductor industries in the five key states of Nuevo Leon, Jalisco, Sonora, Chihuahua, and Guanajuato to support businesses to adopt strong ethics standards and integrity practices. Since 2021, CIPE has trained over 120 businesses on responsible business conduct, corporate compliance, and anti-corruption best practices. This program is part of a larger USAID-funded initiative to promote integrity across civil society, the private sector, and the public sector.

Previous Programing

Combatting Challenges to Citizen Security

In 2022, CIPE partnered with México Evalúa (ME) to develop a Toolkit designed to reduce insecurity and combat extortion crimes for small-medium enterprises operating in Tijuana, Mexico. The Toolkit includes guidelines for businesses to reduce the risk of extortion; mechanisms to report extortion crimes; strategies and recommendations for public authorities to provide support to victims; and prevention strategies to mitigate future incidences of extortion.

Partner: México Evalúa

Accountable Business Initiative in Latin America

In 2022, CIPE partnered with three local organizations in Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina to improve transparency and accountability in state-owned enterprises and support sustainable democratic development. CIPE and its partners worked to gain a better understanding of current corporate sustainability standards and promote regional best practices. Additionally, CIPE works with two local consultants in Colombia and Chile to gather further insight into each country’s corporate sustainability standards and support a wider analysis of corporate sustainability practices throughout Latin America. In Mexico, CIPE worked with ME to identify areas of opportunities, policies, and case studies that can strengthen transparency and accountability in SOEs, particularly the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and Mexican Petroleum (PEMEX).

Supporting Women’s Economic Empowerment

CIPE partnered with CETYS University to research barrier to women entrepreneurs’ participation in Tijuana’s agricultural, beekeeping, creative industries, and other ventures in urban-marginal communities. Based on initial findings, CIPE and CETYS developed policy recommendations to improve gender equality and economic resiliency including improved training and mentorship opportunities, stronger financial inclusion initiatives and microfinance partnerships, and stronger gender equity policies. In addition, CETYS also trained 15 individuals in advocacy and leadership skills to effectively advocate for gender equity policies.

Partner: CETYS University

Additional Resources

For any questions or inquiries, please write to lac@cipe.org