Reverse Linkage

4 REVERSE LINKAGE The TCP is based on a tripartite approach involving benefi- ciary countries/institutions, provider countries/institutions, and IsDB as a facilitator/connector in addition to its role as financier. The modalities utilised for the promotion and accomplishment of the programme objectives are essentially: • Recruitment of experts • Provision of on-the-job training • Organization of knowledge-sharing events such as work- shops and seminars. Achievements From 1983 until the end of 2017, IsDB approved, under its TCP, a total number of 2,309 operations amounting to US$55.54 million. These include 928 on-the-job training sessions amounting to US$18.37 million, 974 knowledge- sharing events amounting to US$28.76 million, and the recruitment of 407 experts amounting to US$8.41 million. The TCP has thus ensured the training of more than 15,000 people, provided the opportunity for more than 20,000 specialists to share their knowledge and experiences in numerous forums, and dispatched 500 experts among member countries. Moreover, these operations have helped to promote cross-country connectivity among institutions and individuals, to bridge cultures and to improve the appre- ciation of knowledge in addressing developmental solutions. The operations covered a large number of sectors and sub- sectors in line with the needs of member countries and the priorities of IsDB. The social sector (health and education) accounted for the largest share at US$12.74 million (23 per cent), followed by the finance sector at US$11.75 million (21 per cent), public administration at US$6.66 million (12 per cent) and agriculture at US$6.3 million (11 per cent). An example of TCP operations across the various sectors is the support provided to the National Laboratory of Public Health, Burkina Faso. This institution is the country’s central reference laboratory for a wide range of analysis and expertise related to medical biology, pharmaceutical prod- ucts, nutrition, the environment, and other fields linked to health security. It has a mandated responsibility for the country’s epidemiological supervision as well as for the continuous quality control of food, water, medicine, pesti- cides and other consumable products. The mandate requires satisfactory methods of analysis, relevant organizational management, and competent, well trained staff. Therefore, to ensure its efficiency, the local authorities conducted various exercises for the assessment of the laboratory’s needs, resulting in the establishment of a laboratory capacity building programme. IsDB, through the TCP, recruited a team of three Tunisian experts to build its capacities, over a one-month period, in the field of food Regional training course for engineers from member countries of the Trans-Saharan Road Liaison Committee Image: le Comite de Liaison de la Route Transsaharienne (CLRT) – the Trans-Saharan Road Liaison Committee