Strengthening Constituencies for Effective Competition Regimes in Select West African Countries (7Up4 Project) PROJECT OVERVIEW Presentation at NRG-I Meeting September-October 2008

Launch Meeting, June, Accra

Project Features Countries – Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal & Togo Countries – Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal & Togo Duration – 24 months Duration – 24 months Components – Research, Dialogues & Advocacy, Networking, Training Components – Research, Dialogues & Advocacy, Networking, Training Approach – Research-based advocacy through a participatory process Approach – Research-based advocacy through a participatory process Beneficiaries – Civil Society, Government & Business Community Beneficiaries – Civil Society, Government & Business Community

Project Objectives Evaluate obstacles to evolving national competition regimes Evaluate obstacles to evolving national competition regimes Develop capacity of national stakeholders to appreciate competition concerns Develop capacity of national stakeholders to appreciate competition concerns Establish communication channels between civil society-business-government Establish communication channels between civil society-business-government Provide inputs into evolving competition legislations Provide inputs into evolving competition legislations Elucidate linkage between competition and other public policy issues Elucidate linkage between competition and other public policy issues Identify a core group of national stakeholders with aptitude for competition and regulatory policy issues Identify a core group of national stakeholders with aptitude for competition and regulatory policy issues Develop linkages between national stakeholders and global networks/coalitions Develop linkages between national stakeholders and global networks/coalitions Promote a healthy competition culture Promote a healthy competition culture

Outputs Enhanced knowledge on competition policy and consumer welfare Enhanced knowledge on competition policy and consumer welfare Accelerate evolution and implementation of national competition regimes, with civil society’s inputs Accelerate evolution and implementation of national competition regimes, with civil society’s inputs Continuous dialogue between government-civil society-business community on economic and regulatory policy Continuous dialogue between government-civil society-business community on economic and regulatory policy Credibility of civil society organizations asserted as ‘actors’ in national competition reforms Credibility of civil society organizations asserted as ‘actors’ in national competition reforms The international community made aware of the need to promote a healthy competition culture in country/region. The international community made aware of the need to promote a healthy competition culture in country/region.

Outcomes Profile of competition policy within the context of national development raised. Profile of competition policy within the context of national development raised. Process to establish effective national competition regimes, evolved. Process to establish effective national competition regimes, evolved. Promotion of a healthy competition culture in countries/region. Promotion of a healthy competition culture in countries/region.

Activities Groundwork: Preparation, Partnerships, Launch Meeting, Groundwork: Preparation, Partnerships, Launch Meeting, Research: Analysis of the state of competition in project countries (legal, policy and practice) Research: Analysis of the state of competition in project countries (legal, policy and practice) Specific Research Areas: political economy constraints, natural monopolies, agriculture markets, national Vs regional competition legislation, competition perception analysis Specific Research Areas: political economy constraints, natural monopolies, agriculture markets, national Vs regional competition legislation, competition perception analysis Research Outputs: PCP, CRR, Perception Assessment Research Outputs: PCP, CRR, Perception Assessment Advocacy and Dialogues: NRG meetings (periodical, output oriented) – policy advocacy Advocacy and Dialogues: NRG meetings (periodical, output oriented) – policy advocacy Trainings: National and Regional Trainings: National and Regional Outreach: Information dissemination within countries, region, international level (articles, e-newsletter, postings, representations, networking) Outreach: Information dissemination within countries, region, international level (articles, e-newsletter, postings, representations, networking)

