Who we are
Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) strengthens democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reform. CIPE is one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy. Since 1983, CIPE has worked with business leaders, policymakers, and journalists to build the civic institutions vital to a democratic society. CIPE’s key program areas include anti-corruption, advocacy, business associations, corporate governance, democratic governance, access to information, the informal sector and property rights, and women and youth. CIPE programs are supported by the National Endowment for Democracy, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Middle East Partnership Initiative, and the U.S. Embassy in Iraq Office for Private Sector Development.
Center for International Private Enterprise - Regional Office is the representative office for the Eastern Europe and Caucasus of a non-profit, non-governmental American organization - Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE). CIPE Regional Office is based in Bucharest, Romania.
Mission
Strengthening democracy in Eastern Europe and Caucasus through private enterprise and market-oriented reform.
CIPE Regional Office promotes democratic values and economic growth by providing support to business associations, employers' associations and chambers of commerce.
CIPE Regional Office started its activity in 2000 with a project funded by USAID with the aim to support business association development in the information technology, manufacturing, and tourism sectors. CIPE Regional Office also worked with multi-sector and women's associations, as they had members in each of the target sectors. Under this three-year program, CIPE Regional Office was responsible for a number of activities including technical assistance for institutional development, support for public policy advocacy initiatives, information for targeted associations through forums, think tanks, and conferences, grants, creation of investment opportunities, and a volunteer experts program.
USAID Administrator Henrietta H. Fore (center) and Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia Douglas Menarchik with CIPE Regional Office staff.Between 2004 and 2005 with financial support from National Endowment for Democracy, CIPE Regional Office implemented a program dedicated to the creation and the development of the Coalition of Women Business Associations in Romania (CAFA) in order to assist business women in becoming an important player in the public-private dialogue.
In 2005-2007, CIPE Regional Office worked with women's business support organizations from the Balkan region within a project aiming to create a network that can actively promote a legislative agenda in order to improve both the status of women entrepreneurs and the overall business environment.
Since 2007, CIPE Regional Office has set up the Regional Institute for Organization Management, providing training for more than 100 leaders and executives of business associations, chambers of commerce and other membership-based organizations from Romania, Serbia, Bosnia Herzegovina and Azerbaijan.
Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) is an American organization founded by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 1983 in the belief that economic freedom and political freedom are intertwined. Over the last 20 years, CIPE has supported more than 800 local initiatives in more than 95 developing countries to organize business associations and involve businesspeople in policy advocacy, institutional reform, and responsible governance. - www.cipe.org
Objectives
- Foster institutions necessary to establish and sustain market-oriented democracies.
- Increase private sector participation in the democratic process.
- Increase support for and understanding of the freedoms, rights, and responsibilities essential to market- oriented democracies among government officials, businesspeople, media and the public.
- Improve governance through transparency and accountability in the public and private sectors.
- Strengthen freedom of association and private, voluntary business organizations.
- Promote an entrepreneurial culture and understanding of how markets work.
- Expand access to information necessary for sound entrepreneurial and policy decisions.
Areas of Work
- Democratic Governance – CIPE works to create and strengthen institutions of accountability and increase public participation in reform.
- Combating Corruption – With the private sector leading the way, CIPE seeks to improve governance mechanisms and standards and make a link between cultural norms and the rule of law.
- Business Association Development – CIPE supports grassroots participation of private sector organizations by providing support and technical assistance.
- Corporate Governance – CIPE initiates and supports programs to educate private sector leaders and the public on fairness, accountability, responsibility, and transparency.
- Legal and Regulatory Reform – CIPE encourages the private sector to identify laws and regulations that hinder business activity and make reform recommendations.
- Access to Information – CIPE works with local partners to achieve greater transparency in government and an unrestricted voice for reformers.
- Women and Youth – CIPE supports women and youth through entrepreneurship and management programs.
- Informal Sector and Property Rights – CIPE and its partners support the democratic voice and participation of the informal sector, reforming business registration procedures, and strengthening private property rights.
