From Armenia, Shushan Doydoyan, president of the Freedom of Information Center, and Lilya Afrikyan, coordinator for the Prime Minister's Office of Open Government Partnership, join the Anti-Corruption & Governance Center podcast this week to discuss the challenges and successes Armenia is experiencing as it fights to enact beneficial ownership transparency (BOT) reforms. Just after its 2018 revolution, the country’s new government collaborated with civil society to implement a plan to transform existing beneficial ownership records into a comprehensive, digital, and open resource. Listen now to find out how and why the country was among the first to launch this kind of sweeping BOT initiative. This episode is hosted by CIPE’s Luiza Ayvazyan, Program Officer for Armenia on the South Caucasus team.
Wisborn Malaya, Secretary-General of the Zimbabwe Chamber of Informal Economy Associations (ZCIEA) joins Ryan Musser, Program Officer for CIPE's Africa team and Kim Bettcher, Director of CIPE's Policy and Program Learning team to discuss Malaya's experiences and insight into the informal economy in Zimbabwe and around the world.
Our hosts and guest discuss the similarities between the informal economy in Zimbabwe compared to other informal economies in other countries, Malaya's work with ZCIEA, lessons learned from advocating for the informal economy, and more.
Kristen Robinson, Head of Advocacy at the Open Contracting Partnership, joins the CIPE Anti-Corruption & Governance Center podcast to discuss what open contracting is, why the world needs it, and how the private sector can benefit and from open contracting reform. A third of the world's taxpayer money is spent on procurement -- a mind-boggling $13 Trillion -- making every citizen a stakeholder. As Robinson shares in the podcast and on a recent blog, there’s a lot of infrastructure required to ensure procurement is done quickly, effectively, and in a transparent and accountable manner. Listen now to hear why digitizing inefficient, paper-based procurement processes isn't enough; how open contracting principles can be a boon to governments and the business community alike; and how small- and medium-sized businesses can advocate for needed open contracting reforms. This episode is hosted by Richard Christel, Anti-Corruption Program Officer at CIPE.
Tricia Yeoh, CEO of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS), and Virak Ou, Founder of Future Forum, join Catherine Tai, Deputy Regional Director and Kendra Brock, Associate Program Officer, from CIPE's Asia and Pacific team to discuss the role of youth in improving infrastructure transparency and governance. IDEAS and Future Forum run programs with young people that enhance their capacity to evaluate policy and improve transparency, both at the subnational and national level and emphasize the importance of involving youth in policy discussions. This is the second and final part to the Democracy that Deliver's BRI Monitor mini-series.
In this episode, our guests and hosts discuss how their findings related to BRI monitoring, how the youth play a role in information gathering and research, and more.
Interns Camila Cepeda and Tina Dolbaia join their supervisors Morgan King, Associate Program Officer on the Latin America and Caribbean team, and Elizabeth Lenz Jedwab, Program Officer on the Europe and Eurasia team to talk the projects they have been working on and what it is like interning at CIPE. This is the final episode of Democracy that Delivers' "Emerging Leaders" mini-series featuring up-and-coming change-makers.
Our hosts and interns discuss what its like interning for CIPE, how their career goals ties into what they've learned, their capstone projects and what they learned throughout the process, and more.
Free Enterprise and Democracy Network (FEDN) Small Grant awardees Milos Nikolic of Libek in Serbia, Grace Nzou of Niusline Media in Kenya, and Yemi Adamolekun of Enough is Enough in Nigeria speak with Tamari Dzotsenidze, Associate Program Officer for CIPE's Policy and Program Learning team about their projects focused around increasing youth engagement in democracy and civic space.
In this episode, our host and guests discuss the impact of their small grants on democracy in their local community, special considerations when working with youth, and what gives them hope for the future.
Editor’s note: The Free Enterprise and Democracy Network (FEDN) will be hosting the second annual FEDN Conference with the theme “Rallying for Freedom: From Ideals to Engagement.” Register today for more insights from FEDN members!
Thom Townsend, Executive Director of Open Ownership, joins the CIPE Anti-Corruption & Governance Center podcast to talk about the past, present, and future of beneficial ownership transparency. Townsend draws from his organization's experience in over 30 countries unmasking the people who ultimately benefit from often opaque and complex ownership structures. Starting with a historical perspective on the invention of corporations, Townsend shares how modern (and still quite new) beneficial ownership practice requires multi-dimensional strategies. Among them: passing new legislation, setting up collection systems, and establishing new public sources of information. Listen now to hear Townsend's perspectives on the origins of tax havens and the tension between privacy and transparency, as well as learn how persistent barriers to information are complicating current efforts to raise transparency despite renewed global interest in financial and corporate secrecy. The episode is hosted by Richard Christel, Anti-Corruption Program Officer at CIPE.
