View allAll Photos Tagged programme
The Civil Society Programme took place on Wednesday 11 May and Thursday 12 May and provided an opportunity for dialogue between civil society and EBRD staff, senior management, the President and Board Directors. It was an occasion for civil society stakeholders to learn more about the Bank and discuss issues of interest and concern regarding the EBRD’s policies and investment projects.
The Programme also featured multi-stakeholder roundtable sessions on key strategic themes related to the role of civil society as an important actor in transition and development processes. Special features of the Civil Society Programme 2016 were discussions on:
•25 years of Transition - The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
•Engaging civil society to promote transparent procurement
•EBRD’s Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2016-2020): the role of civil society
•Inclusion through skills and innovatiom
In addition, a panel organised by the youth organisation AIESEC looked at the role of youth in shaping the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
25 years of Transition: The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
A fire-side chat with Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics, Sciences Po (incoming EBRD Chief Economist)
Civil society, operating in the space between public and private sectors, has played an important role in socio-political and economic transition processes around the world, including the EBRD’s traditional countries of operations. In 25 years since the establishment of the EBRD, civil society’s contribution to transition has varied across the post-communist transition region. In some countries, the work of civil society organisations (CSOs) has contributed to more democratic political systems and more open market based economies as a ‘reputational actor’ performing a ‘watchdog’ function and as a generator of ‘social capital’ necessary to sustain the change process through the difficult early years. In other countries, the focus of CSOs has been on providing a variety of social services particularly to disadvantaged and vulnerable people negatively affected by the transition process. Many civil society actors have been operating in restrictive regulatory environments, and have relied heavily on international donor funding.
What has been civil society’s input into promoting good governance, sustainable development and economic inclusion in EBRD’s traditional region over the past few decades? What are the key lessons learned, from both its successes and failures that can be applied to other countries embarking on a transition process? What steps could be taken to increase the role of civil society in promoting positive changes in societies and economies?
The discussion looked back at the key achievements and setbacks of the civil society sector in contributing to transition since the Bank’s establishment. It also reflected upon the challenges ahead for civil society in building well-governed, sustainable and inclusive economies and societies.
The Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) currently includes over 100 issuing banks in the EBRD regions and more than 800 confirming banks worldwide. The event gave 150 guests the opportunity to review and discuss current market challenges with key industry specialists, regulators and representatives from the World Trade Organization, the International Chamber of Commerce HQ and the local, national International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) committees industry. It also featured the highly popular annual award ceremony for ‘The Most Active EBRD TFP Banks’ and ‘Deal of the Year’, co-hosted with the “Financial Times Special Editions”.
Moderators
Anna Brod
Principal Banker, EBRD
Kamola Makhmudova
Associate Director, Senior Banker, TFP, EBRD
Rudolf Putz
Head Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP), EBRD
Speakers
Marc Auboin
Counsellor, World Trade Organization
Faycal Badawi
Director of Foreign Banking Relations & Trade Financing, BMCE Bank Of Africa
Chafic Haddad
Head of EMEA, Financial Institutions, Citi
Andrea Hauptmann
Executive Director, Head of Guarantees Department, Raiffeisen Bank International AG
William Howarth
President, International Compliance Association
Alan Ketley
Managing Director, Global AML Advisory, MUFG
Hans Krohn
Regional Head CIS, Commerzbank AG
David Yung-Lo Lin
Representative, Taipei Representative Office in the UK
Francis Malige
Managing Director Financial Institutions Group, EBRD
Jelena Moraca
Corporate Strategy & Transactional Banking Department Deputy m, Eurobank A. D.
Ulf-Peter Noetzel
Global Head of Trade Finance Financial Institutions, Deutsche Bank AG
Vincent O'Brien
Chair, ICC Banking Commission
Selma Omić
COO - Member of the Management Board, Addiko Bank dd
Lakis Pantelides
Manager Trade Services, Bank of Cyprus Group
Sanela Pašić
CEO - President of the Management Board, Addiko Bank dd
Elena Ristevska
Senior Officer, Komercijalna Banka AD Skopje
Senad Softić
Governor, Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Photo Title: Little optometry programme 2020
Submitted by: Bipin Koirala
Category: Amateur
Country: Nepal
Organisation: Nepal Optometry Students Society
COVID-19 Photo: No
Photo Caption: gross refraction
----
Photo uploaded from the #HopeInSight Photo Competition on photocomp.iapb.org held for World Sight Day 2020.
