EL BLOG DE LA FIIAPP. Cooperación Española

Beatriz Franco is one of the more than 700 specialists from public administrations that FIIAPP mobilises around the world to work strengthening public systems for people and the planet. She is our #PublicTalent. Today, she tells us about her work and the value that public systems have for her. 

What has been the greatest achievement of your experience as a FIIAPP and EUROsociAL+ programme specialist?

I was fortunate enough to take part in the development of the Document Management and Archives Administration Model for the Transparency and Access to Information Network as coordinator, and it was a very fruitful period. Thanks to this project, I was able to learn about the strategic work in support of the development of quality public policies carried out by the FIIAPP and the EUROsociAL+ programme.   

One of the projects I enjoyed most was the project for document management standardisation and protection of personal data of medical records in El Salvador, especially because we were able to have a visible influence on health management, which is something we value even more today than ever before.  

What are you most proud of?

Of the exchange of knowledge and experience. I’ve met people who do impressive work in public service. I’m very proud to be an official, to be a civil servant. I believe that we must assert our role. The public function is made up of excellently qualified people, great technicians in their specialities, who perform a very useful service to society and are driven by their vocation.   

How has your assignment contributed to improving the lives of people and the planet?

I believe that proper document management strengthens transparency and makes it possible to exercise the right to information as an indispensable instrument to facilitate access to civil and political rights and duties, human rights and the right to historical memory. I think policies of transparency and access to public information have become the basis of any democracy and document management is one of the essential basic supports for the implementation of these policies.  

What is the main value of the public aspect of this for you?

In my work as an archivist, the main value is to make information available to citizens, and thereby contribute to improving their quality of life and their relationship with public administrations. Making the public public. I think that’s essential.   

What have you learnt from this experience?

It has enriched my view of things by allowing me to interact with other colleagues in an environment of shared knowledge and learning. I have to thank FIIAPP and the EUROsociAL+ programme for the opportunity to collaborate in the projects they develop. Thanks to this I’ve grown as a professional and as a person.   

We interview Antonio Bueno, Professor of Translation and Interpreting at the University of Valladolid. He is currently the coordinator of the Twinning project with the Algerian Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. A cooperation project managed by the FIIAPP and financed by the European Union  

 What has been the greatest achievement of your experience as an expatriate expert?   

Feeling that I’m acting as a bridge between the European Union and Spain, as a Member State, and Algeria. Collaborating in the creation of a community of experts to transfer knowledge in the higher education and scientific research sector. Strengthening the ties between two academic systems, between two countries, between two peoples.  

 What are you most proud of?

Of having put my experience, my languages and my work at the service of two States, one donor and the other recipient, both of which greatly benefited. Of having the opportunity to teach in a ministry, in a country, after having done it in the classroom and in the university auditorium.  

 How does your mission as an aid worker and at the same time a public worker contribute, or how has it contributed, to improving the lives of people and/or the planet?

I carry out my mission in a teaching, research and high ministerial management environment, which aims to change the procedures to facilitate the creation of wealth and the training of new generations. I feel I have the responsibility to contribute to the well-being and equality of human beings, no matter where they live.  

 What is the main value of the public aspect for you?

The common interest. The space in which everyone has rights (and also duties). The one that looks out for the interests of the community. The best known. The one that has no fenced-off territories and is altruistic. The one we’re all called upon to protect. 

What have you learnt?

The extreme affinity of human feelings, whatever the religion, language, political system or culture. The ability to put myself in the other person’s position. The value of communication. The value of other people’s opinions. That there are other worlds possible. 

Why is it important for Cuba to strengthen its entrepreneurial capacities at this time?

Reinforcing entrepreneurial capacities in Cuba now means adapting. The economic-social model envisaged by the country is constantly shifting, along with the measures adopted to make the new forms of economic management more flexible. This requires enterprise, which is the same as creating, revolutionising, adding, changing and transforming. This is more important now than ever before, because of the need for sovereignty and economic independence.  

