Capacity building within member states of the caribbean forum for ACP states (CARIFORUM) in the areas of Competition, Procurement and Customs and Trade Facilitation for the Implementation of the EPA
The overall objective of project, which started in January 2015 and planned to run until mid 2017, is to support the beneficial integration of the CARIFORUM states into the world economy. Specifically, the project will contribute to the effective implementation of the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement with particular reference to obligations relating to Competition, Public Procurement and Customs and Trade Facilitation. The successful implementation of the project is also expected to enhance progress towards the achievement of regional integration, including the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME).
Project activities are mainly orientated around the design and development of focused training programmes at different levels within the three thematic areas mentioned. The initial activity, currently underway, is a comprehensive needs assessment that will result in baseline measures and identification of needs in fine detail that will shape the design phase of the series of training programmes planned to roll out from mid 2015.
Capacity building activities include both classroom training, blended/e-learning learning approaches and the development of manuals and booklets that will provide ongoing reference and guidelines. The project implementation team is guided by a sustainability-enhancing ethos that seeks to ensure that continuous learning and institutional change are strongly promoted through effective partnerships not only with CARIFORUM and CARICOM but also including Higher Education Institutions and other key stakeholders in the region, such as the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the CARICOM Competition Commission in Paramaribo. Important sustainability related actions include sharing and transfer of knowledge and training-of-trainer processes linked to the training with the aim of ensuring effective repeat usage.