HE Ms. Pirkko Hämäläinen, Resident Representative of Finland to the IAEA, presented to Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General, a pledge letter of financial support to the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme during his official visit at the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria, on 2 November 2020.
Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA
IAEA:
Jacek Bylica, IAEA Chief of Cabinet
Ewelina Hilger, IAEA Special Advisor to the Director General
The Civil Society Programme took place on Wednesday 11 May and Thursday 12 May and provided an opportunity for dialogue between civil society and EBRD staff, senior management, the President and Board Directors. It was an occasion for civil society stakeholders to learn more about the Bank and discuss issues of interest and concern regarding the EBRD’s policies and investment projects.
The Programme also featured multi-stakeholder roundtable sessions on key strategic themes related to the role of civil society as an important actor in transition and development processes. Special features of the Civil Society Programme 2016 were discussions on:
•25 years of Transition - The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
•Engaging civil society to promote transparent procurement
•EBRD’s Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2016-2020): the role of civil society
•Inclusion through skills and innovatiom
In addition, a panel organised by the youth organisation AIESEC looked at the role of youth in shaping the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
25 years of Transition: The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
A fire-side chat with Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics, Sciences Po (incoming EBRD Chief Economist)
Civil society, operating in the space between public and private sectors, has played an important role in socio-political and economic transition processes around the world, including the EBRD’s traditional countries of operations. In 25 years since the establishment of the EBRD, civil society’s contribution to transition has varied across the post-communist transition region. In some countries, the work of civil society organisations (CSOs) has contributed to more democratic political systems and more open market based economies as a ‘reputational actor’ performing a ‘watchdog’ function and as a generator of ‘social capital’ necessary to sustain the change process through the difficult early years. In other countries, the focus of CSOs has been on providing a variety of social services particularly to disadvantaged and vulnerable people negatively affected by the transition process. Many civil society actors have been operating in restrictive regulatory environments, and have relied heavily on international donor funding.
What has been civil society’s input into promoting good governance, sustainable development and economic inclusion in EBRD’s traditional region over the past few decades? What are the key lessons learned, from both its successes and failures that can be applied to other countries embarking on a transition process? What steps could be taken to increase the role of civil society in promoting positive changes in societies and economies?
The discussion looked back at the key achievements and setbacks of the civil society sector in contributing to transition since the Bank’s establishment. It also reflected upon the challenges ahead for civil society in building well-governed, sustainable and inclusive economies and societies.
Delegates at the Poster Session event during the Member State Support Programme Coordinators’ meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria on 9 March 2016.
Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA
The programme sellers aren't overrun with business. By the end of the day, you almost feel sorry for them.
59th ABU General Assembly and Associated Meetings 2022
25 November - 30 November 2022
New Delhi, India
Copyright Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Please credit accordingly.
Sorry, no can do with a photo of Dave Curtis winning the March Hare - but this brilliant Harry Stanfield shot, taken from the short-lived 'Event' magazine*, shows Dave flying to a win over Don Rickman in that summer's 1960 Berkshire Grand National - run over the same course high on the Berkshire Downs.
[ * - only ever two issues: 2/6d a go ]
59th ABU General Assembly and Associated Meetings 2022
25 November - 30 November 2022
New Delhi, India
Copyright Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union. Please credit accordingly.
Theatre programme for a production of 'Arsenic and Old Lace', by Joseph Kesselring. Performed by The Lawrence Williamson Players at the Hippodrome and Queen's Theatre, Keighley, from Monday 22nd September 1947. It ran for six nights, including a Wednesday matinee and two performances on the Saturday evening.
The Lawrence-Williamson Players were in residence at the Hippodrome throughout the summer and autumn of 1947. This particular production starred Ann Jackson, Leonard Clarke, Arthur Rees, Geoffrey Kellett, Margaret Lloyd, Enid Irvin, Donald Morley, Stanley Collings, Arnold Sutcliffe, Adam O'Riordan and John Kinsella. Piano accompaniment was provided by Irene Marriner and Margaret Rothwell. The play was produced by Arthur Rees. Furniture for the production was loaned by Messrs. Grays (Furnishers) Ltd. of Church Green, while electrical equipment and radio was loaned by Bacon & Coates Ltd. of Royal Arcade.
