CAF Strengthens Procurement Capacity in Trinidad & Tobago with CIPS Training Program

The program, which concluded with a graduation ceremony on Tuesday 25 February 2025, provided participants with specialized knowledge to put into practice the recently updated public procurement legislative framework and tools to navigate the evolving procurement landscape.

Through this initiative, CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean – reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing public procurement capacity in Trinidad & Tobago with a USD 150,000 Non-Reimbursable Technical Cooperation Agreement with the Ministry of Finance. This initiative supports the development of a comprehensive public procurement training strategy and enhances procurement practices in alignment with the country’s regulatory framework.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony, CAF’s Principal Executive, Stephanie Ledesma, underscored the importance of procurement training in strengthening governance and transparency.

“This commitment of USD 150,000 will support the OPR in the development of a comprehensive public procurement training strategy and the development of a public procurement program,” Ledesma stated. She also noted that equipping government officials with specialized knowledge is crucial to ensuring effective execution of procurement functions in an evolving regulatory environment.

“It was designed to meet the need to set a foundation level of competence and consistency across the procurement operations within public sector procurement,” she added.

The training program, which ran from January to February 2025, covered key areas such as:

• Introduction to Procurement
• Current Strategies in Modern Procurement
• Strategic Procurement & Supplier Appraisal
• Contracting, Tendering & Contract Law
• Commercial Risk, Finance & Cost Analysis
• Supplier Performance Management & Negotiation Techniques

Chief Operations Officer at the Office of Procurement Regulation Robert Subryan said this training was important for the country. “Our country needs this, and our citizens deserve the benefit of this being done properly, we extend our deepest appreciation to CAF - Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean for the generous sponsorship and unwavering commitment to capacity building and procurement and supply management. Your support has been instrumental in empowering the officers to become champions of integrity and excellence in public service.”

Participants underwent rigorous training and assessments to enhance their competency in public procurement operations. The initiative aligns with CAF’s broader efforts to modernize procurement systems across Latin America and the Caribbean, to ensure greater efficiency, accountability, and value for money in public sector transactions.