Overview
The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) works to strengthen democracy and economic development through private enterprise and market-oriented reform in over 80 countries around the world. In Pakistan, CIPE advocates for legal, regulatory, and institutional reforms to strengthen democratic governance and market-oriented reform. Having successfully advocated for legalizing Women’s Chambers in Pakistan as part of its contribution to the 2007 Trade Organizations Ordinance (TOO), CIPE now catalyzes partnerships with dedicated civil society groups and economic forums to champion participatory governance and enterprise growth amid challenging conditions.
CIPE Initiatives include capacity building of Women’s Chambers, assisting women leaders in addressing systemic barriers to participation, as well as nurturing transparent institutions that are grounded in real world experiences and are accountable to enterprising citizens. Responding to higher demands for positive change from sub national regions, CIPE supports the private sector’s role in upholding the values of democratic
governance in Pakistan.
CIPE works to empower stakeholders to collaboratively identify barriers to business growth and conduct evidence-based advocacy for market and governance reforms.
Through local partnerships in Pakistan, CIPE is currently:
- Strengthening grassroots private sector participation in policymaking
through public-private policy dialogues, cross-sector cooperation platforms,
and cultivating economic policy engagement networks. - Advocating for an enabling environment for women’s entrepreneurship by
enhancing district women’s chambers capacity, advocating legal reforms for
women entrepreneurs, and supporting a provincial women’s chambers
network. - Facilitating a participatory strategic planning process to guide long-term
initiatives for improving the business environment and economic governance
at the provincial level based on private sector input.
Why Is This Work Important?
CIPE’s work in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province helps protect and expand the limited
remaining space for civic engagement in economic governance. In the challenging
environment of Pakistan, CIPE’s initiatives are vital for:
- Empowering women’s entrepreneurship and amplifying their voices in policymaking
to ensure inclusive reform processes. - Strengthening private sector-led platforms like the National Network of Economic Think Tanks (NNETT) and the Economic Development Unit (EDU) that facilitate inclusive dialogue and advocacy for market-oriented reforms.
- Sustaining participatory democratic processes at the local level in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province that are central to Pakistan’s long-term stability and development.
Published Date: August 30, 2024