Improving production for export to select markets in Miami under the Caribbean Trade Expansion program (CTEP)
Eastern Caribbean Snapshot
Nine Countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Population: 750,000 (2006)
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USAID Assistance
to the Eastern Caribbean
($ In Millions)
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CONTACT INFORMATION
USAID Representative
James L. Goggin
Wildey Business Park
Wildey, St. Michael, BARBADOS
Tel: 246-227-4118
Desk Officer (Washington)Robert Boncy
Desk Officer
Tel: 202-712-5157
Email: rboncy@usaid.gov
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Overview
The countries of the Caribbean, commonly referred to as the “Third Border”, are of special interest to the United States. The geographical focus of the Office of the USAID Representative/Barbados development assistance to the Caribbean region is the English speaking members of CARICOM, in particular the six independent states of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). USAID’s presence in the region represents a resumption of assistance after a hiatus from 1996 to 1999. The current strategy 2005-2009 focuses limited resources on the two most urgent challenges facing the region – the challenge to compete economically in open markets and controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS.
Programs
Enhanced Regional Response to the Caribbean HIV/AIDS
The estimated adult HIV prevalence rate for the Caribbean is among the highest in the world. Given the economic and environmental vulnerabilities of the small island nations of the eastern Caribbean, the high degree of inter-island mobility and social factors, activities to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic must be specifically tailored to meet unique country needs, while at the same time addressing HIV/AIDS as a regional problem. USAID’s assistance focuses on three areas: improving the quality of prevention, care and treatment services, improving data collection and reducing risky sexual behaviors. USAID is helping increase the effectiveness and quality of the broad continuum of HIV/AIDS related health care services through specialized training for health care providers and public health professionals. In order to develop and better target interventions to have the greatest impact, the region needs accurate and reliable data. USAID is supporting data collection programs and capacity building for monitoring and evaluation in several islands. Through these efforts, USAID partners have collected and analyzed critical data regarding the epidemic in individual islands and are presenting the findings to governments in the region and other stakeholders in order to determine next steps. USAID is also supporting targeted, comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programs among most at-risk populations by working in collaboration with national HIV/AIDS programs and the wider civil society including, non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, peer- outreach workers and informal networks.
Region Positioned to Succeed in an Open Trade Environment
The strategy is to position the countries of the region to succeed economically, in their new, open and competitive trade environment. Assistance is aimed more specifically at helping the region meet its requirement to participate in open trade regimes, reduce business constraints and leverage market opportunities, as well as strengthen the legal and environmental frameworks related to open trade and disaster risk reduction and the protection of its natural resources rich in biodiversity.
High priority has also been given to collaborating with government and civil society to target activities that support biodiversity conservation and policy to identify and mitigate the impacts of human disturbance on ecosystems and to improve the institutional framework for managing protected areas.
USAID also works through a public/private alliance that leverages private sector resources to train selected farmers and exporters using sound market intelligence, agronomic and production technology packages and integrated pest management systems for selected specialty crops for export to North America and regional markets.
Education
The Caribbean Centers of Excellence for Teacher Training (C-CETT) program is an innovative response to the problem of illiteracy in several English-speaking Caribbean countries. A 2002 Presidential Initiative, the program is funded by USAID and offers training and follow-up support to teachers, with a view to making them better Reading Instructors. By improving the quality of education in the region and increasing children’s reading capabilities, this program helps to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge to participate fully in the competitive global economy.
Dominica is the site of a recent and significant expansion of the program as a result of the June 2007 US-Caricom conference at which the need for greater investment in education was noted. Dominica will now have support of the C-CETT project in 90% of its primary schools. Dominica joins other Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) countries St. Lucia, Grenada, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines as a partner in C-CETT. |