How has the 2nd Cuba-EU Expertise Exchange Programme helped you? 

The 2nd Cuba-EU Expert Exchange Programme has allowed me to make a qualitative and quantitative leap forward. Sharing time, experiences and insights with the European teachers has given me a different perspective. It has allowed me to see situations and manage them with professional tools, rather than simply talking about problems or difficulties with decision-makers. The programme’s courses promote proactivity, constant responsibility for coordination, communication and process improvement as essential habits for managers.  

What specific activities have you taken part in?

• European Diploma in Management Teaching, graduated on 12 February 2016  
• Continuity Conference, May 2016.  
• Continuity Conference, January 2018.  

• Continuity Conference, April 2019.  
• Foreign Trade Trainer Training Course, May 2021. 

What benefits has working with this programme had for your business?

The programme continuously analyses case studies, practical training exercises that focus on the use of professional techniques and tools that have helped me manage our activities with flexibility, considering a multifactorial analysis for decision-making and always valuing its economic and social role for the stability and growth of the business.  

Many situations have arisen, some expected, others much less so:  

• There has been a shortage of essential raw materials, affecting production plans.  
• Contracts have been terminated due to situations beyond the control of the parties.  
• Increases in the prices of raw materials and inputs.  
• Technology cannot be replaced due to import restrictions.  
• Financial constraints on expanding production capacity or on guaranteeing the inventory levels required for a peak marketing period.  

In general, we have always found a solution and I can assure you that the programme has had a significant impact. It has taught us how to manage scenarios when unforeseen events arise, what to do when there are limitations on implementing a programme of activities and ensuring that a system works effectively.  

Is your product the first non-state product to be sold in Cuban airports? In your opinion, how important is this?

Maní BORMEY was added to the products on offer at “Abel Santamaría” International Airport in Villa Clara and later it was made available in other airports due to the popularity of the products. Its presence there is significant because it allows travellers to identify and buy a Cuban product that is as deeply rooted in our culture as tobacco and rum. This is why it is very important to praise it, to honour it, to ensure that our processing and presentation distinguishes us as a product for different occasions.   

Do you think this type of experience is important for the foreign expansion of companies and in attracting investment from abroad? If so, why?

Training is essential for individual and national development, to see other cultures and business experiences that are summarised and analysed by experts and academics. Being professionally prepared for the foreign expansion of companies and investment from abroad means guaranteeing local and national development.  

Do you plan to participate again in cooperation programmes such as the 2nd Cuba-EU Expert Exchange Programme?  

I’m looking forward to taking part. The teamwork achieved in BORMEY allows everyone to continue to improve their professional skills and develop the manufacture of peanut-based products, providing new perspectives for research and innovation.   

Would you recommend working with cooperation programmes such as the 2nd Cuba-EU Expert Exchange?

Yes, especially as they make you realise that at any time and any place there are opportunities to develop and explore ideas and business. It is possible to look for tools, information, establish communication, computer systems and controls and even establish working links with multidisciplinary teams and satisfy tangible and intangible needs. 

What does the Ministry of Justice do? What institutions does it cover?

The work of the Ministry of Justice, in relation to FIIAPP, is complex and has several different and distinct facets. On the one hand, logically, the Ministry of Justice is basically an actor in development cooperation. The Ministry of Justice is also entrusted with a coordinating role, that is, it works with other actors that are also essential for any development cooperation project in the field of justice, such as the General Council of the Judiciary, the State General Prosecutor’s Office, the Spanish General Bar Association, notaries and registrars.  

Why is it important for the Ministry of Justice to be involved in international cooperation projects? What does it contribute?

The experts at the Ministry of Justice are important in very diverse situations. It is also one of the competences of the Ministry of Justice. In other words, it is part of the work carried out by the Ministry of Justice and it is an issue that is included in our planning, our actions and ,of course, that is included in the strategy of the Ministry of Justice abroad.   

