USAID's multi-year
strategy (2000 thru 2004) of assistance to the Caribbean region is reflected
both in the five-year US$30 million Caribbean Regional Program - implemented
under a grant agreement with CARICOM, and by a US $8.6 million program
of assistance to for infrastructure damage following Hurricanes Georges
and Lenny. In addition, USAID's Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance
provides technical and financial assistance to improve disaster readiness/preparedness
in this hurricane prone region.
Though region-wide
in scope, USAID's regional strategy has a special focus on the English-speaking
Eastern Caribbean. The USAID Jamaica staff based in Kingston together
with a small satellite office staff located in Bridgetown, Barbados,
manages the programs.
Caribbean
Regional Program (CRP)
The CRP is a five-year,
US$30 million, multi-sector assistance program, developed in partnership
with regional institutions, non-governmental organizations and the private
sector with an overall goal to support broad-based, sustainable growth
in the region. The program was approved March 2000 in an Agreement signed
by the Secretary General of CARICOM, the U.S. Secretary of State, and
the USAID-Jamaica Mission Director.
There are currently
three strategic objectives under the regional program (Regional Strategic
Objectives - RSOs) about which USAID financial and staff resources are
organized: RSO1 - increased employment and diversification in select
nontraditional activities; RSO2 - improved environmental management
by public and private entities; and RSO3 - increased effectiveness and
fairness of legal systems in the region.
A fourth regional
strategic objective is being developed to support implementation of
the Caribbean Regional Strategic Plan of Action for HIV/AIDS in order
to reduce the spread and impact of HIV/AIDS/STIs in the region. Assistance
levels for RSO4 would be approximately US$10 million during the 2000
thru 2004 strategy period.
RSO1:
Increased Employment and Diversification in Selected
Non-Traditional Activities
Future economic
growth is a critical issue for the Caribbean. For the most part, these
countries have small domestic economies, and must look to tourism and
increased export revenues for growth. Many have relied on the preferential
trade status from the United States and European countries, particularly
for bananas and sugar. Yet these preferential trade regimes are rapidly
being dismantled.
The purpose of
this strategic objective is to increase employment and diversification
in select non-traditional activities in a policy environment wherein
these small states can compete successfully.
Achieving this
strategic objective entails working with partners to achieve two intermediate
results (IRs):
IR1:
Increased Trade of Selected Non-traditional Products
and Services
Activities under
this intermediate result focus especially on removing barriers to trade
- by supporting regional programs of trade reform and telecommunication
modernization. USAID, for example, is fostering telecommunications reforms,
providing technical skills training, and improving access to business
services (including modern, information technology based business practices).
USAID is also assisting the region in its regional trade negotiations.
Enhancing the capacity
of CARICOM's Regional Negotiation Machinery (RNM) to participate effectively
in negotiations is also important. Improving CARICOM countries' market
access and competitiveness will be key to future economic growth. Training
and technical assistance for the RNM and the expansion of a trade information
network to all CARICOM member countries is thus an important element
of the USAID program. USAID is also providing technical assistance to
better enable OECS countries to comply with WTO requirements governing
trade in agricultural products.
Technical assistance
in support of telecommunication modernization and reform of this sector
will impact on growth and diversification especially in the services
sector. USAID is providing assistance to the OECS to establish a new
sub-regional telecommunications regulatory authority (ECTEL).
IR2:
Increased Production of Diversified Goods and Services
Direct assistance
to small and medium sized businesses to improve competitiveness and
profitability is a key element under the second "intermediate result".
USAID will provide selected enterprises in the Eastern Caribbean with
business training, access to modern information technology, and management
assistance to enable these firms to develop and grow. USAID also plans
to provide technical assistance to establish community teleceneters
that can spur innovate information-technology based investments, and
in association with the Caribbean Association of industry and Commerce,
plans to carry out a series of business seminars focusing on enhanced
competitiveness.
RSO2:
Improved Environmental Management by
Public and Private Entities
This strategic
objective is closely related to RSO1 as it seeks to identify and act
upon those environmental problems in these fragile island states which
underlie their economies and growth potential - particularly the protection
of ecosystems which underwrite tourism growth and development.
In coordination
with other regional partners working in the environment, USAID assistance
is aimed at helping small hotels to adopt "environmental management
systems" (EMS), and local communities to develop "community-based tourism"
products, which can both increase tourism revenues and heighten environmental
awareness and protection. USAID assistance is also helping to improve
region-wide compliance with environmental regulations and standards,
expand public awareness and public communications about environmental
issues, and increase private sector investment in environmental improvements.
There are three
intermediate results for SO2:
IR1:
Increased Access to Best Environmental Management Practices
USAID activities
under IR1 are primarily aimed at promoting "sustainable tourism" in
the region. USAID is supporting the efforts of key regional partners
who are working in the environment to create, manage and market the
first "sustainable tourism destinations" in the Caribbean. Included
is assistance for Dominica to become the region's first internationally
recognized eco-tourism destination.
