Advancing Prosperity in the Digital Age
Technology is increasingly being leveraged to transform political, economic, social, and civic participation. CIPE’s Center for Digital Economy and Governance (CDEG) advances democratic digital transformation in emerging economies. CDEG does this by supporting private sector leadership in efforts to address complex policy challenges and ongoing risks and barriers. This includes identifying new ways to harness technology for innovation and opportunity while combatting digital authoritarian threats.
“Businesses – regardless of size or location – can bridge digital divides, advance innovation, and promote opportunity in an increasingly digital world through leadership on policy dialogue, advocacy, and partnerships with governments and civil society.”
– CIPE CDEG Director Louisa Tomar
CDEG supports CIPE’s extensive network of partners and activities across more than 100 countries.
Through its programs, CIPE and partners are also actively addressing complex challenges to democratic and prosperous digital ecosystems.
At the Center: Local Business
CDEG’s digital democracy programs span two mutually reinforcing areas to raise awareness, address the rise of digital authoritarianism, and advance technology-enabled democracy and economic development. Local business is at the center of policy advocacy and dialogue.
Advancing Digital Economies |
Promoting Democratic Digital Governance |
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News & Resources
Thought leadership and tools related to evolving digital democracy trends, including new research.
Global Spotlight
Armenia: Expanding Skills and Access
More micro and small business owners have access to the digital economy and improved digital literacy, due to a CIPE Armenia initiative with Business Support Center (BSC), a local partner. Following surveys and assessments, the two adapted training materials from CIPE’s online course Harnessing the Power of the Digital Economy: MSME Guide to Digital Transformation (HPDE) and translated it into an Armenian Guidebook with localized content and guidance on existing laws and regulations. CIPE and BSC also led policy dialogue to help improve the business environment.
Slovakia: Digital Transformation
Bratislava, Slovakia is the location of CIPE’s Europe headquarters and staff work closely with business networks across many countries to promote democratic digital transformation policies through partnerships with private sector organizations such as SAPIE and the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA).
Philippines: Digital Literacy for MSMEs
CIPE’s Asia Regional Office in Manila is the site of many efforts, including the launch of digital skilling pilot programs to assist small and medium-sized businesses using the HPDE course through a “training-of-facilitators” model with organizations throughout the country. Watch this video to see how they are doing it. CIPE and its partners are also contributing to a USAID program called SPEED, short for Strengthening Private Enterprise for the Digital Economy. It is a five-year, $18 million, project to boost e-commerce through the increased use of new technologies related to everything from e-payments to supply-chain logistics.
Indonesia: Policy Analysis and Dialogue
CIPE and the Center for Indonesian Policy Studies (CIPS), a leading think tank and longtime partner, collaborate on digital economy policy analysis and dialogue. This includes CIPS’ flagship paper on Co-regulating the Indonesian Digital Economy. Listen to this CIPE podcast to learn more about the work the two organizations are doing in the area of digital governance, as well as CIPE’s support of CIPS’ role in T20, the think tank counterpart to G20 during Indonesia’s stint as president.
Papua New Guinea: Combating the Spread of Digital Authoritarianism
CIPE supported digital policy reform, digital skilling, and research on ICT investment projects in Papua New Guinea (PNG) in close coordination with its Women’s Business Resource Centre in Port Moresby. Given the unique linguistic and digital landscape in PNG, many English words, especially those pertaining to digital systems are simply not part of the Tok Pisin language. The need to develop this mini-dictionary arose organically during efforts to translate training materials on digital concepts and the digital economy. CIPE utilized this new resource to help translate the HPDE course into Tok Pisin and bring awareness to digital authoritarian risks in the region.
Colombia: Digital Transformation in Conflict Affected Regions
CIPE’s Colombia Country Office worked closely with Innpulsa Colombia (an entrepreneurship and innovation agency of the National Government), to promote the business capacity of Colombian MSMEs in the digital economy. This project is aligned with the National Development Plan “Colombia, Potencia Mundial de la Vida” (2022-2026) and will target communities in regions most affected by conflict and poverty.
El Salvador: AI Policy Analysis
CIPE worked closely with leading think tank, FUSADES to assist local businesses with understanding and capitalizing on AI in the region and beyond. Watch the three-part webinar series here.
Argentina: Strengthening Smart Municipal Governance
CIPE is collaborating with the Center for the Implementation of Public Policies Promoting Equity and Growth (CIPPEC) to develop policy recommendations that strengthen municipal digital capabilities and public service delivery.
Ethiopia: Policy Analysis and Business Leadership
CIPE’s office in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia has been leading private sector engagement on digital transformation and digital economy throughout the country and region. Learn more about this program here!
Zimbabwe: Understanding Zimbabwe’s Municipal Digital Transformation
CIPE supported Paradigm Initiative (PIN) to examine citizen perceptions of Zimbabwe’s smart city development and approaches to help safeguard rights.
Morocco: Promoting the Digital Economy
CIPE Morocco developed a tailored digital literacy training program that is responsive to the needs of MSMEs and local business organizations in Morocco. Leveraging this locally-adapted resource, CIPE Morocco organized training of trainer sessions for local businesses and entrepreneurs to access the digital economy and promote dialogue for a prosperous digital economy ecosystem.