Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMY

Join us on Episode 34 of Inclusive Plug powered by RECONOMY, as we explore the potential of the Western Balkan region in transforming its economic landscape through business process outsourcing (BPO) and information and communications technology (ICT). Hosted by Sabin, this videocast features an engaging discussion with distinguished guests from the Association of Business Service Leaders (ABSL). Guests: Nadina Gradaščević, Managing Director and Vice President of ABSL Bosnia and Herzegovina Arjodita Mustali, President of ABSL Albania Eni Kocillari, representative of Helvetas in the frame of RECONOMY Through this dialogue, we uncover how these efforts are not only addressing market fragmentation and skill gaps but also positioning the Western Balkan region as a burgeoning hub for global business services. Tune in to gain valuable insights into how collaborative efforts in these sectors are creating a vibrant ecosystem that attracts and retains skilled youth. Watch now to understand the moves shaping the future of the Western Balkans in the global economic arena!

Join us in Episode 33 of Inclusive Plug, brought to you by RECONOMY, where our host, Sabin, engages with a panel of experts to explore the role of digital technologies in sustainable agriculture. This conversation 🎙️ features insights from Mihran Sahakyan, the Co-Founder and Chief Technology Officer of SkyAgro, Bojan Kolundzija, the Team Leader of the OPTIM project in Moldova (a project of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, implemented by Helvetas), and Alla Hovhannissyan, a Project Manager at the Strategic Development Agency (responsible for one of RECONOMY's projects focusing on digitizing sectors for competitiveness) - a partner of Helvetas in the frame of RECONOMY. 📝 In this episode: Bojan Kolundzija delves into the OPTIM project's work with digital solutions in Moldova's agricultural sector, discussing the objectives and outcomes. Mihran Sahakyan shares the inspiring story behind SkyAgro, revealing what drove him to pioneer in the agricultural tech field. Alla Hovhannissyan outlines the overarching goals of RECONOMY in agricultural development and how SkyAgro's initiative aligns with and bolsters these objectives. Discussions on how SkyAgro's technologies contribute to environmental sustainability, emphasizing the crucial role of technology in enhancing sustainable agricultural practices. Insights into the impact of digital solutions on local communities and agriculture in Moldova, including changes in farming practices and food production. Alla sheds light on the anticipated effects of introducing the iFarms digital solution to Armenia by SkyAgro, focusing on job creation, economic opportunities, and food security. The episode concludes with a discussion on RECONOMY's plans for facilitating knowledge sharing and regional collaboration, especially in the Eastern Partnership region, to amplify the impact of agricultural initiatives like SkyAgro's. 🌟 Don't miss this engaging discussion that bridges technology and sustainable agriculture, highlighting the transformative potential of digitalization in fostering green economic development. Stay tuned for more episodes where we push the boundaries of innovation for a more inclusive and greener future.

Welcome to another episode of Inclusive Plug, brought to you by RECONOMY. In this episode, we delve into the complex world of employment, dissecting what it means to create ‘decent’ and ‘inclusive’ jobs in a rapidly evolving labor market. 🔊 Featured Experts: Katharina Walker: Senior Advisor on Skills Development, Helvetas Hans Posthumus: Trainer and Consultant on Private Sector Development Paulo Rodrigues: Program Manager, RECONOMY, Helvetas 📝 In This Episode: Defining Decent and Inclusive Employment: Insights from Katharina and Hans on what these terms really mean in today's context. The Importance of Green Jobs: Paulo and Katharina discuss the significance of 'green jobs' and their impact. Employment Projects vs. Realistic Outcomes: Hans sheds light on the gap between ambitious goals and actual results in employment projects. Improving Systems or Disrupting Them?: A discussion with Hans and Paulo on the approach towards meaningful progress. Job Creation vs. Skills Development: Katharina and Paulo examine the differences and impacts of these approaches on the labor market. Focus of Employment Efforts: Paulo and Hans debate on job creation, job enhancement, and inclusivity in employment. Upskilling and Technical Skills: Katharina's take on the need for upskilling in the current job market. Bridging Informal and Formal Sectors: Insights from Hans on this crucial aspect of employment projects. Wage Employment vs. Self-Employment: Katharina's perspective on the sustainability and growth of different employment types. Quality of Jobs - A Continuum or a Goal? 🌟 Stay tuned for more insightful discussions like this. Thank you to our esteemed guests for their invaluable insights. Don't forget to join us in our next episode, where we continue to explore critical topics around inclusive and green economic development.

In Episode 31, we are joined by Dr. Risto Ivanov, a senior expert in managing EU and national projects in North Macedonia with extensive knowledge in energy-efficient construction and renovation. With his plethora of qualifications and hands-on experience, Risto guides us through an in-depth exploration of the energy landscape in the Western Balkans, from historical shifts to major policy shifts and future predictions. Some of the questions explored: - How has the Western Balkans' approach to energy efficiency evolved over the years? - What are the primary sources of power in the Western Balkan countries? - What are the major challenges and governmental initiatives in promoting energy efficiency in the region? - How do energy prices and the broader economic landscape impact energy decisions in the region? - Is there a grassroots push towards sustainability and how do local businesses view energy efficiency? - How is the EU Green Deal shaping the energy approach of the Western Balkans? - Will the Western Balkans achieve carbon neutrality by 2050?

