SSNED Newsletters
Please click here to download the 6th Newsletter covering the period between March 2011 and June 2011.
Please click here to download the 5th Newsletter covering the period between October 2010 and February 2011.
Please click here to download the 4th Newsletter covering the period between February 2010 and September 2010.
Please click here to download the 3rd Newsletter covering the period between November 2009 and January 2010.
Please click here to download the 2nd Newsletter covering the period between March and October 2009.
Please click here to download the 1st Newsletter issued on 3rd January
THIS MONTH
December2011 The SSNED has attended the Regional Multidisciplinary Centre for Excellence (RMCE)' 3rd Board of Trustees meeting held in La Plantation resort in Gran Baie, Mauritius. The RMCE agreed to co-fund a twinning project in Swaziland on setting up a competitiveness strategy for the country.The project will be used as a test pad for RMCE's programme for 'Ease of Doing Business in Africa'. The project is expected to take place in the 4th quarter of 2012.
The SSNED is also liaising with the RMCE, Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Mauritius to co-fund/ a training workshop in the African region on regional integration. The exact name of the workshop will be determined by the partners soon. The project is expected to take place in 2012.
PAST NEWS/EVENTS
November 2011 The SSNED has submitted 3 projects to the Caribbean Development Bank to be considered for funding. The projects are aimed at institutional development in Caribbean small states.
The SSNED is also planning to kick-start the 4-way partnership with the Regional Multidisciplinary Centre for Excellence, the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Mauritius through 2 projects. A decision is expected to be taken by all partners regarding the 2 projects by end November. More details of this will be posted here soon.
October 2011 The SSNED has approached the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for collaboration with the Network. More information on the possible collaboration will be available soon. The Network is also preparing a 4-way proposal for collaboration between the Regional Multidisciplinary Centre for Excellence, the Government of Mauritius , the SSNED and the Commonwealth Secretariat . The proposal will be submitted to the Commonwealth Secretariat in November. More details of the collaboration will be updated in this section soon.
September 2011 The SSNED attended the Small States Forum meeting held in Washington D.C on 24th September 2011. The forum built upon last year's discussion by focusing on the sustainability of small states’ development and growth over the next decade. More information on the 2011 Small States Forum can be accessed by clicking here.
The Network was approached by the Government and Central Bank of San Marino where talkes about future collaboration with the SSNED and small states have started. A follow up meeting in connection with the proposed collaboration will take place in November. The Network also had its 9th Board of Trustees meeting on the 25th September in Washington D.C. More information on the 9th meeting can be accessed here .
August 2011 The SSNED is preparing for the Small States Forum that will be held on 24th September 2011 at the World Bank Main Complex, Conference Hall JB1-080. The SSNED 9th Board of Trustees meeting will be held 1-2 dys before the Small States Forum. Requests for funding to be presented to Board members are still being accepted until 10th September 2011. More information on how to apply for a funded project is available here http://ssned.org/proj-themes
July 2011 The SSNED is accepting applications for requests for funded projects to be implemented in 2012. Applications will be presented to the SSNED Board of Trustees meeting in September 2011. More information on how to apply for a funded project is available here http://ssned.org/proj-themes . The list of the applications received up to July 2011 can be viewed by clicking here
June 2011 The SSNED will be represented in the Regional Multidisciplinary Centre for Excellence (RMCE) Board of Trustees meetings to be held in June 16th 2011 in Mauritius. The SSNED will aim at strengthening the collaboration with regional organisations such as the RMCE
May 2011 Following the completion of the consultancy report, authored by Mr David Peretz on SSNED activities for the first 3 years of its operation, the Network is in the process of utilising the evaluation report to draft the way forward for the SSNED. The World Bank has commissioned a consultancy team composed of the Director and members of the Secretariat to draft the way forward. The changes will be aimed at improving the operations of the Network through changes in the statute , work programme and by adopting a manual of working procedures. The consultancy is expected to be completed in end May 2011 and proposed changes will be implemented in the months that will follow.
April 2011 Following the 8th meeting of the Board of Trustees, the SSNED Secretariat is in the process of developing directions for the future operations of the Network in consultation with its board of trustees and stakeholders. The consultation exercise is expected to be finalised in the coming months. Ministries from member states of the SSNED are encouraged to apply for funded projects by filling-in an expression of interest documents for twinning projects and training workshops .
March 2011 The 8th board of trustees meeting was be held online through email communication between 14-18 March 2011. More information on the 8th board of trustees meeting is available on http://www.ssned.org/eighth_bot_meeting .
February 2011 The SSNED has numerous requests for assistance for twinning projects from its member countries. The Network is trying to secure funding in order to implement further projects.
January 2011 The SSNED underwent an evaluation by an independent expert which was completed by end January. The Samoa workshop on Competition Law and Policy held in Tanoa Tusitala Hotel in Apia, Samoa was very well received by participants and resource persons. More information on the workshop here.
