THE Caribbean Forum of the Group of African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States (CARIFORUM) is hosting a consultation to continue the development of a framework for an effective platform for structured and continuous dialogue between CARIFORUM and French Caribbean Outermost Regions (FCORs) and British and Dutch Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs).

The consultation will be at the Radisson Barbados from today, the CARICOM Secretariat said in a release. Representatives of CARIFORUM States, Regional Institutions, FCORs, as well as representatives of OCTs, the CARICOM Secretariat and CARIFORUM, will attend the forum. Director General of CARIFORUM, Mr. Percival Marie, a representative of the European Union Delegation in Barbados and a representative of the Government of Barbados, are expected to speak at the opening of the forum on Tuesday morning.

Recommendations for a dialogue framework at the political and technical levels were developed through a consultancy and first presented at a Regional Consultation in Barbados, 11 -12 April, 2018. However, officials did not agree to the recommended platform, but rather recommended its revision with focus on specific elements for deepening cooperation and collaboration. The areas included Human and Social Development; Trade and Investment; Disaster Risk Management; and Crime and Security.
Participants of the upcoming Forum will review the new report and discuss its recommendations. At the end, it is hoped that there will be an agreed mechanism for deeper and more effective cooperation and collaboration among CARIFORUM, OCTs and FCORs. This feedback will enable the consultant to revise and finalise the report. A two-day Regional Workshop on the Monitoring Framework for the Implementation of the Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme (CRIP) will follow the consultation. The workshop will be held at the same venue.

There will be approximately 30 participants from Regional Implementing Agencies of EDF Caribbean Regional Indicative Programme. The training targets personnel with responsibility for reporting to the CARIFORUM Directorate and the CARICOM Secretariat on the EDF programmes. Its purpose is to introduce stakeholders to the EDF Monitoring Framework for the CRIP. The aim is also to build the capacity of stakeholders to use the EDF CRIP Monitoring, Evaluation, Reporting (M,E&R) tools; and finalise EDF CRIP Monitoring Framework and associated tools for use by stakeholders. The consultation and EDF monitoring workshop are being funded under the 10th EDF Regional Indicative Programme through a dedicated Technical Cooperation Facility (TCF) which, in part, aims to strengthen cooperation among CARIFORUM States, the FCORs and Caribbean OCTs.