Caribbean Regional

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Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre
Regional Experience with Harmonization for
Programming December 13, 2007
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Outline

• CARTAC What is it?
• CARTAC Why we do what we do
• CARTAC How we do it modalities
• CHALLENGES

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What is CARTAC

• A regional organization dedicated to building
  capacity in the public sector in twenty-one
  countries in the Caribbean since 2001
• Multi-donor funded, IMF implemented
• Five core areas financial sector regulation,
  public financial management, macroeconomic
  programming, statistics, tax and customs

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Organizational Chart
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CARTAC Governance

• A Steering Committee consisting of 13 Seats
• 7 Member countries (in constituency groupings)
• 6 Donors
• Meets Every Six months
• Rotating Chair with Each 3-yr Phase
• Observers (development partners)

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Why CARTAC

• Practical responses to country demands for TA, no
  conditionality
• Speedy delivery assist and partner however
  ownership and implementation rests with
  authorities
• High quality TA guaranteed by backstopper (IMF)
• Use of regional experts and expertise
• Regional approach to problem solving with best
  practices
• Use of "standard" packages of materials/products
  so as to not re-invent the wheel

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CARTAC TA Modalities

• Demand Driven Countries, Donors and Regional
  Organizations
• Needs Identification survey assessment
  missions regional program and partnership with
  others
• Prioritization CARTAC Steering committee
  regional partnerships and programs country
  capacity.
• Delivery country project team project plan and
  milestones international and regional experts
  professional attachments regional sharing of
  material training peer support.
• Follow-up regular discussions assessments
  joint problem solving program monitoring and
  results to determine next steps.

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Challenges Country Level

• Regional agreements yet territorial
• Limited financial resources
• Management and technical capacity
• Limited staff with multi responsibilities
• Public Services Commission / Poor salaries
• Natural Disasters

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Challenges - CARTAC

• 21 countries and TA over demand
• Country and donor expectations
• Country delays due to staffing processes and
  political agenda
• CARTAC resources
• Identification of regional experts

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Conclusion

• Harmonization works
• Regional approach always more efficient
• Easier to collaborate with donors, pursuit of
  integration, CSME
• Networking easier intra-regionally