CED's international program has three components: research, outreach, and counterpart activities
Research Program 1997-2008
CED's international research program has encompassed three major topics: finance, trade, and development. Additional reports issued early in the period focus on specific geographic areas and the overall topic of U.S. leadership. Addressing Global Poverty was written in conjunction with CED's counterpart organizations.
Outreach Program
CED has supported international public-private partnerships and business leadership as a key component to enhancing global education strategies. This effort has helped evolve a set of relationships with several important international organizations and partners. We see potential in developing these contacts even further.
- USAID
In 2005, USAID recognized CED's proactive leadership in global poverty and education with an "Award of Excellence." Subsequent collaboration between CED and USAID led to the publication of a handbook for business on the development of public-private partnerships for development. Continued communications with USAID representatives helped to facilitate the designation of Donald Mackenzie, Senior Advisor, USAID, as a senior fellow for CED's international work in 2009.
- UNESCO
CED President Charles Kolb has presented CED's findings at various UNESCO meetings. In a 2004 UNESCO report, he explained that business leaders want to develop contacts with the educational sector because of: "self-interest: engagement with the community can enhance image and relationships; change: companies are interested in and open to change in their strategies and practices and are keen to support relevant change; impatience: companies often want to see tangible results and impact quickly." He also discussed how the education sector can better achieve its goals through collaboration with business.
- World Economic Forum
In 2006, Kolb participated in a workshop hosted by the World Economic Forum, UNESCO, and USAID titled: "Public-Private Partnerships in Education for All." His business message led to one-on-one discussions with Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO, as well as a concerted effort by UNESCO to work with the World Economic Forum in a larger context to promote early care and education.
- International Early Education Program
In 2007, CED expanded its business-engagement model abroad. Building on CED's domestic success with early childhood education programs, CED is working to bring the importance of early child development (ECD) to the forefront of international economic debates. With the support of the Bernard van Leer Foundation (CED's first international donor) and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, conferences have been held in The Hague, The Netherlands, and in Washington, D.C.
The program's message is: Business leaders who publicly support ECDn have an opportunity to be key stakeholders for economic growth in emerging markets. This project seeks to build a business constituency for reform that can support developing countries in growing early child development programs toward a healthy citizenry and vibrant economy. Learn more.
- Inter-American Development Bank
After holding numerous meetings and providing remarks at several events, CED was pleased to see the Inter-American Development Bank embrace this cause and inaugurate a Fund for Early Childhood as a mechanism for business leaders in the Latin American/Caribbean region to be involved in early childhood programs. CED continues to engage with international organizations about the importance of business engagement and investments in ECD at events hosted by the United Nations, UNICEF, UNESCO, the World Economic Forum, the Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Education, the Open Society Institute, and the International Step by Step Organization.
The International Counterparts Network
CED has close relationships with twelve independent, nonpolitical research organizations in other countries. These counterpart groups are composed of business executives and scholars and have goals similar to those of CED, which they pursue by similarly objective methods. The current membership includes representatives from Australia, China, Finland, France, Latin America/Caribbean, Germany, Japan, The Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and our newest member, the National Business Initiative, from South Africa. Learn more.
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