We are joined by Ali Ayadi, CIPE’s Country Representative in Tunisia, to discuss the changing social, political and economic environment of the country. He and host Ken Jaques begin by discussing the recent passing of the late President of Tunisia, Beji Caid Essebsi. Ayadi then discusses some of the work CIPE does with partners such as the Jasmine Foundation and Institute Arabe des Chefs d’Entreprises (IACE) to help boost youth entrepreneurship in the country, and how the office has been working with government, business, civil society to help pass reforms. One of such initiatives focuses on corruption, and how to help the business community identify top priorities to introduce reforms, noting that corruption is part of what keeps young people from being included in their national economy.
Emily Crain joins us this week on Democracy That Delivers to discuss her recent trip in Geneva, Switzerland, where she attended the Centenary of the International Labour Organization (ILO). Part of the conversations at the conference included the discussion of the convention concerning the elimination of violence and harassment in the world of work. She describes the nuances of the convention with the tripartite system (government, private sector, and workers), and the resulting Convention 190.
Emily Crain is the Director of Fontheim International, LLC, where she manages client relationships and corporate social responsibility initiatives. She also manages programs of GlobalWorks Foundation.
This week on Democracy That Delivers, our host is Lars Benson, Regional Director of Africa for CIPE. We are joined by co-host Ryan Musser, Program Officer for Africa at CIPE, and Eric Olander, the founder of the China Africa Project (CAP). CAP is an independent, non-partisan media initiative dedicated to exploring every facet of China’s engagement in Africa. The CAP is now followed by more than a million people around the world, especially among policymakers in Beijing and Washington. Eric is also the co-host of the weekly China in Africa podcast that is now among the top-10% most downloaded shows worldwide. Eric provides nuanced insights into China and its actions both in Africa and around the world, and the three discuss China’s “corrosive” investments across the continent.
Jehan Ara is a long-time CIPE partner, FEDN member, and President of the Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT & ITES (P@SHA) based in Islamabad. Jehan is a motivator, an entrepreneur, a social activist and a strong propagator of extending the power and use of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) beyond pure traditional business, to empower and enable communities.
In this episode, Jehan and CIPE's Regional Director for Global, Anna Kompanek, discuss some successes and challenges seen in Pakistan when it comes to advancing digital transformation of business, and the economy more broadly. They note that innovation and jobs increasingly depend on countries creating enabling environments for a digital economy.
To learn more about Jehan's work with P@SHA, please visit their website and their tech incubator's website, called The Nest i/o.