Eighteen Caribbean countries and territories will take part of a one day regional conference and a four day UNDP-CIPS procurement certification course in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago on June 23rd to 27th, 2014. The conference will be the second sub-regional conference for Caribbean members of Inter-American Network of Government Procurement (INGP), which will be hosted by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago, and jointly organized by the Inter-American Development Bank (IADB), the Organization of American States (OAS), and the Caribbean Regional Technical Assistance Centre (CARTAC). 

The first day of the conference will be a “Caribbean Regional Conference,” a public event that brings in international experts presenting on relevant key topics on the modernization of procurement systems in the Caribbean. The conference is expected to bring together international experts, heads of procurement, procurement officers, policymakers, practitioners, academia, and other procurement professionals; their experience and expertise will develop into the sharing of knowledge about the principles, policies, existing rules, and best practices of public procurement with a focus on the Caribbean region. 

The following four days will consist of an introductory procurement Level 2 certification course that is accredited by the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS), one of the leading bodies representing the field of procurement and supply chain management. The course aims to provide participants with a clear understanding of the principles of public procurement, such as the generic procurement process and the role of corporate and transactional procurement. In addition the course will provide participants with the capability to plan, implement, and evaluate a sourcing process that is appropriate to the value or risk of the goods and services being procured. Lastly, the course aims to educate participants with the knowledge of what rules and procedures govern public procurement along with a background on their usefulness.