CESD included in Parliamentary Network on the World Bank

The Azeri think tank is one of 7 leading NGOs in the world considered by the network

Center for Economic and Social Development (CESD) was included in in Parliamentary Network on the World Bank (PNoWB). CESD was considered as one of leading research institutes in the region after ABCDE discussions in May 31-June 02, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden where the CESD chairman also attended. PNoWB provides a platform for parliamentarians from over 110 countries to advocate for increased accountability and transparency in International Financial Institutions and multilateral development financing.  Founded in 2000, PNoWB seeks to engage law makers from around the globe in the common mission of addressing good governance and poverty challenges in both their home countries and abroad.  Directed by a twelve-member Board elected by their peers, PNoWB is an independent non- governmental organization with a secretariat in Paris. The organization is open to all elected parliamentarians from World Bank member states who hold a current mandate.  PNoWB members represent themselves and their constituents, and not their countries, parliaments or governments.

The key to evidence-based policy making is bridging the gap between researchers and policy makers most importantly parliamentarians. Making this connection has proven to be one of the most challenging aspects of development in general. By attending and reporting on events such as ABCDE where leading researchers in development economics present their work and discuss their findings with the wider development community- PNoWB in effect acts as a bridge between the research community and the wider community of development practitioners, and most importantly, elected law makers.

PNoWB, more so than other development organizations, is well placed to act as a conduit between the research community and the policy-making community as our Network consists of over 1200 parliamentarians from more than 100 countries. As PNoWB seeks to expand its capacity to play such a role, conferences such as ABCDE are an excellent opportunity to report on the latest research in development economics and build relationships with research institutions and leading economists.

Linking researchers to policy makers and development practitioners has long been on the wish-list of many development actors, including partner governments, funding institutions and donor countries, researchers, academics and international bodies. PNoWB has a unique opportunity to offer its self as a natural, pre-existing link that needs simply to be “switched on.” This should be a focus and strength to be built on in the future. For more information, please download the whole report.