Brief

The World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA), Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF), and Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) – (WAIPA – EIF – IsDB) joined efforts to create and launch the first program to enhance investment promotion capacities and capabilities of francophone least developed countries (LDCs), which started its operations with a kick-off meeting virtually on 1 June, 2022. This new program, being offered first time in French, follows the success of a similar training program by EIF and WAIPA on capacity building for EIF Countries on investment promotion.

Project Details

The program will focus on what IPAs can improve to attract and facilitate sustainable investments as well as improve the business climate and leverage additional resource to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs) targets. It will also encourage and facilitate dialogue and cooperation with the relevant ministries and other local stakeholders as well as with relevant international organizations for investment promotion in the francophone countries and regions.

The training will cover the entire cycle of investment with 4 key priorities:

• FDI Strategy

  Organization & Governance

• Business Intelligence & Research

  Marketing & Communication

• Lead generation

  Investor assistance

• Aftercare

  Monitoring of the FDI performance

  Policy advocacy

The program will involve training workshops and roundtable discussions, case studies and also testimonials from foreign investors and how they see the role of IPAs to better address their needs. Focus on sustainability and digitalization will be addressed in each module and investor views brought into content.

Project overview

Project title: Capacity Building for Francophone LDCs on Investment Promotion

Main implementing entity: World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (WAIPA)

Implementing period: 2O22 – 2O23

Target countries and stakeholder groups:

OCO Global has been commissioned to deliver this program scheduled to be completed in mid2023, with the core objectives of improving the capacities and skills of selected participating organizations including Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), National Implementation Units (NIUs), and other government officials in francophone LDCs.

Objectives:

• To improve the capacities and skills for Investment promotion agencies (IPAs) and EIF National Implementation Units (NIUs) as well as government officials in francophone LDCs on investment promotion and leveraging investment in trade priority sectors.

• To focus on what IPAs can improve to attract and facilitate sustainable investments as well as improve the business climate and leverage additional resource to meet the sustainable development goals (SDGs) targets.

• To encourage and facilitate dialogue and cooperation with the relevant ministries and other local stakeholders as well as with relevant international organizations for investment promotion in the francophone countries and regions.