Nestled in the bustling island of Barbados, the UNDP Multi-Country Office serves 10 countries and territories.
Our work in the region spans, Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. While similar in size and socio-economic situations, each of the ten nations that we serve have their own distinct cultural identity and unique history.
Led by the "Blue Economy for Green Islands" vision, UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean aims to create an enabling environment where our national governments have the capacities for inclusive and sustainable human development; meet their regional commitments, and internationally agreed goals including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Operating in a context where five out of ten (10) countries are considered Net Contributor Countries (NCC), UNDP focuses on policy and knowledge advisory services that facilitate poverty reduction, improved democratic governance, sound environmental management, climate resilience, options for sustainable energy and building resilience to natural and man-made hazards.
The Caribbean is a wonderful place, filled with vibrant people and interconnected cultures, and I am delighted to be involved in the region’s story of resilience and hope, as it boldly stepped forward after close to two years of lock downs and restrictive COVID-19 Protocols. While there is still much work to be done, I applaud the teams working with government counterparts and donors for the major contributions we were able to achieve this year.
With continued efforts of blending the blue and the green, we embraced the orange economies and worked with MSMEs and entrepreneurs to develop sustainable solutions that benefitted both people and planet. We doubled our efforts on social inclusion and focused on strengthening the policies and programmes that would support women and girls and other vulnerable groups. Ever focused on gender and ensuring vulnerable communities are represented, we worked with indigenous groups and persons living with disabilities to equip them with the tools and techniques needed to navigate a still rapidly changing world.
We are passionate about supporting the youth especially as it relates to climate action, and we also worked with academia, civil society and development partners to lead the way forward for tourism. This year has been one of collaboration, determination and seeking innovative solution to wicked development issues. Although progress is slow, it has been steady!
As we prepare for 2023 guided by our Blue Economy for Green Islands directive, we celebrate the wins of 2022 and build on the lessons learnt. I am super excited about the work that we will continue to do and look forward to partnering with you in the coming year.
Imagine over 70 people, with diverse backgrounds, spread across 10 countries and territories united by one shared mission: leave no one behind. This pretty much sums up the team of UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. From its headquarters in Barbados to recovery work in Barbuda, the team is steadfastly marching towards that goal of an inclusive, equitable society where no one is left behind, the people behind the projects of UNDP have made great strides this year.
Implementing 13+ core projects with numerous interventions, the UNDP Team is advancing work under its Blue Economy for Green Islands mandate, promoting gender equity and implementing projects and programmes to help the most vulnerable. With over US$ 10 million mobilised this year, UNDP is refocusing on the targets set out in the 2030 Agenda while navigating the current “crises within crises” environment the world is faced with.
And the multi-country office has achieved some exciting milestones this year! As one of only two countries in the Caribbean, Barbados, with the support of UNDP, took part in the Stockholm +50. The CariSECURE teamsuccessfully closed out the CariSECURE 1.0 project in October and were awarded additional funding to launch CariSECURE 2.0. The flagship deliverable of the project’s first phase became a public good and was selected for inclusion ofthe Digital x catalogue. What’s more, two Engender Projects were highlighted as best practices in the Adaption Communications Registry, UNFCCC. We launchedDominica’s new Digital strategy and began the roll out of the Blue digital platform to help fisherfolk in Barbados.
There is loads more to do, but as the hard-working partners, consultants, staff, project managers, procurement officers, finance associates, M&E associates and more continue towards that same shared goal, the world can rest assured becausethere is a group of passionate people behind every project.
To achieve one Sustainable Development Goal, we will likely end up working on all of the SDGs; because if we are to ensure that no one is left behind, it's going to take a lot of collaboration and commitment. Let’s check the top SDG goals that powered our work in 2022 under the lens of our three pillars
Poverty Governance and Monitoring and Evaluation
You can imagine that SDG Goal 1: No Poverty would have featured prominently in the projects of this cluster (It has poverty in the name after all) and you would have been right! The Pov Gov Cluster also pulled on SDG Goals 5, 8, 10, 13, 14, 16 and 17 which informed the cluster’s work towards helping disabled communities back on their feet in St Lucia, improving the livelihoods of rural women farmers and backing the development of policy to support blue financing and social security and gender issues.
Sustainable Solutions Environment Climate Change
You’d be correct to surmise that Climate Action took a leading role in the projects of this cluster. And as with UNDP’s work several other SDGs joined the fray. The SSECC Cluster focussed on SDG Goals 5, 10, 6, 7, 15 and 17 as they worked with the Kalinago in Dominica to boost local knowledge of traditions through spelling bees and colouring books. Supported water management, land conservation, sustainable agriculture as well as livelihood development; worked to protect both the Amazona Guildingi parrot and The Union Island Gecko and supported policy development under the climate promise initiatives
Prevention, Recovery and Resilience
A cornucopia of SDGs combined under the projects of this cluster, in addition to SDG Goal 8, 10, 13, 5, 9 were also featured prominently. 83 homes were built under the EU-funded Project while the Future Tourism Project supported 150+ entrepreneurs. We formed “partnership for the goals” (SDG 17) in our work with CDB to create courses and online resources to help MSMEs embrace the digital transformation of their operations.
The Kalinago story is one of rich cultures, interwoven heritages, relentless determination and strength. Their has spanned over centuries and continues to be told today. Now, under the steadfast leadership of the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica; supported by the Government of Canada and the United Kingdom under the EnGenDER project and the Government of Japan under the SSLR and GUY-DOM Projects, we are working with the Kalinago to tell new stories of resilience.
We reached out to Isadora Barrow, Acting Secretary of Equals Barbados to share her story and speak on her work and that of other advocates and champions of the LGBTQ+ community. Here is what she had to say.
As with all our work, we constantly look to the future. Creating projects and programmes today, that will benefit communities tomorrow. And within the tourism sphere this is of vital importance given the turbulent environment of the last two years.
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