The play was previewed in the Keighley News of 20th September 1947: "In the comedy-thriller 'Arsenic and Old Lace', to be presented by the Lawrence-Williamson Players next week, a character remarks that 'Here's a strange taint in the Brewater blood. If you knew my family it's what you woulkd expect of Strondberg had written 'Hellza Poppin'.' The remark could have been made equally well of this sinister, bizarre and ludicrously funny play. The theatregoer writhes in his seat with laughter and the next moment the laugh is frozen on his face and turned to a gasp of horror. The play has been filmed, but the stage is the only medium for its true portrayal. An augmented cast and special scenery have been secured for this notable production."
The programme also carries adverts for L. B. Lockwood & Co. (carpets and curtains) of Bradford; Timothy Taylor's Better Beers from Knowle Spring Brewery; Thomas Whitehead & Son (Tanners) Ltd. of Church Green; Dobson's Health Food & Herbal Store of Bow Street; Airways Taxis (proprietor J. Watkinson); R. Dewhurst (tobacconist) of Silsden; Sun Street Printing Works (Keighley) Ltd.; and E. & T. Wall Ltd. (wine merchants) of Hanover Street.
The original programme was donated to Keighley and District Local History Society by Tim Neal in August 2020. It is held in the History Society's physical archive.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General, delivers his opening remarks at the Informal (virtual) Technical Briefing on Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship Programme (MSCFP) by the Secretariat held at the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 6 December 2021
Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA
From left to right: Nevest Perovic, Unit Head (Programme and Budget) MTBF, Maria Naydenova MSCFP Project Manager, Rafael Mariano Grossi, IAEA Director General, Mikhail Chudakov, IAEA Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Energy, Alina Josan, Resource Mobilization Coordinator, Nuclear Energy, and Tatjana Jevremovic, MSCFP Technical Selection Committee Chair.
The Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) currently includes over 100 Issuing Banks in the EBRD region and more than 800 Confirming Banks worldwide. The event gave EBRD partner banks the opportunity to review and discuss industry challenges, pricing, limits and trade opportunities with key industry specialists, regulators and representatives from the World Trade Organization, the International Chamber of Commerce HQ and local National ICC Committees.
It also featured the highly popular award ceremony for ‘The Most Active EBRD TFP Banks’ and ‘The Best Transaction of 2016’.
Leadership Development Programme (LDP), Pillar 2: People and Organization Management - Opening Event held at the Agency headquarters in Vienna, Austria. 27 June 2023
Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA
The Civil Society Programme took place on Wednesday 11 May and Thursday 12 May and provided an opportunity for dialogue between civil society and EBRD staff, senior management, the President and Board Directors. It was an occasion for civil society stakeholders to learn more about the Bank and discuss issues of interest and concern regarding the EBRD’s policies and investment projects.
The Programme also featured multi-stakeholder roundtable sessions on key strategic themes related to the role of civil society as an important actor in transition and development processes. Special features of the Civil Society Programme 2016 were discussions on:
•25 years of Transition - The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
•Engaging civil society to promote transparent procurement
•EBRD’s Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2016-2020): the role of civil society
•Inclusion through skills and innovatiom
In addition, a panel organised by the youth organisation AIESEC looked at the role of youth in shaping the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
25 years of Transition: The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
A fire-side chat with Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics, Sciences Po (incoming EBRD Chief Economist)
Civil society, operating in the space between public and private sectors, has played an important role in socio-political and economic transition processes around the world, including the EBRD’s traditional countries of operations. In 25 years since the establishment of the EBRD, civil society’s contribution to transition has varied across the post-communist transition region. In some countries, the work of civil society organisations (CSOs) has contributed to more democratic political systems and more open market based economies as a ‘reputational actor’ performing a ‘watchdog’ function and as a generator of ‘social capital’ necessary to sustain the change process through the difficult early years. In other countries, the focus of CSOs has been on providing a variety of social services particularly to disadvantaged and vulnerable people negatively affected by the transition process. Many civil society actors have been operating in restrictive regulatory environments, and have relied heavily on international donor funding.
