College of Business and Economics | Annual Report 2023 soybean-to-poultry value chains in Malawi and South Africa, which focused on developing an agenda to empower women and boost livelihoods in these countries. Furthermore, the data was also implemented to support two studies funded by the COMESA Competition Commission. The AMO has attracted core funding from the Open Society Foundation that will enable it to (1) build a knowledge base on agri-food markets in Africa, including concentration and market analysis to identify anti-competitive conduct; (2) work with competition authorities for more effective enforcement in agri-food markets through capacity building, concrete advice and action; and (3) mobilise key constituencies for a progressive and fair markets’ regime within and across borders, and policies which support sustainable and inclusive agri-food systems. In addition, the AMO has also received funding support from the Shamba Centre for Food & Climate to support competition authorities in East and Southern Africa to take action against anticompetitive behaviours, continue its data gathering to inform and analyse market power and market concentration and track and monitor prices of agricultural inputs and commodities to identify the extent of abuse of market dominance, including monopolistic and cartel-like behaviour. 8TH ANNUAL COMPETITION AND ECONOMIC REGULATION (ACER) WEEK The 8th Annual Competition and Economic Regulation (ACER) week was scheduled and delivered from 2 to 6 October 2023, hosted in partnership with the Competition Commission of Mauritius at the Ravenala Hotel, Balaclava, Mauritius. ACER Week provides a valuable platform for competition authorities, economic regulators, and industrial policy practitioners to share knowledge, keep abreast of vital regional developments, and build networks for collaboration between agencies. A total of 113 participants successfully attended the conference. Two targeted Professional Training Programmes (PTPs), which ran concurrently from 2 to 4 October 2023, covered critical theoretical concepts in competition economics and law, illustrating how the theories and principles apply in African practice. A combination of South African and international academics and practitioners facilitated PTPs to empower participants with relevant skills and knowledge in these fields. A total of 43 participants attended both PTPs. In 2023, CCRED introduced a new offering targeted exclusively at decision-makers in African competition authorities. Judges (current and former) and tribunal members delivered professional training. The one-day intensive PTP on 4 October 2023 covered topics on hearing evidence, dealing with economic evidence, and writing decisions. PTP 1: Competition Economics for Practitioners in Africa The PTP addressed core areas in competition economics and targeted competition practitioners. The PTP covered topics in mergers, cartels, and abuse of dominance cases, focusing on theoretical principles and their application in practice in cases. Uniquely in 2023, part of the PTP lessons focussed on undertaking impact assessments, a topical issue for African competition authorities. A total of 23 participants successfully attended and received certification of attendance. PTP 2: Law in Competition Policy This PTP covered core legal principles in competition law and policy and the application of those principles, including legal issues, due process, and decision-making relevant to competition authorities. The focus was on practical aspects of competition enforcement, such as initiating investigations, commissioning market inquiries, running hearings, negotiation/settlement, and using the law to gather evidence, in addition to the role of economic evidence in deciding on likely harm to competition. A total of 20 participants successfully attended and received certification of attendance. PTP 3: Key Principles for Assessing Evidence in Competition Tribunals and Courts PTP targeted decision makers. This brand new one-day intensive PTP covered three main issues: 1) critical principles in competition matters and the differences between legal form-based and economic approaches to competition cases; 2) hearing economic evidence in competition matters and making decisions on it by tribunal members and judges; and 3) lessons from experience on writing up decisions in competition cases. A total of 11 successfully attended and received certification of attendance. ACER Sponsorship The corporate sponsorship initiative continued with several strategic stakeholders approached to consider sponsoring the annual event. The sponsorship enabled places to be offered to African authorities, especially those in lower-income countries (indicated by GDP per capita). Sponsors were not involved in the ACER Week decision, 93
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