opportunities & challenges for competition reforms in e&s africa cuts viewpoint africa...

Opportunities & Challenges for Competition Reforms in E&S Africa

CUTS Viewpoint

Africa Stakeholders’ WorkshopAfrica Competition Forum12th March 2010, Nairobi

Rijit Sengupta

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Outline of Presentation

Introduction to CUTS International

CUTS Competition Projects in Africa Objectives

Countries

Key Messages

Future Challenges Relating to Competition

Select Future Projects in Africa

Concluding Remarks

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Introduction to CUTS International

Genesis – consumer rights organisation

Vision: Consumer sovereignty in the framework of

social justice and equality within and across borders

Landmarks in relevant CUTS activity Involvement in competition reforms in India

Active programmes on competition policy and law

issues in 30 countries of Africa and Asia

2 resource centres in Africa, 4 overall

Extensive contacts across SH groups, and

partnerships with CSOs in Africa

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CUTS Projects in Africa

OBJECTIVES COUNTRIES KEY MESSAGES

Sensitising ‘key stakeholders’ about benefits from

competition reforms Bottom up-approach (7Up Model) Capacity building of multiple stakeholders on CPL Mobilising CSO involvement in competition reforms Collating baseline information on state of competition Advocacy for evolution of CPL & enforcement Attracting donor/IO attention to CPL

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CUTS Projects in Africa

OBJECTIVES COUNTRIES KEY MESSAGES

PAST & PRESENTBotswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia

Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo

FUTUREAlgeria, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia

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CUTS Projects in Africa

OBJECTIVES COUNTRIES KEY MESSAGES

Very little political will Low stakeholder demand (if at all) Only a few interested donors Interest exists among scholars/academia; no support Business community not integrated into the process Huge training and capacity building requirements Very little/incorrect reporting in media (print & electr.) Sensitisation of parliamentarians imperative

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CUTS Projects in Africa

OBJECTIVES COUNTRIES KEY MESSAGES

Competition Authorities (CA) created, but lack capacity Often inappropriate sequencing of cases by CA Lack of capacity building opportunities for CA staff Little or no clarity on interface issues CA not able to establish strong linkages with

consumers, vice-versa (affecting consumer support)

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Future Challenges Relating to Competition

Detailed socio-economic assessment of ACPs and

dissemination of results (POLICY ADVOCACY)

Integration of competition reforms into wider policy

discourses (EXPANDING FRONTIERS)

Regional Vs National Competition Laws (CLARITY)

Competition reforms in post-EPAs (OPPORTUNITY)

Governments need to support enforcement actions

WORLD COMPETITION DAY!

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Future Challenges Relating to Competition

Long-term training/CB of CA staff

Technical Assistance for new/young CAs

(INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION)

Integration of CPL into Univ./Management courses

Continuous/long-term programmes for CB of key

stakeholders in competition issues

Support for consumer organisations (‘watchdogs’)

Donor community/IGOs maintain/increase support

Policy needs to be translated into administrative actions

(WGs, Parliamentary Committee)

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Select Competition Projects in Africa

Capacity building of E&S African SH on Competition Assessment Framework (CAF)

Target groups: practitioners and stakeholders Methodology:

Selection of project countries

Identification of resource persons (esp. from

Africa/Asia)

Preparation of ToT for resource persons

Collection/preparation of ‘case studies’

Basic and advanced training on application of CA

Production of ‘country-specific handbooks’ (on

application of CAF in 2-3 specific markets)

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Select Competition Projects in Africa

Building capacity and developing the environment for effective competition regimes in select MENA countries

Establish contacts with CSOs, CAs, other SH

Plan and undertake a scoping-mission

Develop baseline on prevailing state and challenges

Mobilise key SH to discuss competition reforms options

Enhance capacity of SH to engage on CPL issues

Initiate processes for participatory competition reforms

Establish forum for discourses on competition reforms

Link the national competition community to the outside

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Concluding Remarks

Need for Africa Competition Forum first recommended by CUTS in

August 2008

Identified Functions/Roles of ACF

To take discussions on competition reforms outside

the community related directly to CPL

Respond to capacity building needs of key SH on CPL

in Africa

Provide a platform for discussing and addressing

challenges in competition reforms faced by African

nations

Foster international cooperation for competition

reforms in Africa

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Ahsante Sana!rsg@cuts.org

www.cuts-ccier.org