What has been civil society’s input into promoting good governance, sustainable development and economic inclusion in EBRD’s traditional region over the past few decades? What are the key lessons learned, from both its successes and failures that can be applied to other countries embarking on a transition process? What steps could be taken to increase the role of civil society in promoting positive changes in societies and economies?
The discussion looked back at the key achievements and setbacks of the civil society sector in contributing to transition since the Bank’s establishment. It also reflected upon the challenges ahead for civil society in building well-governed, sustainable and inclusive economies and societies.
A Graduation Ceremony for those who studied for their Bachelor of Laws (LLB) in Mauritius with the University of London International Programmes took place on Sunday 1 September in Flic-en-Flac with over 300 graduates and guests in attendance. This was the first time the University of London had hosted a graduation ceremony in Mauritius, and commemorated 140 years since Mauritius produced the first ever University of London graduates to take their exams outside Great Britain. UoLIP staff were joined by guests which included His Lordship The Hon. Yeung Kam John Yeung Sik Yuen, Chief Justice of the Republic of Mauritius , Dr the Hon. Rajeshwar Jeetah, Minister of Tertiary Education, Science, Research and Technology , Professor Lucien Finette, Director of the Mauritius Education Syndicate, Ms Dawn Long, Director of the British Council in Mauritius and Mr Nick Leake, British High Commissioner to Mauritius.
Programme Name: Doctor Who - TX: 18/05/2013 - Episode: The Name of the Doctor (No. 08) - Embargoed for publication until: 17/05/2013 - Picture Shows: *STRICTLY EMBARGOED FOR USE UNTIL FRIDAY 17th MAY 2013* Clara (JENNA-LOUISE COLEMAN) - (C) BBC - Photographer: screengrabs
The Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) currently includes over 100 Issuing Banks in the EBRD region and more than 800 Confirming Banks worldwide. The event gave EBRD partner banks the opportunity to review and discuss industry challenges, pricing, limits and trade opportunities with key industry specialists, regulators and representatives from the World Trade Organization, the International Chamber of Commerce HQ and local National ICC Committees.
It also featured the highly popular award ceremony for ‘The Most Active EBRD TFP Banks’ and ‘The Best Transaction of 2016’.
The Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) currently includes over 100 issuing banks in the EBRD regions and more than 800 confirming banks worldwide. The event gave 150 guests the opportunity to review and discuss current market challenges with key industry specialists, regulators and representatives from the World Trade Organization, the International Chamber of Commerce HQ and the local, national International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) committees industry. It also featured the highly popular annual award ceremony for ‘The Most Active EBRD TFP Banks’ and ‘Deal of the Year’, co-hosted with the “Financial Times Special Editions”.
Moderators
Anna Brod
Principal Banker, EBRD
Kamola Makhmudova
Associate Director, Senior Banker, TFP, EBRD
Rudolf Putz
Head Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP), EBRD
Speakers
Marc Auboin
Counsellor, World Trade Organization
Faycal Badawi
Director of Foreign Banking Relations & Trade Financing, BMCE Bank Of Africa
Chafic Haddad
Head of EMEA, Financial Institutions, Citi
Andrea Hauptmann
Executive Director, Head of Guarantees Department, Raiffeisen Bank International AG
William Howarth
President, International Compliance Association
Alan Ketley
Managing Director, Global AML Advisory, MUFG
Hans Krohn
Regional Head CIS, Commerzbank AG
David Yung-Lo Lin
Representative, Taipei Representative Office in the UK
Francis Malige
Managing Director Financial Institutions Group, EBRD
Jelena Moraca
Corporate Strategy & Transactional Banking Department Deputy m, Eurobank A. D.
Ulf-Peter Noetzel
Global Head of Trade Finance Financial Institutions, Deutsche Bank AG
Vincent O'Brien
Chair, ICC Banking Commission
Selma Omić
COO - Member of the Management Board, Addiko Bank dd
Lakis Pantelides
Manager Trade Services, Bank of Cyprus Group
Sanela Pašić
CEO - President of the Management Board, Addiko Bank dd
Elena Ristevska
Senior Officer, Komercijalna Banka AD Skopje
Senad Softić
Governor, Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) currently includes over 100 Issuing Banks in the EBRD region and more than 800 Confirming Banks worldwide. The event gave EBRD partner banks the opportunity to review and discuss industry challenges, pricing, limits and trade opportunities with key industry specialists, regulators and representatives from the World Trade Organization, the International Chamber of Commerce HQ and local National ICC Committees.
