I. PARTIES BACKGROUND

Transcription

1 Page 1 MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE CARIBBEAN CENTRE FOR DEVELOPMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION (CARICAD) AND THE PONTIFICIA UNIVERSIDAD CATOLICA MADRE Y MAESTRA (PUCMM) I. PARTIES This document constitutes an agreement between the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration, hereinafter known as CARICAD, and the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra of the Dominican Republic, hereinafter called PUCMM. II. BACKGROUND The effects of globalisation have challenged public sector organizations and institutions in the Region to abandon central planning in favour of strategies that encourage private sector activity and increase investment, reward good organisational and individual performance, increase productivity, promote accountability and use and manage resources more efficiently. A common strategy for meeting these new challenges has been to rebuild, strengthen and modernise the Public Service so that Caribbean countries and territories can be well integrated in the global economy. Central to this developmental transformation have been national and regional programmes geared towards the acquisition, development and retention of critical leadership and management talents. Revolutionising the quality and skills of managers is one of the most significant items on the agendas of public sector organisations in the Caribbean, in view of the fact that a new competitive 21 st regional public sector is required which boasts strategic human resource policies and management. In September 2000, a regional project to build capacity in the public sector in the area of strategic planning and management got underway. The Project Strategic Planning in Public Services is intended to serve as a learning bridge to assist the fifteen (15) Member States of CARIFORUM to create capacity in strategic planning, recognising that the application of strategic planning will equip agencies with the tools to produce the fundamental decisions and actions to shape and guide the direction, purpose and objectives of their respective agencies effectively. The project is funded under a three-year grant from the European Development Fund (EDF) and implemented by the Barbados-based Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), a specialised institution of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). CARICAD s mission is to shape and enhance the development and sustainability of strong leadership and governance structures within the Public Sector of the Caribbean Community, and to that end, to promote the strengthening of regional collaboration, policy consensus and lateral cooperation in the area of public sector reform.

2 III. PURPOSE MOU BETWEEN CARICAD AND PUCMM Page 2 The Project included a specific component for collaboration with the Dominican Republic and Haiti as part of its overall objective to enhance and improve the formulation, coordination and implementation of development policies and programmes among CARIFORUM States. The existence of an EU/CARIFORUM Project on Public Sector Management in the Dominican Republic, implemented by the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra - EU, presented an ideal opportunity for other CARIFORUM Member States to benefit from, and collaborate with, public policy training and research organisations in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. PUCMM has traditionally developed a diversity of programmes to support research, assessment and proposals for public sector modernisation through a number of Centres and specific projects. CARICAD and PUCMM-EU had previously cooperated on past projects. A joint seminar with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), CARICAD and PUCMM was held in October 1999 on the theme: Restructuring the State: Managing Tensions between Economic Reform and Social Equity. During the first year of the project, project management staff built on the relationship with PUCMM-EU to collaborate more meaningfully on specific areas of priority to Member countries. The Parties also mutually supported each other s conferences and meetings such as CARICAD s CARIFORUM Working Group on Public Sector Reform and PUCMM-EU s regional seminars. More recently, the Parties have been core members of a regional Technical Group, which is working to develop a project proposal, which seeks to develop excellence in human and organisational capacity in the public services of the region for: strategic leadership policy development and implementation, and quality management knowledge management. IV. FRAMEWORK FOR COOPERATION The fundamental rationale behind the proposed regional human resource development project is self-awareness that managers and leaders in the Caribbean Public Service are ill equipped with the necessary strategic visioning, skills and knowledge to lead and manage the Public Service to deliver quality services effectively in a global environment. Several studies and reports on Public Service Management conducted by CARICAD and other agencies have identified critical training needs for these regional managers. Common priority areas include: Strategic Visioning Planning and Management Leadership Interpersonal and Communication Skills Managing People Management of Financial and other resources Personal Effectiveness Negotiating skills Performance Management E-government

