The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and international charity Oxfam have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish cooperation and facilitate community resilience.
The MoU ensures the two entities join forces to strengthen the communities in which they work and to promote sustainable civil societies in light of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
It was signed by EBRD President Suma Chakrabarti and Oxfam GB Chief Executive Dhananjayan Sriskandarajah. Through the partnership, the institutions resolve to establish cooperation and facilitate dialogue, focusing on shared priorities including coronavirus crisis-response activities.
The MoU looks to strengthen the resilience of civic space by advancing active citizenship and governance, as well as enhance gender equality, economic justice and the empowerment of young people.
The EBRD and Oxfam are looking to introduce digital platforms and tools for capacity-building and learning as well as supporting access to services and finance.
Chakrabarti said, “We welcome this new partnership which will strengthen our support for young people and will enhance gender equality. In recent years, the EBRD has increased its focus and work in these areas, and we look forward to further empowering the communities through our partnership with Oxfam.”
Sriskandarajah added, “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. Oxfam, founded in 1942, is a partnership of independent charities that work towards alleviating global poverty.