December 2010 The preparations for the upcoming workshop on Competition Law and Policy in the Pacific Small States, taking place in Apia, Samoa on 17-18 January 2011 are underway. The Network extended the deadline for the nominations till 6th December. More information on the upcoming workshop can be accessed by clicking here.
November 2010 The SSNED in collaboration with the Regional Multidisciplinary Centre for Excellence and the Commonwealth Secretariat organised a workshop on Competitiveness that took place in Mauritius between the 15-17 November 2010. More information can be accessed here.
The Maldives joined the Network on 24th November 2010. The total number of SSNED members as of end November is 37.
October 2010 The meeting of the SSNED Board of trustees was held on the 10th of October 2010 at the World Bank building in Washington D.C. More info on the 7th board of trustees meeting will be added on the Network's website on by clicking here.
The meeting of the 2010 Small States Forum was held in Washington D.C on 9th October 2010. More information on the forum can be accessed at by clicking here .
September 2010 Information on the upcoming workshop that will take place in Mauritius on 15-17 November 2010 entitled "Competitiveness Strategies and Capacity Building with Special Reference to the African and Indian Ocean Small States"can be accessed on the SSNED website by clicking here . The duly filled-in and signed forms are to be returned by not later that 30th September 2010.
Information on the upcoming workshop that will take place in Samoa on 17-18 January 2011 entitled "Competition Law and Policy in the Pacific Small States: Small Size Constraints, Institutional Design and Regional Cooperation"can be accessed on the SSNED website at http://www.ssned.org/samoa_workshop_documents . The duly filled-in and signed forms are to be returned by not later that 15th November 2010.
August 2010 The experts for the twinning project "Developing Strategic Directions for the Competition Commission of Namibia" visited the Namibian Competition Commission .
July 2010 The SSNED concluded a training workshop on "Competition Law and Policy in African Small States: Small-Size Constraints, Institutional Design and Regional Cooperation " that took place in Windhoek, Namibia on July 26,27 2010. The twinning project entitled "Developing Strategic Directions for the Competition Commission of Namibia " ran inc onjunction with the training workshop and will be completed in early September. The Audit of the SSNED for the financial year 2009 was submitted to the World Bank and the Central Bank of Malta. The Secretariat has also stepped up its efforts in securing funding for the Network. Inquiries about funding can be sent to admin@ssned.org.
May 2010 Trainees from the St Vincent and the Grenadines Postal Corporation visited the Barbados Post in connection with the twinning project entitled "Postal Counter Automation for the St Vincent and the Grenadines Postal Corporation". The project will draw to a close in June 2010.
April 2010 The Network is preparing for the upcoming workshop on Competition Law and Policy and twinning project also on Competition Law and Policy. Both projects are set to take place in Windhoek, Namibia.
The SSNED is also suporting a programme organised by the Isle of Man on the Small Countries Financial Management Programme to be held between the 11 - 23 July 2010. The official website for the programme can be accessed at http://www.gov.im/treasury/scfmc/programme.xml. The programme is being provided by the Small Countries Financial Management Centre and is designed and directed by Oxford University's Saïd Business School, in collaboration with the International Business School at the University centre in the Isle of Man. The first part of the programme will be held in the Isle of Man, with the final four days taking place in Oxford. More information is available from enquiries@scfmc.im
March 2010 The Network's Board of Trustees met in Samoa on 19 March 2010 for the bi-annual meeting. The Federal States of Micronesia and San Marino joined the Network.
February 2010 The Network's board of trustees gave the go-ahead for the projects to be undertaken in 2010 after submission of the interim project proposals in January 2009 by the secretariat.
January 2010 The Secretariat submitted 9 Interim Project Proposals to the SSNED Board of Trustees, relating to the following projects:
Twinning Projects: Belize-E-Government Strategy; Fiji-Small and Micro Enterprise Development; Lesotho-Statistics for Evidence Based Economic Development; Mauritius-Setting Up of a Land Transport Authority; Namibia-Developing Strategic Directions for the Competition Commission of Namibia; Swaziland-Developing a Competitiveness Strategy for Swaziland
Training Workshops: Africa-Competition Law and Policy in the African Small States; RMCE-Competitiveness Strategies and Capacity Building with Special Reference to the African and Indian Ocean Small States; Pacific Region-Competition Law and Policy in the Pacific Small States
December 2009 Botswana joined the Network. January 2010
November 2009 During the month of November 2009 the secretariat proceeded with the coordination of two twinning projects namely (i) "Counter Automation at the St Vincent and the Grenadines Postal Corporation" with Barbados as service provider. The terms of reference of this project are available here (password protected); (ii) "Developing Strategic Directions for the Copetition Commission of the Gambia" with Cyprus as service provider. The terms of reference of this project are available here (password protected).
October 2009 A Training During the month of November Workshop on “Competition Law and Policy in the Caribbean Small States: Institutional and Enforcement Challenges” took place in Barbados on 26-27 October 2009. More information is available here .