3 Change management Service Delivery Marketing Procurement Management Diversity Management Policy Design Foreign Language Training MOU BETWEEN CARICAD AND PUCMM Page 3 It is generally recognized that learning and development must take place through a range of approaches including distance education, and e-learning or computer-based training (CBT). CARICAD is not a provider of training, but through the medium of continuous audits and surveys of the needs of its client Governments has first-hand knowledge of the main learning gaps. CARICAD recently completed and circulated a comprehensive Human Resource Development Assessment Survey, which is designed to identify the regional priorities around which concentrated learning, training and other approaches must be structured to respond to critical training and skills development for public sector managers at the lower, middle and senior levels. From the Survey results, CARICAD will possess information about what level of priority should be placed on the development of competencies and skills of Member States to enhance job performance and effectiveness of regional public sector managers. The database generated from the country returns will be updated annually and is intended to be used to influence the training programmes developed by donor partners in the region. PUCMM is a recognised institution of tertiary learning in the Dominican Republic whose Caribbean Public Sector Management Programme has already provided a unique opportunity for academic development as well as cross-fertilisation and exchanges among public sector employees of the fifteen (15) CARIFORUM Member States. In addition, PUCMM-EU boasts a strong and vibrant network with leading universities in Europe with proven expertise and capacity to deliver a wide range of approaches to management training in key priority areas, in addition to providing useful models and case studies of EU policy approaches to public sector development. V. AREAS FOR COLLABORATION The Parties desire to use their areas of comparative advantage to provide a framework for cooperation and networking between the respective agencies and their respective institutional partners to create opportunities for deepening regional collaboration in the area of public sector development and modernisation. The Parties agree to initiate, consolidate and expand collaboration between institutions and professionals in the Dominican Republic and the rest of CARICAD Member countries in the areas of public sector development and modernisation. The Parties also agree to develop particular opportunities for the participation of Haiti within the current project, and its wider integration within the context of regional public sector development.

4 Page 4 Within this context the Parties agree to develop the following (i) (i) (iii). (iv) (v) A distance education Language Programme for Public Sector Officials with an option for involving specific non-public partners and public sector unions, along the lines outlined in the Annex, subject to necessary interventions from distance training design professionals among others. A distance education / CBT programme for public sector managers, as further detailed at the Annex. Joint research and publications Supporting Public Sector Development in Haiti - Convening a Workshop in 1 st quarter 2003 on emerging global trends for public sector development, with regional references and with a view to providing a framework for a national mandate for Haiti. Other policy support and development within areas of mutual concern and expertise. VI. RESPONSIBILITY OF PARTIES CARICAD has a total of fourteen (14) Member States. Included among these are the British Overseas territories of Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Montserrat, and the Turks and Caicos Islands. Through this agreement, CARICAD agrees to facilitate particular cooperative activities in the context of V above among CARICAD Member States and other regional and international development partners, notably with the European Union and United Nations Agencies, through the mechanism of existing national and regional programmes for public sector development. PUCMM-EU agrees to facilitate cooperative activities between CARICAD Member States and other relevant institutions in the Dominican Republic and in Europe. CARICAD and PUCMM-EU mutually agree to finalise, within the first three months of this agreement, an Action Plan for the implementation of discreet areas, which Plan will also include specific project proposals to be submitted for consideration of funding agencies, further to the Annex. VII. FINANCIAL PROVISIONS An allotment of EUROS 90, 000 or approximately US 87, was provided over the three-year duration of the Project to undertake all activities relating to the participation of the Dominican Republic and Haiti in the current project. CARICAD has disbursed resources over this period to undertake collaborations with PUCMM-EU within and outside of the Dominican Republic, and to enable the participation of PUCMM-EU in Project related activities.

