Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. December 19, 2025. The Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), in collaboration with the World Bank, successfully conducted a three-day Procurement Training from December 8th to 10th 2025, for staff at the Agency and representatives from participating countries within the OECS, including Technical Officers from the Ministries of Health in Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
This training, held at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference Centre, in Port of Spain, sought to strengthen the procurement capacity among all project partners, particularly as the OECS Regional Health Project enters its final phase of implementation, by ensuring the effective delivery of World Bank–funded activities. Some key areas of focus in this training included:
- an overview of World Bank Procurement Framework
- procurement planning
- preparation of bidding documents and requests for proposals
- evaluation procedures and contract awards
- fiduciary responsibilities, compliance and risk management
- common procurement challenges and mitigation measures
This interactive training reinforced the importance of efficient procurement planning, compliance with guidelines from the World Bank, and the implementation of sustainable systems that support accountability and impact beyond the completion of the project.
Dr Mark Sami, Director, Corporate Services, CARPHA, in delivering opening remarks at this event, stated that “At CARPHA, we recognise that strong procurement systems are essential for successful project implementation”. He further noted that “this training provides a valuable opportunity for CARPHA and its partners within the OECS, to build practical skills, share experiences and reinforce standards that support transparency and value for money”.
This procurement training was conducted by Ms Anita Nugu, Senior Procurement Consultant, at the World Bank, who expressed similar sentiments by stating that “it is important for the World Bank to ensure that the “borrower” is able to achieve value for money.” Ms Nugu, further noted that the training was designed to support this goal, particularly, as the OECS Regional Health Project, is expected to conclude within the next six months”.
Technical Officers received certificates in recognition of their active participation, knowledge acquisition, and commitment to strengthening procurement practices. CARPHA remains committed to working closely with the World Bank and participating countries within the OECS, to strengthen technical capacity, promote accountability and support the successful implementation of regional health projects that contribute to improved public health outcomes in the Caribbean.
Photo Captions:
In-Session Activities - Ms Anita Nugu, Senior Procurement Consultant – World Bank presents a certificate to a participant of the three-day procurement training event, while other participants actively engage during the question and answer session.
For more information on the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) visit our website www.carpha.org. Visit https://carpha.org/Projects/Ongoing-Projects/OECS-Regional-Health-Project for more information on the OECS Health Project.