Sequence of Activities Phase(s) Main Activities Period (Months) Preparatory Phase Preparation of Operational Strategy Note (OSN) Preparation of Operational Strategy Note (OSN) Identifying the Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Identifying the Project Advisory Committee (PAC) Preparation of draft Preliminary Country Papers (PCPs) Preparation of draft Preliminary Country Papers (PCPs) Launch Meeting Launch Meeting June to August, 2008 Research Phase NRG Meetings I (one in each country) NRG Meetings I (one in each country) Finalisation of Preliminary Country Papers (PCPs) Finalisation of Preliminary Country Papers (PCPs) Initiation of the draft Country Research Report (CRRs) preparation Initiation of the draft Country Research Report (CRRs) preparation September 2008 to May 2009 Research Phase (contd.) Analysis of political economy constraints in implementing competition regimes Analysis of political economy constraints in implementing competition regimes Assessment of natural monopolies and their implication on competition vis-à-vis economic development and consumer welfare Assessment of natural monopolies and their implication on competition vis-à-vis economic development and consumer welfare Field work including perception surveys Field work including perception surveys Competition issues in 2-3 agriculture products market and impact on welfare, poverty and/or growth Competition issues in 2-3 agriculture products market and impact on welfare, poverty and/or growth Finalisation of Country Research Reports (CRRs) Finalisation of Country Research Reports (CRRs) Interim Review Meeting Interim Review Meeting June to November 2009 National Dialogues NRG Meetings II (one in each country) NRG Meetings II (one in each country) NRG Meetings III (one in each country) NRG Meetings III (one in each country) August 2009 to March 2010 Training Workshops Regional Training workshop (Anglophone region) Regional Training workshop (Anglophone region) Regional Training workshop (Francophone region) Regional Training workshop (Francophone region) National Training Workshops (one in each country) National Training Workshops (one in each country) November 2009 to March 2010 Information dissemination Quarterly E-newsletter Quarterly E-newsletter Dissemination of reports and other project outputs Dissemination of reports and other project outputs Throughout the project

Research Phase Preliminary Country Papers (PCPs) – base paper on the state of competition regimes in countries Preliminary Country Papers (PCPs) – base paper on the state of competition regimes in countries Country Research Report (CRR) – Country Research Report (CRR) – - Social and Economic policies affecting competition - Political Economy Constraints - Nature of Market Competition - Sectoral Policies (and institutions) and Competition - Competition in select agro-products market - Natural Monopolies and Competition - National Vs Regional Competition Legislation - Competition Perception Assessment Periodical review and refinement of the PCP and CRR before finalisation by project team and interested NRG members

National Dialogues and Advocacy Identifying a group of key national stakeholders (NRG) Identifying a group of key national stakeholders (NRG) NRG: review project outputs, provide feedback, policy advice NRG: review project outputs, provide feedback, policy advice NRG Meetings - NRG-I: Introduction to project + Discuss PCP findings - NRG-II: Discuss the Draft CRR + Identify training needs - NRG-III: Review the project outputs and deliberate on the ‘way ahead’ Identifying specific policy advocacy issues based on research findings (evidence based policy advocacy) Identifying specific policy advocacy issues based on research findings (evidence based policy advocacy)

Trainings 2 Regional & 7 National Trainings 2 Regional & 7 National Trainings Trainings Trainings - Duration: 3 days - Agenda: need-based and demand driven - Participants: Multi-stakeholders (national) and Practitioners (regional) - Resource Persons: Experts and Scholars (international) - Topics: Basics of Competition Policy and Law, Competition Analysis, Competition enforcement (VR, HR, AoD, Cartels, etc.), Competition & Sectoral Regulation, Competition and Consumer Protection

Outreach E-newsletter (news and project progress) E-newsletter (news and project progress) Occasional publications – briefing papers, policy briefs, articles (newspaper, CUTS newsletter, etc.) Occasional publications – briefing papers, policy briefs, articles (newspaper, CUTS newsletter, etc.) Representations in international events Representations in international events Reference in papers, research work, etc. Reference in papers, research work, etc. Personal communications, group discussions on relevant issues Personal communications, group discussions on relevant issues Circulation of project report, etc., globally Circulation of project report, etc., globally

Management & Administration Overall responsibility – CUTS (Project Team) Overall responsibility – CUTS (Project Team) Guidance – Project Advisory Committee (PAC), Project Adviser Guidance – Project Advisory Committee (PAC), Project Adviser Research guidance – Research Adviser Research guidance – Research Adviser Country-level Activities – Country Partners Country-level Activities – Country Partners Coordination – CUTS HQ + CUTS Africa Resource Centres in Kenya and Zambia Coordination – CUTS HQ + CUTS Africa Resource Centres in Kenya and Zambia

Thank You Rijit Sengupta Web: Phone: