Background

Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) has been engaging with the private sector extensively during the past three years. We have worked with almost all major actors of the private sector of Pakistan and the region under our various programs with partner organizations including Centre for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), British Council Pakistan (BCP), World Bank Group (WBG), The Asia Foundation (TAF), the Duke University Centre for Global Value Chains (DU-CGVC), etc. At present we have funding through projects with British Council, World Bank Group, and CIPE till March 2020. The major activities of research and engagement with the private sector included:

• Surveys, Key Informant Interviews and Focus Group Discussions to get private sector perspective on various macroeconomic issues including tax reforms, trade reforms, social entrepreneurship, trade facilitation, Customs Department Effectiveness, etc.
• Conducted consultations in Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) mode in order to hold focused roundtables with various stakeholders on the table including members of relevant standing committees in the National Assembly, Provincial Assemblies and Senate of Pakistan.
• Hold information and capacity building workshops for various private sector entities and associations

Proposal and Objectives

To ensure sustainability and continuation of our work, especially with the private sector, we are proposing to set up a, “SDPI Centre for Private Sector Engagement” with the following objectives:

• To ensure improved qualitative and quantitative research which in turn can position SDPI to be considered for high impact survey and analyses. We have carried out a technical survey with the Garment Exporters. The results have been validated via FGDs and we expect we can attract the donors into giving us similar assignments in future as well. With a proper setup present, we will be in a better standing with both the donors and the private sector to engage with them. The ambition here is to qualify for high impact survey assignments such as World Bank Group Doing Business and Competitiveness Surveys.
• To ensure SDPI can convene the National Network of Economic Think-tanks. We have started receiving encouraging feedback after initial meetings of this network. We now need to improve visibility to ensure expansion of this network.
• To ensure SDPI keeps on hosting a structured Public Private Dialogue (PPD) for economic reforms through our network partners. We started the PPD approach back in 2014 and we have structured it in an iterative manner to make it more sustainable each year. We have also presented the PPD approach in one of our publications which will be part of the Sustainable Development Conference anthology next year.
• To exploit the funding opportunities available with private sector foundations.We have had talks regarding this model with Pakistan Business Council, All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, Independent Power Producers Association (IPPA), Engro Foundation, ACCA and several other CSR and association led initiatives. The small success we had in this objective was one SDC session funded by the IPPA and ACCA. However, having a structured approach and setup will create a better stakeholder confidence in our engagement and make it more formal.
• To engage with the private sector for effective role of SDPI in capacity building programs at strategic, operational and tactical levels of the enterprises.Through partners such as Tangent Pakistan, Project Management Institute, Project Management Association of Pakistan, Centre for Global Innovators, Epiphany, and others the centre may provide evidence based support and capacity building to the private sector. We already have strong linkage with the Social Enterprise Academy and Unchartered, UK through our partners in the stakeholder network. We wish to work towards formulating a campaign to work towards capacity building of the private sector from start-ups to large corporations. We can go further and add up certification courses in the future for professionals working in the private sector.
• To formulate an information dissemination mechanism and development of a data-bank capturing data/information/publications regarding the private sector of Pakistan on a portal hosted by SDPI.We have had a discussion on this with IGNITE, Ministry of Information Technology & Telecom. There are funding opportunities available for such a data portal. We are planning to start-off by introducing multiple subject-oriented online newsletters in order to disseminate information to the stakeholders in a better way. Code for Pakistan and LMKT are potential partners that can help us in this objective.

Structure of the Centre

The Centre for Private Sector Engagement will be housed within SDPI. The potential structure of the Centre is provided below: