The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and World Bank-funded Caribbean Procurement Training Program (CPTP) at the University of Technology, Jamaica, stands ready to be a driving force in strengthening procurement systems and related institutional capacity in the Region.

Over 85 persons, from 40 organisations in 13 countries, have expanded their procurement knowledge and certification through courses offered by the Program, since its operationalisation in 2017.

CDB’s Head of Procurement, Douglas Fraser, applauded those persons who have completed training through the Program. He said that, “Due to the small size of the economies of our Borrowing Member Countries, the quality of public procurement systems can have a significant impact upon the efficiency and effectiveness of public spending. It is critical that our Region’s procurement professionals be equipped with the knowledge needed to ensure efficient use of scarce public resources.”

Courtney Lawes, Project Director, CPTP, added, “The Program has gone through its teething phase as a new entity conducting administration, lecturing and exam centre functions. By paying attention to lessons learnt and mitigating against these issues, the Program is now well poised to deliver excellent service and knowledge transfer to procurement professionals in both the private and public sectors in the Region. The CPTP, through the University, is now an affiliate membership of the International Federation of Purchasing and Supply Management (IFPSM).”

The CPTP provides a range of short courses, as well as internationally recognised training, accredited by the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply and the International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC). Short courses range from Introduction to Public Procurement to Post-contract Management, and Public Procurement Ethics & Sustainability. Upcoming courses for the year include Business Continuity to be offered in September; Root Causes in October; and Key Performance Indicators in November.

The CPTP is part of CDB’s ongoing commitment to strengthening and modernising public procurement in the Region. In 2017, the Bank’s Board of Directors approved a USD700,000 grant to assist with the establishment of modern procurement systems in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. The Bank has also developed an online procurement course for Caribbean stakeholders.