PAIRIAC is part of the second component of the regional indicative program, PIR 11th EDF through which the European Union (EU) and the authorities of Central Africa are committed to reducing poverty through better growth and economic integration. It responds to the EU's commitment, made within the framework of the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPA), to support Central Africa in its objective of regional integration and integration into global economic chains. It finds its anchor in the new European Consensus for the reduction of poverty and the new 2018 AU-EU alliance for investments and employment which served as a basis for the development of a new strategy of the Commission for Africa based among other things on (1) green transition and access to energy, (2) digital transformation, (3) growth and sustainable jobs. PAIRIAC is fully in line with the implementation of the EU's External Investment Plan (EIP), which aims to promote growth and job creation in its partner countries. It covers all the pillars of the EIP, namely the investment facility and guarantee instruments (pillar I), technical assistance (pillar II) and the investment climate (pillar III).
The specific objectives of this contract are:
Objective 1: strengthen the acceleration of regional integration.
Objective 3: increase financing for the private sector in Central Africa by taking advantage of the External Investment Plan.
The results to be achieved are as follows:
Result 1.1: the consultation and coordination mechanism between ECCAS and CEMAC is operational.Result 1.2: the operational and human capacities of the dedicated structures (Technical Secretariat of COPIL/CER-AC and Joint Technical Secretariat of the ECCAS/CEMAC consultation framework) are strengthened. Result 1.3: better functioning and governance of corridors facilitate the operationalization of the ECCAS free trade area and the CEMAC customs union. Result 1.4.: Accompanying measures help to implement the Economic Partnership Agreement in Cameroon that has already signed up, and to encourage, as far as possible, the support of other countries in the sub-region. Result 3.2: Investment opportunities in the region are highlighted and benefit from the external investment plan.Activities linked to the objective 1 – regional integration
Activity 1.1.1: Harmonization and implementation of ECCAS/CEMAC cooperation policies, programs and instruments taking into account the principles of human rights (including gender equality), non-discrimination and transparency according to the revised 2018-2023 action plan of the COPIL/CER-AC.
Activities 1.1.2: strengthening the operational capacities of the structures dedicated to the rationalization of the two RECs and regional integration.
Activities 1.1.3: support for monitoring the process of streamlining and strengthening regional integration in Central Africa.
Activity 1.2.1: building the operational capacities of the COPIL/CER-AC Technical Secretariat.
Activity 1.2.2: sensitization/training of actors, particularly on considering the gender, youth and environmental approach in the development of regional institutions.
Activity 1.3.1: Development of trade corridors in the region in complementarity with the Regional and National Infrastructure Management Support Program (PAGIRN).
Activity 1.3.2: sensitization/training of actors on the functioning and governance of corridors in complementarity with the Support Program for the Management of Regional and National Infrastructures (PAGIRN).
Activity 1.3.3: identification, analysis and proposed solution to regulatory and non-tariff barriers to inter-regional trade.
Activity 1.4.1: strengthening and alignment with international standards of quality infrastructure and capacities in this area with a view to increased application of standards, in particular, private and SPS.
Activity 1.4.2: strengthening and modernization of certification and control capacities for increased application of SPS standards and private standards.
Activity 1.4.3: Strengthening and modernization of national phytosanitary certification and surveillance systems.
Activity 1.4.4: support for employers' organizations and sectoral associations relevant to the establishment of an EPA support unit in coordination with the EU Delegation in Cameroon.
Activity 1.4.5: contribution to EPA monitoring in coordination with the EU Delegation in Cameroon.
Activity 1.4.6: training and information campaign for operators in Cameroon so that they benefit more widely from the EPA and communication/advocacy actions with operators, Member States and institutions in the region in coordination with the EU Delegation in Cameroon, with a view to encouraging their support for a balanced agreement.
Activity 1.4.7: review of studies of priority sectors in order to highlight their development potential on regional and international markets and to propose a development plan for the said sectors.
Activity 1.4.8: support for increasing the production of SMEs/SMIs with high export potential in priority sectors.
Activity 1.4.9: technical assistance and strengthening of the infrastructure (in particular digital) and the capacities of the tax and customs administrations, including training for these administrations on the exercises for transposing Market Access Offers into the context trade agreements like the EPA and AfCFTA.
Activity 1.4.10: support for national strategies for implementing the agreement on the African Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAf) and the EPA implementation strategy for Cameroon.
Activities linked to the objective 3 – growth in financing for the private sector in Central Africa by taking advantage of synergies with the External Investment Plan
Activity 3.1: support to beneficiaries in the region for the maturation, feasibility, preparation, awareness-raising and implementation of projects with the support of the EIP, via the creation of a EIP window to receive projects and guide them in order to take advantage of the opportunities of the external investment plan. With this support, beneficiaries of the region are supported to prepare blending, guarantee projects and/or to initiate sector reforms/dialogue for the improvement of the investment climate.
Activity 3.2: identification of sectors with high potential for integration and proposal of development plans for these sectors. This proposal must include the identification of business projects to be created or developed with financing plans linked to the EIP. This action must be implemented in collaboration with the employers' organizations of the countries of the sub-region and the umbrella organization.
Activity 3.3: creation of a sub-regional forum for investors in partnership with the sub-regional private sector and investment promotion agencies, one or two editions to be organized by the consultant.
Activity 3.4: promotion of innovation financing and innovative projects in the sub-region.