Workshops

Workshops are the main active ways in which partners exchange information, experience and examples of good practice. Four workshops will be held during the operation and different partner regions host these. Each workshop lasts 3 days. The workshop draws participants from each partner region.

For example, with health sector procurement, it was an opportunity for each partner to identify a number of key experts (e.g. procurement managers) and regional stakeholders (e.g. small business representatives) to engage in a dialogue to address issues relevant to that specific knowledge theme:

• how procurement currently works in the health sector in partner regions
• how procurement policy and practice can be used to support economic and social development within regions and local communities
• what policies and tools can help us support the development of dynamic local businesses through health sector procurement.

Partners prepare two types of input (i) a regional overview of policy and practice in the subject area (ii) a case study presentation that provides some detail on relevant good practice.

Following each workshop, the M&C Office prepares a working paper that captures the exchange of information, experience and good practice. This working paper is then sent to partners as briefing material to prepare for the follow-up Policy Forum.