October 2009 The Fifth Board of Trustees of the SSNED meeting took place on Saturday, October 3, 2009, the Istanbul Congress Center. For more information click here.The Fifth Board of Trustees of the SSNED meeting took place on Saturday, October 3, 2009, the Istanbul Congress Center. For more information click .
October 2009 The 2009 Small States Forum meeting has taken place on Sunday, October 4, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm at the Istanbul Congress Centre, in the wings of the IMF/World Bank annual meetings. For further information click here.
October 2009 The secretariat has drawn up a directory of experts. Experts on small-states issues who wish to be listed in the directory are to fill in the form available here .
September 2009 The Network collaborated with the Government of the Isle of Man, the World Bank and the University of Oxford in the organization of a high-profile workshop intended to help small countries respond to the global financial crisis. The Workshop entitled “The Small Countries Financial Management Programme,” was held between 6 and 18 September, 2009. The Workshop was funded by the Isle of Man Government, and designed and run by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School. Further information is available here .
September 2009 3 new members joined the Network. These are Cook Islands, Solomon Islands and Trinidad & Tobago. As on 25 September 2009, the total number of members of the Network totaled 30 small states. Click here to view list of members as on 25 September 2009.
August 2009 Ms Daria Kuznetsova, a student at the London School of Economics, offered to work at the Network offices for two weeks in August 2009, as a Stagiare. She expressed her intention to work again for the Network during the summer of 2010.
August 2009 DFID is currently leading the British Government's fight against world poverty, and is promoting Competition Law and Policy in Africa. The DFID has launched a White Paper in which DFID set out its commitment to support an Africa Competition Forum. The SSNED was invited to be associated with this initiative, following a meeting that the Director-General of SSNED had with Mr Roger Nellist, who heads the Growth and Investment Group of DFID.
June 2009 Two officials from the Government of St Lucia namely Mr Marlon Narcisse and Ms Daune Louisy accompanied the Hon Peter Lenard Montoutte, Minister for Public Service, visited SSNED in connection with the Twinning Project on E-Government in St Lucia.
June 2009 Ernst and Young who were appointed to Audit the financial statements of the SSNED, submitted their report in June 2009.
June 2009 2 new members joined the network. These are Belize and Guyana.
April 2009 The Network funded and concluded three twinning projects namely (i) “Development of e-Government in St Lucia” with Malta as service provider. Click here to view a summary of the project; (ii) “e-Learning Development and Training for Educators in the Seychelles” with Mauritius as service provider. Click here to view a summary of the project ; (iii) “Assistance in Public Transport Reform: Building of Regulatory Capacities at the Malta Transport Authority” with Singapore as service provider. Click here to view a summary of this project.
April 2009 The Network funded and concluded two training workshops. The first was on ‘Sustainable Development Strategies for Small States” held in Malta between 16 and 23 March 2009. A summary of this project is available here. The second workshop was on “Climate Change: Impacts and Adaptation in the Pacific Region” held in Fiji between 4 and 15 May 2009. A summary of this project is available here.
February 2009 The Fourth Meeting of the Board of Trustees was held at the Caricom Head Offices in Georgetown, Guyana on 27 February 2009. During the meeting, members discussed a number of possible twinning projects and training workshops. Members also considered the administrative report (password protected) of the Network, covering the period October 2008 (following the third meeting of the Board) to February 2009 and the financial statement (password protected) for the period January to December 2008.
January 2009 The SSNED appointed Mr David Pulis as full-time Administrator and Ms Maryrose Vella as part-time assistant administrator. Professor Briguglio was the Director of the Network.
November 2008 2 new members joined the network. These are Cape Verde and Lesotho.
October 2008 The Small States Forum is convened in Washington in the Wings of the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings. Click here for further information
October 2008 The SSNED holds the third meeting of its Board of Trustees. Click here for further information.
October 2008 3 new members joined the network. These are Isle of Man, Montenegro and Timor Leste.
September 2008 3 new members joined the network. These are Iceland, Palau and Tonga.
February 2008 The SSNED holds the second meeting of its Board of Trustees. Click here for further information.
February 2008 3 new members joined the network. These are Bahamas, Fiji and Namibia.
January 2008 Dominica applied to join the network.
October 2007 The SSNED holds the first meeting of its Board of Trustees. Click here for further information.
October 2007 The Small States Forum is convened in Washington in the Wings of the IMF/World Bank Annual Meetings. Click here
Information about previous meetings of the Forum is available here.
October 2007 13 new members joined the network. These are Antigua, Barbados, Cyprus, Gambia, Grenada, Malta, Mauritius, Samoa, Seychelles, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vincent & Grenadines and Vanuatu.
October 2006 The establishment of the Small States Network for Economic Development (SSNED) was first proposed by Malta at the 2005 Small States Forum held in Washington, and the mandate to establish it was given by the 2006 Small States Forum held in Singapore.