At the 2024 ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Group-IMF Annual Meetings, Austria and the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ signed a partnership agreement to establish a Vienna Development Knowledge Center designed to open doors of expertise and unlock the full potential of knowledge to increase development impact.
The Center elevates the long-standing partnership between Austria and the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Group by hosting various knowledge activities and engagements, such as workshops, trainings, or deep dives, underpinned by the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Group¡¯s global and regional expertise, aimed at encouraging discussion, sharing new ideas, and facilitating co-learning.
The Center also supports field visits, and experience-sharing with Austrian institutions, private sector entities, and civil society organizations.
Key design features and principles of the Center include:
Target Audience. The Center primarily serves public and private sector representatives from throughout the Europe and Central Asia region. When relevant and feasible, ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ client countries from other regions are also invited to broaden the sharing of development experiences.
Thematic Focus. While multi-disciplinary in nature, the Center concentrates on a few thematic areas most pertinent to countries in Europe and Central Asia like economic governance or climate resilience and adaptation.
Activity Format. The Center offers a variety of engagement formats, including technical deep-dive workshops, field visits, product-specific labs, and collaborative learning sessions.
Expertise. The Center leverages the expertise of the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Group staff while systematically mobilizing global knowledge and linking with the . Knowledge work of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) is included in relevant knowledge activities.
Partnership Synergies. The Center actively taps into the resources and knowledge of the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Group partners, particularly the European Commission and other European institutions.