Killer robots and autonomous weapons. Global unemployment. Mass surveillance. Superintelligence. There are a host of fears about artificial intelligence (AI) and related industries such as machine learning (ML). But what exactly are they? How are they being used? What, if anything, do they offer the development sector? Are we at the beginning of a fundamental transformation of a business model that, in many ways, is no longer fit for purpose? Will they trigger an industry-wide digital disruption that will challenge the dominance of the largest development organizations, or serve to exacerbate the divide between the developed and the less developed economies in the world? In Episode 30, the host, Sabin Selimi, sits down with Alice Schmidt, a Thought and Practice Leader on Sustainability, AI, and Social Impact. Together, they delve into the benefits, opportunities, and risks tied to utilizing AI in the development sector. They also discuss AI’s influence on both the green and digital transition.

In Episode 29, we dive into the challenges of pitching ideas and convincing partners or donors to adopt and act upon them. Even if you have a brilliant idea, selling it can be trickier than selling a product or service. This is where the market systems development (MSD) approach comes in. Despite the progress in applying and generating relevant practices and evidence, there are several misperceptions about the approach, partly due to the way it is communicated. This episode features a special conversation with Masha Scholl, Coordinator for International Communications at Helvetas; Nasir Ahmed, Chief Technical Officer at the AIP-PRISMA program in Indonesia; and Sarah Bove, Program Director for Women IN Business, an MSD program of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) implemented in partnership with TechnoServe.

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency launched RECONOMY in July 2020, a regional program that applies the MSD approach, spanning 11 countries from the Western Balkan and the Eastern Partnership regions. The inception phase finished in December 2022 for the Eastern Partnership region and in March this year for the Western Balkan region. RECONOMY was conceived with a regional remit from the outset – testing the applicability of MSD principles to the challenges posed by using a whole region that comprises 11 countries as a unit of analysis, with their differing operational and contextual realities. For this reason, this episode features a special conversation with Elene Tkhlashidze, the Operations Manager of RECONOMY. This episode also features Adriano Scarampi, who formerly served as Advisor at the Arab Women’s Enterprise Fund, which ended in 2021. It was funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and it focused on market system change and women’s economic empowerment in Egypt, Jordan, and until March 2018, the Palestinian Territories. The Arab Women’s Enterprise Fund generated additional income for more than 30,000 women and the aggregated net additional income generated for poor women across Egypt and Jordan amounted to over £4,6 M. Over the project's lifetime, more than 116,000 women benefited from increased productivity and skills. This is Episode 28, where together with Elene Tkhlashidze and Adriano Scarampi, we dive deep into the inception phases of the two large programs.

Mobility is no longer a “buzzword” or just the “hottest new shiny thing”. Today, mobility is mainstream, and it’s a business strategy that can’t be overlooked any longer. The way we work has slowly but surely been shifting towards a more dynamic and fluid way of working, and the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly accelerated the development of these trends significantly. This has had an impact on organizations as whole, but what does this mean for mobility? This episode features a special conversation with Blerta Peta, an international development professional with a focus on issues of youth employment, social inclusion, and migration; Regis Blanc, Advisor on Migration at Helvetas; and Uranik Begu, Executive Director at Innovation Center Kosovo.

There are more than 2.5 billion people playing games at the moment. They are from all over the world. And the gaming industry is now looking to its 'next billion'. Yes, you read this right. The industry has become a career choice for young people. It's offering new ways to make a living that didn't exist a decade ago. Let's take you through arguably one of the most important and innovative sectors in tech today, especially in emerging Europe like the Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkan regions. This episode features a special conversation with Kristina Jovanovic, Executive Manager of the Serbian Games Association; Matviy Suslenko, a game developer from Ukraine; and Jelena Antic, an Intervention Manager at Help - Hilfe zur Selbsthilfe, which is an implementing partner to Helvetas in the frame of RECONOMY.

The way we describe people shapes how we perceive and act toward them. Terms and words that are used in development seem to indicate who holds power and who doesn’t. But then, does this matter? Sometimes it may not matter what we call someone. Rather the way we treat and approach someone is more important than the description or labeling. A fascinating discussion with Nabanita Sen Bekkers, Director of Opportunities Unlimited, also Nabanita is part of the DCED secretariat focusing on the results measurement work; Duncan Green, a professor in practice in international development at the London School of Economics and senior strategic adviser at Oxfam; and Zenebe Uraguchi, an economist and Program Manager of RECONOMY. To the viewers, if you’re a “beneficiary”, let us know what you want to be called. Others have thought much more about this issue, and we’d love to listen to your additional reflections on the topic. Language and meaning constantly evolve, while knowledge adapts and expands.