Entrepreneurship provides a creative force of economic development. Entrepreneurs lead economic change by creating new goods and services and innovative solutions and play a vital role in the development of democracy. Entrepreneurship expands opportunity, unleashes individual initiative, and cultivates independent citizens who have a stake in society and democratic governance. Therefore entrepreneurship plays a key role in building not just prosperous economies but democracies that deliver opportunity to their citizens.

In most countries, however, entrepreneurs still struggle with the basics of operating and growing their businesses because the legal and institutional barriers to participation persist. Building a truly competitive entrepreneurship ecosystem requires an environment where businesses can operate on a level playing field, where their rights are pro-tected, and the same rules apply to all.

The Center for International Private Enterprise’s (CIPE) experience around the world shows that entrepreneurs themselves can become a driving force for reform, when they work together and make their voices heard in the policymaking process through business associations and chambers of commerce.

E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P

D E M O C R A C Y T H A T D E L I V E R S

E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P A T C I P E

• Facilitate business environment reforms that lower the barriers to starting, operating, and growing a business

• Equip grassroots associations to serve small business needs and advocate for policies supportive of entrepreneurship

• Educate youth on entrepreneurship, fundamentals of market economies, and civic leadership

• Empower women economically through entrepreneurship and advocacy for women in business

• Strengthen institutions such as property rights and rule of law to foster entrepreneurship

Through its programs and international partnerships, CIPE acts to build opportunity for entrepreneurs in these areas:

A cartoon by Asadi Ent, finalist in CIPE’s 2012 Global Editorial Cartoon Competition in the Entrepreneurship category.

Tashabos students celebrate Global Entrepreneurship Week.

Afghanistan: Through the Tashabos curriculum, CIPE provides civics and entrepreneurship training for teachers and students.

For more information, please contact CIPE at cipe@cipe.org.

The Center for International Private Enterprise1155 15th Street NW, Suite 700 | Washington, DC 20005www.cipe.org | cipe@cipe.org

Community of Young Entrepreneurs

www.reformsnetwork.org/youth

Community of Women Entrepreneurs

www.reformsnetwork.org/women

Development Institutewww.developmentinstitute.org

R E L AT E D C I P E P R O G R A M R E S O U R C E S

E N T R E P R E N E U R S H I P

More than 1,800 small and medium enterprises registered in Jordan after the Young Entrepreneurs Association successfully championed an amendment to the Companies Law that reduced the minimum capital requirement for limited liability companies.

So far, 84 Egyptian decrees that the Federation of Economic Development Associations advocated for repeal have been removed, including lifting restrictions on importing machinery for factories.

Learn more about CIPE programs at www.cipe.org.

T E A C H I N G Y O U N G E N T R E P R E N E U R S

Nepal: CIPE partner Samriddhi, the Prosperity Foundation hosts Arthalaya, an intensive five-day entrepreneurship workshop that includes mock debates, business simulations, and lectures.

Peru: CIPE and think tank Instituto Invertir launched EmprendeAhora, a civic leadership and entrepreneurship program for university students from rural areas.

• 40 new businesses created • 24 Entrepreneurs’ Clubs established • More than 360 graduates • More than 530 students trained

• 23 regions of Peru • 130 new businesses created

• 1,280 jobs created • 748 new or improved businesses

• 50,000 students, 44 schools, four provinces

Since 2010, CIPE has been an active participant and official partner of Global Entrepreneurship Week.

I M P R O V I N G T H E E N T R E P R E N E U R I A L E C O S Y S T E M