CLDP provides technical assistance to countries across Latin America and the Caribbean on a range of legal and commercial issues. Through agreements with USAID and the U.S. Department of State, CLDP implements tailored government-to-government assistance that aims to achieve strategic objectives that help meet U.S. and host country development goals. Custom performance indicators allow for the constant monitoring and evaluation of CLDP’s interventions and of its progress toward the programmatic goals listed below.

Dominican Republic – Public Procurement & Government Transparency

CLDP has an interagency agreement with USAID/Dominican Republic to assist the national government in improving the country’s public procurement framework and processes, to be more effective, transparent, inclusive, and sustainable.

CLDP, in close cooperation with the GODR, conducts programming to identify legal and procedural gaps that undermine transparency, efficiency, or small business access in the procurement system and to develop strategies to address these gaps. CLDP also conducts training programs for government personnel to ensure compliance with local procurement laws and regulations and to share U.S. and international best practices for increasing the level of transparency and competition in government tenders. CLDP also organizes events and workshops to connect public and private sector stakeholders to improve communication between the government and industry and to improve the government’s ability to conduct market research.

Goals:

• To improve the transparency and effectiveness of the Dominican Republic’s procurement system for citizen security institutions
• To improve access for and empower small and women-owned businesses
• To develop the institutional frameworks and capacity to manage PPP infrastructure projects
• To strengthen public sector transparency and accountability measures

Program Areas:

• Capacity-building programs for government contracting officials to effectively manage contracts and government tenders
• Certification program for procurement personnel
• Natural disaster response and procurement
• Bid protest mechanisms and procurement oversight
• Infrastructure development via public-private partnerships for critical infrastructure
• Accountability mechanisms and the public integrity framework

Peru – Public Procurement

CLDP has an interagency agreement with USAID/Peru to improve the country’s procurement lifecycle and to build the institutional capacities of key Government of Peru (GOP) entities to manage large-scale infrastructure projects. The project transfers international technical expertise to the GOP to help establish more transparent, efficient, and competitive procurement processes. Competing these kinds of contracts fairly and predictably is essential to improving public services, alleviating poverty, and strengthening the social contract between citizens and the state.

Goals:

• To improve effectiveness and transparency of procurement lifecycle through legislative and regulatory modifications,
• To improve project management capacity for large-scale infrastructure projects through the use of integrators and project management principles
• To ensure the sustainability of improvements through the professionalization of procurement and infrastructure workforce.

Program Areas:

Program areas include legal framework, management capacity, and professionalization of the procurement workforce.  Support includes:

• Legal and regulatory reform to incorporate international best practices
• Development of technical acquisition guides
• Re-reorganization of procurement entities to incorporate project management
• Professionalization and credentialing of the procurement workforce
• Expansion of e-procurement and modern procurement systems

Central America & Mexico

CLDP, through a regional agreement with the U.S. Department of State, works to implement a comprehensive trade facilitation program in Mexico and Central America that builds capacity and alleviates supply chain disruptions and bottlenecks through enhanced trade facilitation and improvements to countries’ supply chains/logistics frameworks. The program aims to bolster transparency, cooperation, and coordination across the region and improve interregional trade.

Goals

• To improve the capabilities and efficiencies of border authorities to facilitate trade and streamline customs procedures.
• To develop technical and regulatory capacity to support increased trade and more integrated supply chains.

Program Areas

• Professionalization of the customs workforce
• Technical assistance concerning trade logistics infrastructure
• Modernization of customs codes and other frameworks
• Modernization reforms to incorporate best practices into trade procedures