The CEF’s approach to learning and its role as a knowledge hub for finance officials from South East Europe is shaped by a variety of relationships. Over the years, the CEF has greatly benefited from valuable internal and external relationships and has a team member dedicated solely to partnership management, as we are convinced that a collaborative mindset contributes to significant results of successful relationships, and vice versa.

These are the relationships that ensure we have the capabilities to support our mission:

Strengthening partnerships at the latest meeting with the CEF coordinators

i) Relationships across organizational teams. It is crucial that all our teams – program coordination, partnerships, fundraising, communications, operations and management – work closely and share knowledge and lessons learned. We put a lot of effort into reinforcing organizational culture that promotes open-minded questioning, thoughtful listening, consideration of multiple options, and acceptance of opposing points of view.

ii) Relationships with our constituencies. This is also reflected in the governance of the CEF, as we cooperate with ministers of finance and central bank governors though our Governing Board. We are working closely with CEF coordinators who are human resources professionals informing us of their capacity development needs and assigning participants to attend our learning initiatives. We pay a lot of attention to our participants and their “learning journey”, so that we could monitor, evaluate and learn about the impact of our activities.

iii) Relationships with our donors. We partner with a number of bilateral and multilateral organizations, knowledge institutions, as well as peer organizations and networks. We seek to ensure effective division of labor and harmonize our efforts, but also to make the most of each partner’s comparative strengths. The partners share our commitment to the reform efforts of South East Europe and rely upon our knowledge of the region’s needs to leverage their resources. Working jointly with the CEF helps expand the reach and impact of their efforts. Partners, in turn, contribute resources and expertise to the CEF program.

Partnership culture increases learning and promotes openness, creativity and nimbleness – or is it the other way around?