An increasing number of policy and governance challenges such as inclusive growth, poverty reduction, government accountability, business integrity, and innovation demand private sector participation in order to generate viable solutions. Business advocacy and public-private dialogue (PPD) provide a structured, participatory, and inclusive approach to policymaking directed at reforming governance and the business climate, especially where other policy institutions are underperforming. Governments that listen to the private sector are more likely to design credible reforms and win support for their policies.
Private sector organizations, such as independent chambers of commerce and business associations, are key elements of their local civil societies as they represent the voice of business – including small and medium-sized firms – in policy reforms. A broad-based, competitive private sector in turn fosters an environment conducive to vibrant political discourse and competition, and places checks on the power of government. Providing tools and resources to build the capacity of private sector organizations to be reformers in building market-oriented democracies now is more crucial than ever.
CIPE helps local private sector organizations become active and effective participants in the democratic dialogue process in their respective countries. By creating and disseminating resources aimed at strengthening business associations and other private sector organizations such as economic think tanks, CIPE equips them with the tools and support to confidently participate in public policy debates, such as:
- Business Associations for the 21st Century, a business association management guidebook that helps associations develop effective governance, programs, and advocacy efforts in order create more favorable business climate in their countries.
- Cost-Benefit: A Practical Guide for Civil Society Organizations, a handbook to assist business associations and civil society organizations with conducting cost-benefit analyses of proposed policies or reforms, and to present their findings in ways that are easily understood by policymakers and the public.
- Virtual Business Association, a platform for associations and chambers professional to learn best practices in various aspects of membership-based organization operations, such as advocacy, financial management, strategic planning, and conducting cost-benefit analyses of government proposed reforms.
- How-To Guide for Economic Think Tanks, an interactive online resource sharing lessons from think tank experts and practitioners around the world in policy influence and organizational vitality.
These accessible resources provide reformers with best practices and practical tools to help executives run their organizations more effectively, and to become an authoritative voice of the private sector on policy issues. CIPE also facilitates spaces for dialogue and collaborates with international organizations such as the World Bank to help shape and disseminate best practices on PPD as the key to good governance and development.