The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and Oxfam, one of the world’s leading charities, are joining forces to strengthen the communities where they work and to promote sustainable civil societies in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
In a Memorandum of Understanding signed today by EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti and the Oxfam GB Chief Executive Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, the institutions resolve to establish cooperation and facilitate dialogue, focusing on shared priorities including Covid-19 crisis-response activities.
Strengthening the resilience of the civic space by advancing active citizenship and governance as well as gender equality, economic justice and empowering young people are the main areas that the two institutions will aim to support. The EBRD and Oxfam want to introduce digital platforms and tools for capacity-building and learning as well as supporting access to services and finance.
President Chakrabarti said: “We welcome this new partnership which will strengthen our support for young people and will enhance gender equality. In recent years, the Bank has increased its focus and work in these areas and we look forward to further empowering the communities through our partnership with Oxfam.”
Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah, said: “We’re delighted to be collaborating with the EBRD on our goal to build more resilient, digitally connected communities who are better able to access services and cope with crises like coronavirus. Strong civil society networks will have a critical part to play in ensuring a fair and green recovery from this pandemic.”
The EBRD, established in 1991, is a multinational development bank that promotes the transition to market-led and sustainable economies.