Center for International Private Enterprise

Business advocacy & Enterprise ecosystems:given the established connection between strong democracies and resilient economies, cipe employs a business lens to support its mission, working most closely with networks of small and medium-sized enterprises. They are the economic engines in most countries, with the potential to offer innovations and inform policies that bring about the most inclusive economic growth. Cipe's current programs include a fleet of initiatives and resources to support Private sector collective action and build the capacity of business membership groups, notably associations and chambers of commerce, as well as think tanks and other civil society organizations. Vital efforts include public-private dialogue and partnerships for regulatory reform to create a more enabling environment for business. This has included developing post-covid economic recovery plans in numerous countries, as well as business for peace initiatives in conflict and post-conflict zones such as the sahel, sudan, colombia, ukraine, and yemen. This often also involves working with governments and others to deliver essential services to citizens and address supply chain challenges.

Anti-corruption, ethics & economic resilience:transparency, commitment to business integrity, and investment screening mechanisms are essential to combating corruption and other threats to economies and democracies, such as corrosive capital investments from authoritarian regimes. Cipe's award-winning anti-corruption and compliance work includes programs like the africa ethics 1st initiative, which helps businesses embrace global standards and become better candidates for trade and investment. Cipe's anti-corruption and governance Center has developed numerous guides on issues such as beneficial ownership transparency and oversees a database that tracks corruption trends across more than 100 countries. Cipe's Center for accountable investment advises countries on how to position themselves to receive constructive capital financing options from foreign sources and be less vulnerable to potentially damaging deals. This work includes a growing body of case studies and data from partners across asia and the pacific, africa, and latin america that assess the impact of china's belt and road initiative investments on recipient countries.

Reducing barriers to inclusive economic growth:work to support democratic governance and the institutions of a market economy must include efforts to reduce barriers to doing business and promoting an entrepreneurial culture with opportunities for all citizens. Cipe and partners worldwide are addressing a range of issues: access to information and finance, property rights, and the large volume of informal economic activities in many countries. Amid growing concerns about gender equality, many governments and peer organizations are looking to cipe's Center of excellence for women's economic empowerment for leadership. Core activities in papua new guinea, guatemala, and other countries include the operation of women's business resource centers, growing women's business networks, and increased work to combat gender-based violence and sexual harassment. As a host organization of the global alliance for trade facilitation, cipe is supporting public-private dialogue to streamline and modernize customs clearing and other processes in ecuador, brazil, malawi, and other countries. Cipe also continues to expand entrepreneurship and civic engagement opportunities for growing youth populations and persons with disabilities.