Improved technologies
and practices, with the active involvement of communities and private
enterprises, can reduce pollution, mitigate further degradation of resources,
inform policy decisions and foster sustainable development. Accordingly,
USAID is also working to compile and disseminate "lessons learned" and
"best practices" related to sustainable tourism, and to apply these
lessons in training and assistance to local tourism operators. Similarly,
we are supporting the development and the environmental management standards
for "community tourism activities" (e.g. eco-tourism sites and attractions).
USAID works closely
with regional and national institutions, and with key international
organizations like the OAS, in carrying out these community/sustainable
tourism activities.
IR2:
Implementation of Improved Environmental Policies & Compliance Measures
Implementation
of improved environmental policies and compliance measures requires
cooperation with regional development partners, private sector groups
and other donors. USAID is supporting efforts of key partners, such
as the OECS Natural Resource Management Unit and public and private
sector tourist organizations to strengthen environmental policies. Efforts
are now underway, for example, to develop regional policies and regulations
governing sustainable tourism and to encourage private sector financing
of local environmental improvements.
Other measures
to ensure compliance with environmental practices and procedures will
require the establishment of common environmental impact assessment
procedures region-wide, training of public sector authorities in compliance
procedures, and improved enforcement techniques such as ticketing, and
the training of judges and magistrates on environmental matters presented
in court.
In addition, USAID
is also promoting broader environmental awareness and communications,
by strengthening environmental reporting and the development of media
programs.
IR3:
Strengthened Organizational Capacity to Finance
Environmental Improvements
Activities under
this intermediate result will bring key private participants (enterprises,
communities, others) into partnership with Caribbean regional, national
and local institutions help finance environmental improvement and protection
(e.g. making environmental projects more bankable, generating user fees
and other cost recovery mechanisms, creating community environmental
trust funds, etc.).
Market-based options
to promote environmentally positive actions are also being encouraged
- such as tax incentives for the application of cleaner technologies
and regulations permitting local collection and retention of user fees
for designated areas.
RSO3:
Increased Effectiveness and Fairness of
Legal Systems in the Caribbean
The English-speaking
Caribbean boasts a proud history of adherence to democratic norms and
respect for the rule of law. This proud history has, however, led to
a belief that the legal systems needed only minimal resources and attention
to maintain their efficacy. As a consequence, Caribbean court systems
are characterized by case backlogs and delay which undermine economic
investment and respect for the rule of law.
Under RSO3, USAID
activities will improve the administrative efficiency of Caribbean courts
by improving case-flow management and introducing more efficient court
reporting. USAID assistance will also help introduce and expand the
use of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms. The expected results
will reduce the backlog of civil and criminal cases, and the time to
adjudicate cases.
USAID resources
will be focused on two intermediate results under this strategic objective.
IR1:
Improved Efficiency of Legal Systems
USAID assistance
under this IR will help to streamline court administrative procedures.
Specific activities will include technical and commodity support to
improve case flow management both in the OECS Supreme Court and in selected
Resident Management Courts in Jamaica. Currently, judicial proceedings
are laboriously recorded by hand, slowing the pace of the proceedings.
Accordingly, USAID will also introduce automated court reporting and
train court reporters. Alternative dispute resolutions (ADR) systems
can also play an important role in case backlogs. USAID, in collaboration
with the Caribbean Law Institute, will provide technical assistance
and support for a pilot ADR system in the OECS supreme court..
IR
2: Improved Access to Legal System Information and Training
Access to case
information, important precedents, and the training of legal system
users in the Caribbean is another important element of RSO3. Thousands
of civil and criminal cases of precedent value are not available to
lawyers and judges in the region, and USAID will work with the University
of the West Indies to establish a fee-paying system that will insure
systematic publication of these court decisions.
In addition, USAID
will work closely with CARICOM to provide appropriate technical assistance
and support with regard to the formation of the proposed Caribbean Court
of Justice (to replace the Privy Council).
Hurricane
Reconstruction
Also associated
with the regional program is a special objective (SpO) developed as
a partial response to the infrastructure damage caused by Hurricane
Georges and Hurricane Lenny in the region, and USAID's OFDA
program designed to help mitigate the affect of future hurricanes. These
regional strategic objectives are consistent with the Agency's goals
of broad-based economic growth, protecting the environment, building
sustainable democracies (with a focus on rule of law), and humanitarian
assistance.
Under the Hurricane
Georges' project, the pediatric ward at the Hospital in St. Kitts, which
was severely damaged, will be reconstructed and refiited with adequate
equipment. In addition, there is a comprehensive program for strengthening
the capacity for disaster mitigation in Antigua-Barbuda and St. Kitts-Nevis.
Credit is also being provided to the Foundation for National Development
in St. Kitts to assist with small and micro-businesses recover from
the hurricane. The Hurricane Lenny project is providing assistance in
Grenada, Dominica, St. Lucia and Antigua-Barbuda in the areas of repairs
to sea walls, provision of specialized training to key personnel in
coastal engineering and related topics, and the development of coastal
zone management plans for select areas.
Home
| USAID web site | OFDA/Caribbean
| U.S. Embassy Jamaica
| Contacts | Return to top
|