As a key implementing partner of the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, CIPE is leading major reforms in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to democratize trade and make it more accessible to everyone. Among the many recent Alliance-supported projects: a recent landmark arrangement between eleven Latin American countries that is expected to significantly reduce the cost of international trade for companies with Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) certification. CIPE Executive Director Andrew Wilson and CIPE’s Head of Trade Programs Aurelio Garcia talk with BASF Customs and Foreign Trade Manager Fernando Wins about the impact of the groundbreaking agreement in a new Democracy that Delivers podcast.
Editor’s Note: The Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation is a public-private partnership led jointly by CIPE, the International Chamber of Commerce, and the World Economic Forum, in cooperation with Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The Alliance is among the finalists for this year’s P3 Impact Award issued jointly by the U.S. State Department’s Office of Global Partnerships, Concordia, and the University of Virginia Darden School Institute for Business in Society. The winner will be announced at Concordia’s 12th Annual Summit in mid-September.
Paul Barker, Executive Director of the Insititute for National Affairs and Victor Andres "Dindo" Manhit, Founder and President of Stratbase ADRi, join Catherine Tai and Kendra Brock on CIPE's Asia and Pacific team to discuss BRI investments in Papua New Guinea and the Philippines.
In this episode, our guests and hosts discuss the role that infrastructure investments play in elections and why transparency is critical to ensuring a democratic process, using the recent Papa New Guinea and the Philippines elections as examples.
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Grzegorz Makowski, former Public Integrity Forum Director and current Ideas Forum expert at the Batory Foundation, joins to talk about procurement processes, international dialogue, and integrity in the latest episode of the Anti-Corruption & Governance Center podcast. Makowski draws from his experience examining the logging and rail industries, to discuss how small, positive changesin transparency can have a cascading effect in countering corruption. He also offers insight into the roles that civil societies and non-profits can play in forming “integrity pacts.” Anna Kompanek, Director of Global Programs at CIPE, hosts the episode.
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The Integrity Pact - or Citizens in Tenders
Gregory Poling, Senior Fellow and Director at Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), and Charles Dunst, associate at The Asia Group and fellow at CSIS, join Jennifer Anderson, Senior Program Officer for CIPE's Asia and Pacific Team to discuss the implications of Cambodia's foreign policy as Cambodia hosts the 55th ASEAN Foreign Minister's meeting.
In this episode, our guests and host discuss the various events that lead to where Cambodia is today, as well as how Cambodia's open media and civil society environment is slowly beginning to close off. They also highlight China's involvement in Cambodia, Cambodian's want for positive relations with the United States, and how the United States can engage with Cambodia given it's involvement in ASEAN.
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Pariah or Partner? Clarifying the U.S. Approach to Cambodia
On Dangerous Ground: America's Century in the South China Sea
Dr. Francisco Magno, Professor of Political science at De La Salle University in Manila, joins Jennifer Anderson and Anna Baldonado from CIPE's Asia and Pacific Team on this final episode in our Philippines elections series. They discuss the new administration's agenda, rule of law, corruption and more.
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Beyond the Crisis: A Strategic Agenda for the Next President
Ryan Evangelista, Jennifer Anderson, and Anna Baldonado from CIPE's Asia and Pacific Team join this episode of the Philippines election series. They discuss the outlook for the Philippines under the new administration, the economy, and more.
Dr. Jean Encinas-Franco, Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of the Philippines Diliman, once again joins Jennifer Anderson, Senior Program Officer, as well as Srujana Penumetcha Huerter, Program Officer for the Philippines, from CIPE's Asia and Pacific team. In this continuation of our series on the Philippines election, Dr. Franco and Anderson talk about the recent outcome of the election and how social media, gender, and disinformation played into it.
Charles Dunst, current associate at The Asia Group, fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former foreign correspondent, joins Jennifer Anderson, Senior Program Officer for CIPE's Asia and Pacific Team to discuss Cambodia's election results. Charles has reported from Cambodia, as well as other countries, for The New York Times and The Atlantic. In this episode, Charles and Jennifer talk about how Cambodia got to where it is today, democracy promotion in Cambodia, and more.