CIPE Approach
CIPE was founded on the idea that economic freedom and political freedom are intertwined and that progress and development comes through a combination of political and economic liberalization. Democratic consolidation is not achieved through simply holding elections, establishing a free press, and recognizing human rights (although these remain necessary components). Functioning democracies require opportunities, between election cycles, for the public to participate in the policy process. Functioning democracies also require a private sector that is capable and willing to provide an outside voice in the democratic policy process.
CIPE maintains that countries need to build market-oriented and democratic institutions simultaneously, as they are essentially two sides of the same coin. Without a functioning market system, democracies will remain weak. Likewise, without a democratic process, economic reforms are unlikely to succeed.
To support the private sector as a leading advocate for market-oriented reform and democratic governance, CIPEworks through a partner network to support grassroots networks in developing countries, capacity building programs, and technical assistance through field offices. CIPE partners with business associations, think tanks, and other private sector organizations in countries where there is both a need for progress and an opportunity for reform. CIPE's work is unique in that it employs transparency, accountability, fairness, and responsibility in institutional reform, laying the foundation for democracy at all levels of society. This institutional approach to development recognizes that changes will not occur overnight and a long-term commitment is needed for reforms to succeed.
Long after a country or a region disappears from the headlines, important work remains to prevent reforms from being overturned at the first sign of difficulty. CIPE supports its partners to develop and become leaders of sustainable development initiatives in their countries. At the same time, CIPE also assists key reformers in places where serious progress has yet to take hold.
CIPE recognizes that successes in one region may provide a model approach for another. CIPE and its partners continue to apply lessons learned across regions, creating new approaches in countries at various stages of democratic reform.
Click here to view CIPE's 5 years strategy.
Click here to learn more about CIPE's mission and the way it operates.
LATEST
CIPE Celebrates UN International Youth Day
In celebration of UN International Youth Day on August 12, 2010, CIPE has created a series of blog posts, photos, and videos about inspiring young people working to strengthen democracy around the world. These emerging leaders make sure that their voices are heard and their needs are met. In so doing, they uphold their responsibilities as citizens and help create positive change in their communities.
CIPE Development Institute is an open resource for students and professors around the world looking for self-study and classroom materials on democracy, market economy, and their role in development.
In celebration of UN International Youth Day on August 12, 2010, CIPE has created a series of blog posts, photos, and videos about inspiring young people working to strengthen democracy around the world. These emerging leaders make sure that their voices are heard and their needs are met. In so doing, they uphold their responsibilities as citizens and help create positive change in their communities.
CIPE's 2010 International Youth Essay Contest is now closed. Winners will be announced soon.
The three contest topics are: Democracy that delivers, Entrepreneurship and society, or Women and participation. Winning articles will be published by CIPE and will receive a $1,000 honorarium. Read more
The three contest topics are: Democracy that delivers, Entrepreneurship and society, or Women and participation. Winning articles will be published by CIPE and will receive a $1,000 honorarium. Read more
CIPE Development Institute is an open resource for students and professors around the world looking for self-study and classroom materials on democracy, market economy, and their role in development.
PROGRAM UPDATES
The Association of Business Women and Top Managers in Brasov (Romania) Launches CIPE Publication
CIPE Regional Office Director Facilitates Serbian Association of Managers' Board Retreat
RCOM Invited to Provide Advocacy Training to the Macedonian Chamber for Information and Communication Technology (MASIT)
Romanian ICT Coalition’ Efforts in Advancing Public Policies Promoted as Best Practices in the Eastern Europe Region
CIPE IN ROMANIA & THE REGION
Strengthen Business Support Organizations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia and Romania Program (2007-2008)
KEY RESOURCES
- CIPE Development Institute
- Business Fighting Corruption Portal
- National Business Agenda Handbook (English)
- National Business Agenda Handbook (Romanian)
- National Business Agenda Handbook (Russian)
- Advocacy Guidebook (English)
- Advocacy Guidebook (Armenian)
- Advocacy Guidebook (Russian)
- Corporate Governance Handbook
- A Practical Guide to Advocacy Campaigns: The Romanian Experience
- Guide for Business Associations - Montenegro: How to Advocate Effectively (Serbian)