Practical Guide to Corporate Governance: Experiences from the Latin American Companies Circle

by the Latin American Companies Circle for OECD at IFC.

Experiences from the Latin American Companies Circle highlights the challenges, priorities and tangible benefits of adopting leading corporate governance practices in the region. The publication offers a first look at Latin American company results during the recent period of financial crisis showing that firms recognized for better corporate governance practices suffered less damage than average listed Latin American companies. It also provides empirical research over previous years also showing better operational and market results for the corporate governance-focused firms than for other Latin American companies, and extensive hands-on guidance and relevant examples aimed at supporting companies’ efforts to improve their governance practices…

To download the report click here.

Global Corporate Governance Forum, a progress report: summer 2009

by the Global Corporate Governance Forum, August 20, 2009.

The Forum plays a central role in the IFC’s corporate-wide response to the global financial crisis, focusing on  strengthening corporate governance in financial institutions.

The Forum’s work builds on its existing programs to build capacity of institutes training board directors, to train journalists to more effectively report on corporate governance, and to provide leadership in policy responses to rebuild confidence and renew economic growth by advancing corporate governance reforms.

John D. Sullivan, executive director of the Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE), explains the value of the center’s partnership with the Forum.

In partnership with the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the Forum holds five workshops in five countries, drawing journalists from Africa, the Middle East, South and Central Asia, and Southeast Europe. A toolkit for journalists about corporate governance progresses toward publication in 2010.

In partnership with the government in Azerbaijan and the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Forum and the IFC regional team organized a workshop in mid-January to initiate private-public dialogue on developing a new corporate governance code for the country.

This event was followed by a two-day workshop on how to develop codes of best practice in Eurasia. Code drafting committee representatives from five countries participated.

Women’s participation continues to be a strong component of the Forum’s efforts. In the Board Leadership Training Resources rollout, 30 percent of participants and half of the master trainers are women. Forum Steering Committee member Daniel Blume, an OECD principal administrator, outlines the Forum’scontributions and challenges…(read more by clicking here)