Nora Wheelehan and Kendra Brock from CIPE's Asia & the Pacific team join their Deputy Regional Director, Catherine Tai, as well as co-host Zoe Watkins from the Communications department. This is the final episode of Democracy that Delivers' "Emerging Leaders" mini-series featuring up-and-coming change-makers. Nora and Kendra talk about their beginnings at CIPE, their projects and partners, the challenges that they have encountered and more.
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In this podcast by CIPE's Anti Corruption and Governance Center, Magdalena Krzysztofik and Wouter Scheepens from consultancy firm Steward Redqueen address how Environment, Social, and Governance (ESG) standards and principles are shaping the future of businesses in emerging markets. Listen now to hear Magdalena and Wouter share their experiences advising organizations that are marking tough decisions to improve sustainability and align with regulatory standards. They are joined by CIPE's ESG Coordinator Michele Crymes.
Jorge Ramirez of the International Training Centre of the International Labour Organization (ITC ILO) joins Morgan Frost, Program Officer on CIPE's Global Programs team in this final episode of the mini-series “Strengthening Resilience," discussing the importance of fostering organizational resilience, especially in times of crisis. They examine key elements of resilience which can support organizations to weather disruptions, navigate changes in the business environment, and support their local communities. They also discuss CIPE and ITC ILO’s partnership on a training curriculum titled “Fostering Resilience and Embracing Digitalization,” designed specifically for managers and board members of Employer and Business Membership Organizations (EBMOs). The curriculum takes a close look at best practices and strategies to help local private sector organizations better prepare, adapt, and respond in times of crisis.
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Žiga Žarnić from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)'s Centre on Well-being, Inclusion, Sustainability and Equal Opportunity (WISE) joins CIPE's Director of Global Programs, Anna Kompanek, in this episode of the "Strengthening Resilience" mini series. This episode examines key indicators that help measure a country's ability to recover in times of crisis. The episode highlights the OECD COVID-19 Recovery Dashboard, a tool that outlines "indicators to monitor the quality of the recovery - whether it is strong, inclusive, green and resilient, with gender inequalities highlighted throughout." Finally, the podcast examines how the just green transition can help keep long-term goals of sustainability in mind, while tackling the immediate pressures from COVID-19.
Ben Kiragu, Chief Executive Officer of Development Management Services and Kenya Country Representative for CIPE joins our Africa team's Senior Program Officer, Lola Adekanye, to talk about corruption within Kenya's private sector. They discuss the highlights, opportunities, and challenges to private sector collaboration when it comes to tackling corruption.
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Imaobong Akpan-Ita and Adia Armstrong from CIPE's Africa team join their Regional Director, Lars Benson, as well as co-hosts Zoe Watkins and Autumn Moore from the Communications Department. This is the latest episode of Democracy that Deliver's "Emerging Leaders" mini-series featuring up-and-coming change-makers. Imaobong and Adia talk about their role models, give advice for fellow young professionals, and discuss their projects with CIPE and more.
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Dr. Jean Encinas-Franco, Associate Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of the Philippines, joins our host Jennifer Anderson from CIPE's Asia and Pacific team. This is the second episode of our series on the Philippines elections, a critical crossroads to elect a set of leaders to navigate the country's road to economic recovery and democratic renewal. In this episode, our host and guests discuss the various challenges and opportunities surrounding the election, from how established institutions can be impacted, to how the support of the youth's vote can effect the outcome of the election.
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Coco Alcuaz, Executive Director of the Makati Business Club (MBC), one of the largest business associations in the Philippines, joins our hosts Jennifer Anderson and Ryan Evangelista from CIPE's Asia and Pacific team. This is the first episode of our series on the Philippines elections, a critical crossroads to elect a set of leaders to navigate the country’s road to economic recovery and democratic renewal. In this episode, our hosts and guests discuss how election discourse can be influenced by social media and fighting the disinformation that comes with it.
Adam Sachs and Leila Zarifi from CIPE’s own Global Programs department join co-hosts Autumn Moore and Zoe Watkins on Democracy that Delivers’ “Emerging Leaders” mini-series featuring up-and-coming change-makers. We explore their team’s unique mission to incubate solutions for universal challenges, such as digital transformation and youth engagement. As young professionals themselves, Adam and Leila also open up about their career paths, from the obstacles of cross-cultural collaboration to the motivations behind their impactful work.
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