5 Page 5 As the aforementioned resources will also provide for the purposes of collaboration with Haiti and related interventions, CARICAD and PUCMM-EU agree to examine jointly and individually, mechanisms for identifying resources to undertake activities described within the scope of this agreement. VIII. PERIOD OF AGREEMENT AND MODIFICATION/TERMINATION This Agreement will become effective on the date of signature of all parties. The Agreement will terminate at any time by mutual agreement of the parties. Either party may terminate this Agreement by providing written notice to the other party. Dr. P.I.Gomes Executive Director CARICAD Monseñor Agripino Núñez Collado President PUCMM

6 Page 6 CARICAD/ PUCMM-EU Development Programmes for CARIFORUM Public Sector Officials 1. Distance education Language Programme for Public Sector Officials with option for involving specific strategic partners in private sector (banking and tourism) and public sector unions Framework: CARICAD / PUCMM-EU collaboration with UWI-DEC. Distance education and Computer-based Training (CBT) 1.2 Target Middle to senior -level managers. Specific programme for front-line Officers Specialised/Technical Groups -- Officials in national agencies working in a supranational context. -- Officials in trade, foreign affairs, integration -- Officials in countries where is there significant movement of Hispano Caribbean nationals -- Officials in cultural sector -- Officials in tourism services -- Officials in general public sector departments 1.3 Content General proficiency 48 contact hours Topics: Contemporary Latin America: overview of economics, politics, culture, institutions, etc Business writing Terms of Address etc. Specialised Proficiency according to target group - 48 contact hours.- according to technical group with emphasis on technical terminology and usual practice Officials in national agencies working in a supranational context Topics: economy, international markets, legal drafting, contract negotiations, governance, institution building Officials in trade, foreign affairs, integration Topics: finance, money, trade, banking, negotiating skills, currency, conflict management Officials in countries where is there significant movement of Hispano Americans

7 Page 7 Topics: immigration, customs, finance, services Officials in tourism sector Topics: tourism, hotel, culture, environmental issues, sustainable development health, geography, people, travel, transportation Officials in culture services Topics: geography, people, travel, transportation, arts; regional history Officials in general Public Sector Ministries Topics: Health, education, institutions, immigration, government, citizens rights and duties 1.4 Objectives To improve lateral and functional cooperation between the Anglo and Hispanic Caribbean. To promote deeper integration, understanding through language and cultural learning and awareness. To facilitate trust, effective networking as well as cooperation and interchanges in a bi-lingual context. To facilitate greater trade and business exchanges To increase possibilities for cultural exchange and cooperation across linguistic circuits. To improve efficiency in the delivery of services to Hispanic-Caribbean segments of the population. To facilitate establishment of broader, pan-caribbean visions and strategies. 1.5 Outcomes At least 450 Caribbean public officials and strategic partners trained over a 3-year period with relative fluency in Spanish. Development of a tool for promoting greater integration and exchanges in specific sectors. Customised CBT and materials for distance education language training. Enhanced cooperation framework with PUCMM-EU, UWI-DEC and other partners. Greater distance education know-how. 1.6 Expected Results Officials able to perform effectively in multi-language contexts. Greater understanding and cooperation between Anglo and Hispanic Caribbean. Better informed decision-making machinery with acquired contextual knowledge and skills.

8 Page 8 Enhanced capacity for managing multiethnic and multicultural relationships and conflicts. Increased appreciation of the Caribbean as a whole. Greater opportunities and channels for sectoral exchanges (trade, banking, culture, tourism, government, etc.) 1.7 Objectively Verifiable Indicators List of individuals registered in language programme. Number of courses designed. Web page tools. Number of packages produced (hard and soft copies). Number of persons graduated from programme. Contracts for professional services. 1.8 Sources of verification. Ministries. -- Participants. -- Consultants. -- PUCMM-EU, CARICAD, UWI-DEC. 2. Public Sector Managers Programme by Distance education or CBTs Framework: PUCMM-EU collaboration with University of Rome. CARICAD with UWI- DEC. Programmes to be taught in English or Spanish with sub-titling. Distance education and CBTs. See also UNDESA-UNPAN link 2.1 Target: junior to middle-level managers. 2.2 Content Course programme developed on the basis of priorities outlined in the SP Diagnostic Survey, HRD Survey Needs, and to dovetail with proposed HRD Programme.