Blog - Center for International Private Enterprise

Latin America’s Orange Economy Creates Opportunity

Una versión en español está disponible aquí. The orange economy is a space where like-minded creative entrepreneurs come together as they create businesses focused on art and culture in their communities. In Latin America, the orange economy is the engine that drives culture and creativity and ...

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Rebuilding Ethiopia: 2023

As Ethiopia emerges from a destructive two-year war that destroyed many lives and property in the north, all efforts need to be focused on reconstruction and economic recovery. Even more critical is the need to include representatives of informal business, women, and youth that were particularly aff...

Bridging the Gap Between Decisionmakers and Constituents in Iraq’s Muthanna Province

This blog post is part of a two-part series on transparency in Iraq. Click here to read the first blog in the series. Communication is vital to any political system. Decisionmakers need to know what constituents want in order to advocate for favorable and demanded legislation. If policymakers don�...

Boosting Association Revenues

One of the risks facing many African associations is their dependence on membership revenues. The American Association of Association Executives (ASAE), which conducts annual studies of chamber and association executives, found that membership revenue has been declining over time and the cost of mem...

Six Things We Learned About Cooperatives and Associations in Somalia

Up to the present, little has been known about the structure and performance of Somalia’s membership organizations. In 2022, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) undertook a comprehensive field-based mapping exercise to assess the capacity, roles, and needs of 38 membership orga...

Iraqi Businessmen Union Scores a Big Win for Decentralization in Anbar

This blog post is part of a two-part series on transparency in Iraq. Click here to read the second blog in the series. For years, Iraqi provinces have lagged in economic and infrastructure development, in large part because of a lack of adequate federal funding and accountability. Despite the Iraqi...

Call to Action: Refugee Financial Inclusion in Kenya

Refugees are typically a group of people shut out from economic opportunity and the political processes that affect their lives. Enhancing the self-reliance of refugees is crucial to achieving a more inclusive and democratic society. CIPE draws on 40 years of lessons learned across the world to supp...

Combatting Gender-Based Violence by Promoting Women’s Economic Empowerment in the Republic of Moldova

Editor’s Note: Addressing GBV (gender-based violence) is a growing part of programs to advance women’s economic empowerment. This insightful article on initiatives in Moldova was first posted on the Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE) website on July 6, 2023. Gender-based violence (GBV) is a per...

Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment, Combatting Gender-Based Violence: Two Years of Wage Moldova

Editor’s Note: CIPE and partners are highlighting the outcomes of a unique two-year women’s economic empowerment program in Moldova. This article by CIPE staff was first posted on the Women and Girls Empowered (WAGE) website on September 13, 2023. In January of 2023, the Women and Girls Emp...

Stories from Guatemala: How CIPE’s Women’s Business Resource Center is Helping Women Grow Their Businesses (Part 6)

Entrepreneurship has the power to transform lives. When women are given the necessary support and resources, their businesses can thrive, and they can become more active members of their communities. María Ixchajchal and Monica Rodas are two entrepreneurs who took advantage of resources provided by...

World Refugee Day: Creating Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystems for Women Migrants and Refugees in Costa Rica

With millions of people displaced from their homes because of conflict, persecution, and other forms of violence, the current refugee crisis is one of the biggest humanitarian challenges we face as a global community. In response, the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) works with pa...

Powerful Lessons: How to Harness Ukraine’s Talent and Reform the Business Ecosystem

The war in Ukraine has made a profound impact on the country’s economy and labor market: more than 10 percent of the population has left the country, and of those that remain almost 10 percent are unemployed. The government and international organizations are working together to rebuild the e...

Growing. Engaging. Staying Fresh: An Interview with Gamal Abou Ali of the Egyptian Junior Business Association

It’s a challenge maturing business associations face worldwide: how to grow and prosper but maintain the ability to pivot and evolve – all while engaging with key public decision-makers. Gamal Abou Ali, Chairman of the Egyptian Junior Business Association (EJB), discussed this and broader challe...

Ideation Workshop “How to Increase the Share of Women in the ICT Field”

CIPE partner the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ECCI), the oldest and largest representative organization of entrepreneurs in Estonia, organized an ideation workshop “How to Increase the Share of Women in the ICT Field.” This workshop is part of a joint Businesswomen and Tec...

“Crony State Capitalism” and Private-Sector Responses

Over the last several years, CIPE frequently observed that the quality of foreign investments impacts domestic business ecosystems and institutional performance. However, questions remain about the ways that these processes are evolving. To further CIPE’s exploration into this phenomenon and conti...

The Future of Business: Women and the Digital Economy

Women’s active participation in the economy is crucial to reduce global economic disparities, ensure sustainable growth, and increase democratic participation. To this end, CIPE supports women-owned businesses by investing in skill-building and tailored assistance programs for women worldwide. Wit...

A New Way to Help Rebuild Ukraine

While pitched battles for a sovereign and independent Ukraine rage on, governments worldwide are engaged with Ukraine to discuss its future. One very important voice is often missing: that of the private sector. Many outside of Ukraine are only passively familiar with the country’s business enviro...

Engaging the Business Community on Beneficial Ownership Transparency in Zambia

Last week, Zambia co-hosted the Summit for Democracy, jointly with Costa Rica, the Republic of Korea, and the United States of America. In the nation’s capital of Lusaka, both government and civil society organized a range of conversations diving into important issues such as electoral integrity, ...

Future of the Western Balkans Region — Stories of Economic Success as an Inspiration for the Serbian Youth

Editors’ Note: Milos Nikolic is a member of the CIPE-supported Free Enterprise and Democracy Network and currently serves as President of Libek, a leading think tank in Serbia. Nikolic offers his opinions on the importance of engaging youth on decisions for the future and explains how his organiza...

Ukrainian Business Council’s Advocacy for Price Transparency Law Advances Anti-corruption Agenda

The Ukrainian Business Council (UBC), a CIPE partner, succeeded in advocating for a law on price transparency for military supplies, which was signed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on March 21, 2023. The law mandates the publication of prices for military and other supplies procured by de...