CEF Annual report 2021

56 CEF BUSINESS REPORT 2021
GOVERNANCE 57
SUSTAINABILITY, CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY AND WELL-BEING
At the CEF, we aim to balance environmental, social and governance aspects – for our institution,
our partners, donors and beneficiaries, and society at large.
We understand that corporate social responsibility directly impacts trust, identification, well-being,
and green behavior. Consequently, organizational trust and identification directly influence
employee well-being and behavior. With this in mind, we remain highly committed to pursuing
environmental and social sustainability, as well as enhancing the well-being of our team. While
we try to set a good example in the environment and the social landscapes where we operate, we
also learn from the best practices of others.
Despite the Covid-19 pandemic still having a great effect on our work, in 2021 we organized
many activities to improve the well-being of others and our team members. Here are some of the
highlights.
Broader impact initiatives:
• Blood donation
• Supporting Pink October movement
• December holiday activities: donations and presents to children in need, and writing greeting
cards to the residents of the elderly and retirement homes
• Furniture donation to Tabor Primary School in Logatec and to Ljubljana Pride Association
Internal initiatives:
• CEF commuter challenge (cycling to the office)
• Taking part in the Ljubljana Marathon
• Easter day cookie baking for the team
• Hike to Polhograjska Grmada
• Delivering appreciation packages to staff members infected by Covid-19
We also put great emphasis on evolving our work culture in a way that enables and motivates the
team members to create, systemize, transfer, use, and leverage knowledge. To achieve this, we
develop and nurture standards, values and skills that build trust, confidence and engagement.
We regularly attend external trainings, conferences and other learning events. Every two weeks,
we exchange experiences internally or invite guests from other organizations to expand our horizons
and challenge our perspectives. In 2021, we organized 25 such events: 10 external knowledge-sharing
sessions, 12 internal knowledge-sharing sessions, and 3 team retreats.
We also advocate and endorse healthy work-life balance by offering several health-promoting
opportunities. Due to the health measures taken because of Covid-19 in 2021, many activities
were put on hold or carried out in a limited capacity. We look forward to fully resuming them once
the circumstances allow.
In addition, we stimulate positive organizational culture by regularly monitoring the quality of the
relationship between the employees and their organization. We take part in external and internal
surveys measuring the satisfaction of team members on different levels. In 2021, we also upgraded
our work environment to support our innovative learning approaches, meet the growing need
for hybrid events, and accommodate our agile work style.
REALIZATION OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
Our activities support the realization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that are part
of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. The CEF activities support particularly the
following two goals: SDG 16 and SDG 17.
We are supporting all three dimensions and most of the thirteen priority areas laid out by the
SEE 2030 Strategy, a joint call for action by all 13 SEE economies agreed in Antalya in June
2021. By contributing to strengthened economic and financial governance of our constituency,
taking a people-centered approach to adult learning, and developing and delivering
our program in close cooperation with many partners, we support sustainable development
in line with the dimensions of prosperity, people, and peace and partnerships respectively.
SDG 16: PROMOTE PEACE, JUSTICE AND STRONG INSTITUTIONS
All CEF learning and knowledge-sharing activities are intended to improve the capacities of public
officials to facilitate their work performance. The final goal is to support the officials, their
public financial management, tax policy and administration, and central banking reform efforts
and, as a consequence, build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels.
SDG 17: REVITALIZE THE GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
On the way towards the realization of the SDGs, the CEF is partnering with multilateral and
bilateral organizations, knowledge institutions, peer organizations, finance ministries, line
ministries, central banks and other institutions from our constituency. The partners share
our commitment to the region’s reform efforts. This strong and reliable partner network creates
valuable synergies in implementing international development cooperation and thus
accelerates progress in the realization of the SDGs.