Organisational audit - CARIFORUM/CARICOM capacity building/institutional support study

The EC and the Caribbean Forum of ACP States (CARIFORUM) agreed that an independent organisational audit was required to assess and advise on a new integrated institutional structure to be supported by the 9^th EDF Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme. Also it was agreed to undertake an identification and appraisal study of the CARICOM Secretariat to determine the optimum capacities and the consequential support that might be required for the implementation of support to the CARICOM Secretariat.  Given the Caribbean agreement to integrate the servicing of the CARIFORUM function into the CARICOM Secretariat, the two (2) studies were merged.

The primary focus of the CARIFORUM element of the study was to review the operations of its Secretariat, identify the various mandates, tasks, work programmes and other activities that the Secretariat was expected to pursue, identify the human resources, financial, information and communications technology, and other needs required.  Then make practical and viable recommendations for a programme of capacity building that might be financed by the EDF.

The primary focus of the CARICOM aspect of the study was to review also the current and planned operations of the CARICOM Secretariat including proposals/agreements on its restructuring, and identify the various mandates, tasks, work programmes and other activities that it was expected to pursue.  Then make practical recommendations on the provision of technical institutional support to the Secretariat and advise on the synergies to be gained through the integration of the servicing of the CARIFORUM function into the CARICOM Secretariat.  Recommendations were developed for an Information and Communications Technology (ICT) strategy the two Secretariats that would allow timely and cost-efficient communication with implementing agencies and organisations involved in the development of regional programmes, as well as major stockholders.