It also featured the highly popular award ceremony for ‘The Most Active EBRD TFP Banks’ and ‘The Best Transaction of 2016’.
The Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) currently includes over 100 issuing banks in the EBRD regions and more than 800 confirming banks worldwide. The event gave 150 guests the opportunity to review and discuss current market challenges with key industry specialists, regulators and representatives from the World Trade Organization, the International Chamber of Commerce HQ and the local, national International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) committees industry. It also featured the highly popular annual award ceremony for ‘The Most Active EBRD TFP Banks’ and ‘Deal of the Year’, co-hosted with the “Financial Times Special Editions”.
Moderators
Anna Brod
Principal Banker, EBRD
Kamola Makhmudova
Associate Director, Senior Banker, TFP, EBRD
Rudolf Putz
Head Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP), EBRD
Speakers
Marc Auboin
Counsellor, World Trade Organization
Faycal Badawi
Director of Foreign Banking Relations & Trade Financing, BMCE Bank Of Africa
Chafic Haddad
Head of EMEA, Financial Institutions, Citi
Andrea Hauptmann
Executive Director, Head of Guarantees Department, Raiffeisen Bank International AG
William Howarth
President, International Compliance Association
Alan Ketley
Managing Director, Global AML Advisory, MUFG
Hans Krohn
Regional Head CIS, Commerzbank AG
David Yung-Lo Lin
Representative, Taipei Representative Office in the UK
Francis Malige
Managing Director Financial Institutions Group, EBRD
Jelena Moraca
Corporate Strategy & Transactional Banking Department Deputy m, Eurobank A. D.
Ulf-Peter Noetzel
Global Head of Trade Finance Financial Institutions, Deutsche Bank AG
Vincent O'Brien
Chair, ICC Banking Commission
Selma Omić
COO - Member of the Management Board, Addiko Bank dd
Lakis Pantelides
Manager Trade Services, Bank of Cyprus Group
Sanela Pašić
CEO - President of the Management Board, Addiko Bank dd
Elena Ristevska
Senior Officer, Komercijalna Banka AD Skopje
Senad Softić
Governor, Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina
Programme sellers booth on the Joe Mercer Way. Not on a match day. There would be loads more of people here if it were.
Moycullen play Killimordaly in the Galway Intermediate Hurling Final at Kenny Park, Athenry on the 30th October, 2011. The match finishes with a narrow win for Moycullen 2-10 to Killimordaly 0-13.
Delegates attending the Member State Support Programme Coordinators’ meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria on 8 March 2016.
Photo Credit: Dean Calma / IAEA
The Trade Facilitation Programme (TFP) currently includes over 100 Issuing Banks in the EBRD region and more than 800 Confirming Banks worldwide. The event gave EBRD partner banks the opportunity to review and discuss industry challenges, pricing, limits and trade opportunities with key industry specialists, regulators and representatives from the World Trade Organization, the International Chamber of Commerce HQ and local National ICC Committees.
It also featured the highly popular award ceremony for ‘The Most Active EBRD TFP Banks’ and ‘The Best Transaction of 2016’.
Safe and Fair programme, through a partnership with Raks Thai Foundation, promoted Thai language lessons to Cambodian migrant workers and their family members in Rayong Province. The Thai lessons included information about how to stay safe during COVID-19, labour rights and gender-based violence. The language lessons aimed to provide women migrant workers and their family members with basic knowledge of Thai that can be used in daily life and enable them to have improved access to information and services, especially if their rights are violated or if they experience violence. Rayong, Thailand, February 2020. ©ILO/Pichit Phromkade.
Learn more about the Safe and Fair programme: www.ilo.org/asia/projects/WCMS_632458/lang--en/index.htm
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 IGO License. To view a copy of this license, visit creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/igo/deed.en_US.
A very successful workshop for primary school teachers was held on Saturday 25 January 2014 at the European Parliament Information Office in Dublin. Teachers attended from across the country and the aim of the workshop was to exchange best practices among participating teachers. Three MEPs, Marian Harkin, Mairead McGuinness and Emer Costello, attended the event and spoke about their work. The idea behind the programme is to encourage students to get to know their European neighbours better through activities in their schools.
