Needs Assessment Seminar attracts private sector
Several businesses and private sector institutions converged at the Belize Biltmore Plaza today to participate in a Needs Assessment seminar hosted by the Caribbean Technological Consultancy Services (C.T.C.S.). The C.T.C.S. Network is a programme of the Caribbean Development Bank Private Sector Development Division designed to provide technical hands-on assistance to micro and small sector entities. The C.T.C.S. delegation is in Belize to sensitize these institutions on the range of services that can be accessed through their network.
Carlson Gough, Director of Projects, C.D.B.
“The C.T.C.S. programme is one of the two principal programmes the bank has for addressing poverty reduction. The C.T.C.S. programme and the Basic Need Trust Fund Programme which is widely known in Belize is funded from what we call the special development fund. The Special development fund is provided by contributors to the bank, some of whom may not be members of the bank, but these funds are made available in a non reimbursable basis so it provides us with an avenue for grants which is what we fund the C.T.C.S. programme.”
Jerome Singh, Investment Officer, C.D.B.
“It has always been difficult dealing with Belize, connecting it to the rest of the Caribbean because we have to come through Miami. It’s a difficult and expensive process. So developing the capabilities within Belize to service itself and to supplement it with resources from outside when you can’t find them in Belize would be our objective.”
Kenneth Harvey, Investment Officer, Technical Assistance, C.D.B.
“First of all, I must let you know that the programme is not new to Belize, we have been operating in Belize for many years providing assistance currently to many micro and small entities and institution. However, we feel that the time has come that we need to provide it more aggressively. This programme has been designed and been operated for many years to help any micro and small entity in almost any aspect of their operation whether it be operational side, management side, staff development. We believe based on our experience that we can do this effectively in Belize.”
Marleni Cuellar
“And today you are conducting the needs assessment. How are you going to gather that information?”
Kenneth Harvey
“Well so far we presented to the institutions the details of the programme; how it works, answered all their queries about the mechanism. Now in the post lunch session we will work with them to identify institutional specific needs and also to prioritize these needs so that we can then design specific programmes to work with their clients.”
In the next phase, the C.T.C.S. will be identifying assistance for the clients.