The Ministry of Justice works on projects managed by FIIAPP. How long have they worked together and how is the relationship between FIIAPP and the Ministry?

I would say that the relationship between FIIAPP and MINJUS is excellent, it is very streamlined, which is essential. We work hand in hand with the Justice and Rule of Law area and, as a public institution, I would say that the relationship began the moment FIIAPP was created. I am aware that from the moment FIIAPP became involved in the twinning programmes, which are managed by the European Commission’s NEAR DG, twinning programmes have been led by the Ministry of Justice.  

One of the main projects on which FIIAPP works with the Ministry of Justice is EL PAcCTO, what does this project involve?

El PAcCTO is a programme with an innovative approach to international legal cooperation or international cooperation in the fight against organised crime in Latin America, but also with a Euro-Latin American perspective. It is not only about improving the approach taken by public administrations and public powers in Latin America. In fact, it is also about building the working relationship, the cooperative relationship that exists between Latin American and European institutions.   

As well as El PAcCTO, the Ministry of Justice works with FIIAPP on other projects. Could you tell us about some of its achievements?

At the moment we have a great relationship with Turkey, where we are currently working on three training projects for judges and prosecutors, civil enforcement offices and also, on advanced forensic analytical methods involving the Institute of Toxicology and Forensic Sciences attached to the Ministry of Justice. In addition, there are, of course, several projects that are particularly significant to us because of the strategic importance of the subject at hand, and because it also has a novel approach. For example, the I-CRIME project, which mainly deals with the fight against organised crime in Central American countries.  

By participating in cooperation projects, the Ministry of Justice shares its knowledge with its counterpart institutions, but are there also lessons to be learned?

Basically, the work is done by specific experts who travel to the beneficiary countries with the idea of transferring the knowledge and experiences that the Spanish administration has been accumulating over an extensive period, which, I believe, is highly valued abroad. The specialist comes back, not only with a large number of personal contacts in foreign administrations, which are then always enormously beneficial because they sometimes allow us to streamline procedures or use ideas, make consultations, etc. In addition, their work has forced them to analyse their situation, the situation in other states, a comparative analysis by gathering opinions from all kinds of specialists, from a multidisciplinary perspective. All this, logically, has a very beneficial impact when the official returns to the home administration.   

What are the main challenges for justice in a globalised world?

The fight against terrorism, the financial freezing of organised crime, the fight against corruption, etc. However, I would say that all these issues have some common roots, not in terms of what happens at the beginning of the problem, but in the way of tackling them: good governance. Training in and the application of transparency measures in the adoption of public policies, this type of knowledge transfer, is what encourages and facilitates the international cooperation necessary to face all these challenges tomorrow. Which is why I believe that democratic governance is possibly our main challenge. 

How was your arrival in Egypt? Is there anything you remember in particular?

I arrived in Egypt on 5 January 2020, with great enthusiasm despite missing Three Kings Day, my favourite celebration of the Christmas holidays.

What about settling in? What were the hardest and easiest things for you?

Actually it was really easy. Within a month I was settled in and part of the chaos of Cairo. I’ve always been attracted by Arab countries. We aren’t so different, culturally speaking, apart from the distances of course.

The most difficult thing for me was that because of COVID, the project was suspended in April and I had to return to Spain, leaving my apartment and all my things in boxes. It was a difficult few weeks, organising everything, with airports closed and flights cancelled.

I don’t think that it’s that difficult for a Spaniard to adapt to Arab culture, perhaps because we have many years of history and a sea in common.

Is this your first experience of living outside Spain? Is it different from the previous ones? How long have you been there and how much time do you have left?

This isn’t my first experience abroad. I lived in the Netherlands for almost 10 years. As you can imagine, the experience was completely different. After all, the Netherlands, even with its differences, is Europe, the West. This is infinitely more exotic and with many possibilities to discover and experience things very different from what we’re used to.

