Partnership and Private Sector Involvement in Development – a Strategy and Action Plan Bosnia-Herzegovina

CO external Environment Main obstacles for business growth (Threats) –Generally very problematic business situation – Industry decline, patchy privatization process, grey economy and nepotism –Lack of hard institutions (EU standards, weak and a complex institutional legal framework) and soft institutions (trust and rule of law –Businesses skeptical to working with the Government (PPP) –Lack of business ethics and transparency (IBLF Survey) Opportunities –Many businesses are already involved in CSR related activities  they just lack the framework –Many businesses interested in supporting targeted activities –Establishment of Economic-Social Council: tripartite partnership between government, employers and business  Good forum to introduce UE –Bulldozer Initiative - an excellent forum to introduce PPP. TIP: For data: The Economist, WB: Doing Business in 2004,

CO Internal Situation Strengths: –Senior management support –Resource mobilization is not a priority  Can approach businesses in a different way –Some contacts with businesses established –Key people eager and ready to take on the task (time consuming) Weakness: –Lack of experience –Lack of resources (HR and financial resources) –Lack of knowledge (what is the GC/UE report, what is the difference between PS Development and PS and development, etc.)  Lack of wholehearted support from all CO –UN tools perceived as bland –Lack of understanding of the external environment Tips: –Involve middle management (project managers/portfolio managers) in the process –Do Not assume that anyone knows about the details around the Global Compact/Unleashing Entrepreneurship – Be pedagogic –Demand commitment before starting – it is a long and difficult process

The PPP strategy External and internal assessment made us base the strategy on: –Learning and listening (mapping and consultations) –Gradual approach –not promising anything we cannot hold (lack of resources) … –Using already existing UN tools  Has a supportive structure and knowledgeable resources –PS awareness raising in CO  Presentation of strategy and asking for input Strategy: Partnership Dialogue Process – emphasizes that this is a process –Mapping and Stakeholder Dialogues – Mapping finalized, stakeholder dialogues will be facilitated by a mission from Business Outreach (November) –Local launch of Unleashing Entrepreneurship – keynote speech by Employers assoc, EPPU. Publish promoting/supporting article. Use UE to contact stakeholders and raise awareness of UNDP’s PPP initiative (Launch November 5) –Promotion of Global Compact – launch a local network of social responsible companies (expectantly summer 2005)  Natural target group for PPP paper, policy dialogue and partnerships in general –PPP opportunities paper - opportunities, and instruments, for the development of jointly beneficial partnerships in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Originally thought to take place in the end of Rescheduled to take place after the GC Tips: –Be ready to re-evaluate strategy even before it has taken off… –No right way, we are all beginners