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