The Civil Society Programme took place on Wednesday 11 May and Thursday 12 May and provided an opportunity for dialogue between civil society and EBRD staff, senior management, the President and Board Directors. It was an occasion for civil society stakeholders to learn more about the Bank and discuss issues of interest and concern regarding the EBRD’s policies and investment projects.
The Programme also featured multi-stakeholder roundtable sessions on key strategic themes related to the role of civil society as an important actor in transition and development processes. Special features of the Civil Society Programme 2016 were discussions on:
•25 years of Transition - The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
•Engaging civil society to promote transparent procurement
•EBRD’s Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2016-2020): the role of civil society
•Inclusion through skills and innovatiom
In addition, a panel organised by the youth organisation AIESEC looked at the role of youth in shaping the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
25 years of Transition: The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
A fire-side chat with Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics, Sciences Po (incoming EBRD Chief Economist)
Civil society, operating in the space between public and private sectors, has played an important role in socio-political and economic transition processes around the world, including the EBRD’s traditional countries of operations. In 25 years since the establishment of the EBRD, civil society’s contribution to transition has varied across the post-communist transition region. In some countries, the work of civil society organisations (CSOs) has contributed to more democratic political systems and more open market based economies as a ‘reputational actor’ performing a ‘watchdog’ function and as a generator of ‘social capital’ necessary to sustain the change process through the difficult early years. In other countries, the focus of CSOs has been on providing a variety of social services particularly to disadvantaged and vulnerable people negatively affected by the transition process. Many civil society actors have been operating in restrictive regulatory environments, and have relied heavily on international donor funding.
What has been civil society’s input into promoting good governance, sustainable development and economic inclusion in EBRD’s traditional region over the past few decades? What are the key lessons learned, from both its successes and failures that can be applied to other countries embarking on a transition process? What steps could be taken to increase the role of civil society in promoting positive changes in societies and economies?
The discussion looked back at the key achievements and setbacks of the civil society sector in contributing to transition since the Bank’s establishment. It also reflected upon the challenges ahead for civil society in building well-governed, sustainable and inclusive economies and societies.
The Civil Society Programme took place on Wednesday 11 May and Thursday 12 May and provided an opportunity for dialogue between civil society and EBRD staff, senior management, the President and Board Directors. It was an occasion for civil society stakeholders to learn more about the Bank and discuss issues of interest and concern regarding the EBRD’s policies and investment projects.
The Programme also featured multi-stakeholder roundtable sessions on key strategic themes related to the role of civil society as an important actor in transition and development processes. Special features of the Civil Society Programme 2016 were discussions on:
•25 years of Transition - The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
•Engaging civil society to promote transparent procurement
•EBRD’s Strategy for the Promotion of Gender Equality (2016-2020): the role of civil society
•Inclusion through skills and innovatiom
In addition, a panel organised by the youth organisation AIESEC looked at the role of youth in shaping the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
25 years of Transition: The Role of Civil Society in Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia
A fire-side chat with Sergei Guriev, Professor of Economics, Sciences Po (incoming EBRD Chief Economist)
Civil society, operating in the space between public and private sectors, has played an important role in socio-political and economic transition processes around the world, including the EBRD’s traditional countries of operations. In 25 years since the establishment of the EBRD, civil society’s contribution to transition has varied across the post-communist transition region. In some countries, the work of civil society organisations (CSOs) has contributed to more democratic political systems and more open market based economies as a ‘reputational actor’ performing a ‘watchdog’ function and as a generator of ‘social capital’ necessary to sustain the change process through the difficult early years. In other countries, the focus of CSOs has been on providing a variety of social services particularly to disadvantaged and vulnerable people negatively affected by the transition process. Many civil society actors have been operating in restrictive regulatory environments, and have relied heavily on international donor funding.
What has been civil society’s input into promoting good governance, sustainable development and economic inclusion in EBRD’s traditional region over the past few decades? What are the key lessons learned, from both its successes and failures that can be applied to other countries embarking on a transition process? What steps could be taken to increase the role of civil society in promoting positive changes in societies and economies?
The discussion looked back at the key achievements and setbacks of the civil society sector in contributing to transition since the Bank’s establishment. It also reflected upon the challenges ahead for civil society in building well-governed, sustainable and inclusive economies and societies.