Factsheet on Singapore-World Bank Third Country Training Programme (TCTP)

Singapore's collaboration with the World Bank started in 1996 under the auspices of the Singapore-World Bank TCTP. An MOU was signed in 1996 to provide joint technical assistance programmes to developing countries in various fields. When the MOU expired in 2001, both sides continued their collaboration. To date, a total of 652 officials from developing countries in Asia-Pacific and Africa have benefited from 23 joint training programmes.

2 Recent Programmes for Africa: In June 2006, Singapore and the World Bank (Africa region) organised a study visit for senior policy makers from six African countries (Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Lesotho, Madagascar, and Mozambique). The visit was initiated by the World Bank and the Africans who expressed interest in studying Singapore's education reforms.

3 The second workshop "Leaders in Education and Training for Sustained Growth in Africa (LETSGA): An Executive Programme for African Policy Makers" took place in January 2008. MFA and IES together with NIE, ITE and NYP hosted 51 government officials and three journalists from Ghana, Madagascar and Mozambique, and 24 World Bank education specialists for the workshop which developed an actionable plan on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and skills development for implementation in these countries.

4 The LETSGA Workshop also saw the launch of two joint World Bank-Singapore publications on TVET Education System and Strategies. World Bank Vice President (Africa) Obiageli Ezekwesili and then-MOS (Education & Manpower) Gan Kim Yong officiated at the soft launch of the two publications. The subsequent official launch by Ms Ezekwesili and our Ambassador in Washington took place in April 2008 at the World Bank HQ, Washington D.C.

5 Recent Programmes for the Asia Pacific: In January 2007, Singapore and the World Bank Human Development Sector (East Asia and Pacific Region) organised a Workshop on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Singapore for 89 policy officials and practitioners from China. The Workshop provided the participants the opportunity to learn about international best practices in TVET.

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About the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP)
3 Singapore's technical assistance programme is based on the training and development of human resource in competencies useful to developing countries. As a country whose only resource is its people, Singapore believes that human resource development is vital for economic and social progress. Singapore itself has benefited from training provided by other countries and international organisations. Through the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP), Singapore shares its development experiences with other developing countries.

4 Established in 1992, the SCP brought together the various technical assistance programmes offered by Singapore under a single framework. Over the years, the range of SCP activities has expanded steadily to cater to the training needs of recipient countries. To date, Singapore has organized training courses and study visits for over 61,000 participants from 169 countries around the globe.

5 A key feature of the SCP is the Third Country Training Programme (TCTP). TCTPs are technical assistance programmes jointly conducted with a donor partner for recipient countries. The TCTP modality of technical cooperation was conceived to leverage on both partners' expertise and resources to maximise the outcome of the joint programme. To date, Singapore has established TCTPs with more than 30 development partners, comprising developed countries, international organisations and non-governmental organisations.

6 More details are available on the Singapore Cooperation Programme Website at www.scp.gov.sg.