As I mentioned before, I arrived in Cairo for the first time on 5 January 2020. On 26 April I returned to Spain and on 22 September I returned to Cairo as the project was restarted, so in total I’ve been here for about 10 months.

In principle, I’ll be here until 31 May 2022.

What’s your work and your daily routine like? Is it very different from the routine you had in Spain?

My day-to-day work is not so different from the routine I had in Spain – hours spent in front of a computer, like most people nowadays. Also, I’m in the Egyptian Patents Office and I come from the Spanish Patents and Trademarks Office, so the subject matter is very similar.

The main difference is having to work with four different mindsets. Although the project is led by Spain, we also work with Denmark and Germany, each with our own foibles. If you add

those of Egypt, you sometimes find yourself faced with rather complex situations. But, in any case, I have to admit that everyone does their part to solve them.

How are relations with FIIAPP? And with your colleagues in Egypt?

My relations with FIIAPP are excellent, and I’m not just saying that to look good, they really are. I think I’ve been very lucky with the two coordinators that I’ve had. I say two because the first changed projects after a few months. Both he and his replacement have helped me and continue to help me a lot and I have to thank them as it’s my first experience in the RTA network and sometimes I’m a bit lost with the Twinning bureaucracy.

I get along very well with my colleagues here. Right from the start they’ve been very welcoming. In general, Egyptians are very hospitable, cheerful and they love it if you get involved with their country and its food, so as you can see, the Spanish character fits quite well here.

How would you rate your experience of working abroad for FIIAPP?

I value it really positively – not only on a professional level, but on a personal level too.

On a professional level I have no complaints, I feel valued and supported by both FIIAPP and the Egyptian Patents Office and on a personal level it’s a unique experience that’s giving me some experiences I’ll never forget.

Why is the fight against tax evasion such a powerful tool in combating inequality?

We are at a critical moment not only in the Latin American region but also at a global level in which there are latent fiscal needs. And tax systems produce results, but their full potential is never being realised, in any country. Therefore, it is necessary to see what type of actions we can carry out to maximise potential collection. Because evasion produces losses for the state and produces tax inequity, some pay more than others, it is not only a cash issue but an equity issue. It is a virtuous circle that we need to understand so the public administration can take action. Raising tax collection requires a relentless fight against fraud because it allows measures to be identified to prevent and reduce evasion levels and to improve the efficiency of public spending in providing public services, such as education and health. 

What work have you carried out within the framework of EUROsociAL+ for the Paraguayan Subsecretariat of State for Taxation (SET) and what are its main conclusions? 

Through a methodology developed by the Inter-American Tax Administrations Centre ( CIAT ), we measure non – compliance with corporate income tax to measure the trajectory and behaviour of the tax evasion rate in the country. Through this analysis, we were able to understand what percentage of potential tax is not being collected – which in the case of Paraguay is within the range of the countries in the region – and to see the trend relating to this phenomenon. In addition, through the analysis of microdata, specific cases could be identified with which the SET was able to take specific actions to increase collection from those companies. 

Are there any differences in non-compliance between men and women regarding tax payments? 

No, no differences. However, this work, in keeping with the gender mainstreaming of the EUROsociAL+ programme, adopted a unique approach strategy to include the gender perspective as it relates to tax evasion. The results revealed very useful data for the design of specific public policies to promote gender equality through female entrepreneurship. We saw that the proportion of women entrepreneurs is much smaller than that of male entrepreneurs, in a ratio of 35% women compared to 65% men, and that proportion is higher in some sectors such as agriculture, with a 1 to 9 ratio. On the other hand, there are sectors related to trades more traditionally linked to women where there is a greater representation of businesswomen, such as commerce, textiles and hospitality, where they represent more than 50%.  

Furthermore, when analysing the average income level, it was determined that women are concentrated in the lower income levels. In conclusion, there are fewer women entrepreneurs, they have access barriers to certain sectors, and they have lower incomes. Of every 10 entrepreneurs in Paraguay, 3 are women compared to 7 men.