Member Countries have OECS Road Map for Country Poverty Assessment on the Agenda
December 20th, 2005
Social Development experts from Ministries of Finance and Planning, Community Development and Social Transformation in OECS Member States (MS) are considering a Road Map for the development and enhancement of Country Poverty Assessments in the sub-region.
This is main outcome of a recent workshop in Castries organised by the OECS Social Policy Unit. The proposed Road Map is a methodology that facilitates the preparation, execution and follow-up for Country Poverty Assessments (CPAs) and the utilizing of the outputs of the assessments to inform Social Policy in the OECS. The Road Map also embraces capacity building within the OECS Member Countries in executing the CPAs.
The parties involved are considering the preliminary outline of the Road Map (RM) which will be further finalized and submitted to the OECS Member States and Development partners for implementation.
It is expected that both the Member States and the Development Partners will consult the Road Map to enable the establishment of priorities and resource mobilization efforts on the recipient and donor sides, respectively. Funding Agencies, namely the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are also part of the Road Initiative.
Another recommendation to avoid pitfalls and achieve effectiveness is the preparation of a Procedures Manual (a blueprint) for the conduct of CPAs in the OECS. The proposed Procedures Manual is to contain all the actions necessary for the preparation, execution and follow-up regarding Country Poverty Assessments in the OECS MS. The CDB has indicated its willingness to provide support for such an initiative.
The meeting discussed country experiences at the various stages of the assessment, namely, the preparatory activities for CPA execution, the execution of and Post CPA and follow-up, in relation to the process, problems and challenges, opportunities and solutions. Other issues discussed included the methodology; the role of the Technical Assistance Agencies; relationships among consultants, MS and funding agencies and the responsibilities of the various players. The challenges faced by the funding agencies in supporting several CPAs at the same time were also discussed.
Member States listed securing adequate resources such as retaining well trained persons, financing and appropriate infrastructure support and technology among the common challenges noted in conducting the CPA.
Participants stressed the validity in getting the parliamentary opposition on board the assessment process if political legitimacy is to be guaranteed and for consensus to be maintained at that level.
Head of the OECS Social Policy Unit Ezra Jn Baptiste is emphatic that bringing other stakeholders on board is even more important for national ownership of the process, the outcome and the follow-up. He says in this regard ?there is a role for the development partners with respect to co-ordination which has been lacking for some time now?.
Participants have also called for institutionalizing the roles of mechanisms such as the National Assessment Team to help strengthen capacity within key ministries for sustainability and follow-up actions after the assessment is completed.
To date, all of the OECS Territories except Montserrat have either conducted at least one, or are currently conducting a Country Poverty Assessment.
Contacts:
Head of the OECS Social Policy Unit Ezra Jn Baptiste
Kendol Morgan Senior Communications Officer OECS Secretariat kmorgan@oecs.org
Raymond O'Keiffe Comm. Officer email: rokeiffe@oecs.org
December 20th, 2005
Social Development experts from Ministries of Finance and Planning, Community Development and Social Transformation in OECS Member States (MS) are considering a Road Map for the development and enhancement of Country Poverty Assessments in the sub-region.
This is main outcome of a recent workshop in Castries organised by the OECS Social Policy Unit. The proposed Road Map is a methodology that facilitates the preparation, execution and follow-up for Country Poverty Assessments (CPAs) and the utilizing of the outputs of the assessments to inform Social Policy in the OECS. The Road Map also embraces capacity building within the OECS Member Countries in executing the CPAs.
The parties involved are considering the preliminary outline of the Road Map (RM) which will be further finalized and submitted to the OECS Member States and Development partners for implementation.
It is expected that both the Member States and the Development Partners will consult the Road Map to enable the establishment of priorities and resource mobilization efforts on the recipient and donor sides, respectively. Funding Agencies, namely the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are also part of the Road Initiative.
Another recommendation to avoid pitfalls and achieve effectiveness is the preparation of a Procedures Manual (a blueprint) for the conduct of CPAs in the OECS. The proposed Procedures Manual is to contain all the actions necessary for the preparation, execution and follow-up regarding Country Poverty Assessments in the OECS MS. The CDB has indicated its willingness to provide support for such an initiative.
The meeting discussed country experiences at the various stages of the assessment, namely, the preparatory activities for CPA execution, the execution of and Post CPA and follow-up, in relation to the process, problems and challenges, opportunities and solutions. Other issues discussed included the methodology; the role of the Technical Assistance Agencies; relationships among consultants, MS and funding agencies and the responsibilities of the various players. The challenges faced by the funding agencies in supporting several CPAs at the same time were also discussed.
Member States listed securing adequate resources such as retaining well trained persons, financing and appropriate infrastructure support and technology among the common challenges noted in conducting the CPA.
Participants stressed the validity in getting the parliamentary opposition on board the assessment process if political legitimacy is to be guaranteed and for consensus to be maintained at that level.
Head of the OECS Social Policy Unit Ezra Jn Baptiste is emphatic that bringing other stakeholders on board is even more important for national ownership of the process, the outcome and the follow-up. He says in this regard ?there is a role for the development partners with respect to co-ordination which has been lacking for some time now?.
Participants have also called for institutionalizing the roles of mechanisms such as the National Assessment Team to help strengthen capacity within key ministries for sustainability and follow-up actions after the assessment is completed.
To date, all of the OECS Territories except Montserrat have either conducted at least one, or are currently conducting a Country Poverty Assessment.
Contacts:
Head of the OECS Social Policy Unit Ezra Jn Baptiste
Kendol Morgan Senior Communications Officer OECS Secretariat kmorgan@oecs.org
Raymond O'Keiffe Comm. Officer email: rokeiffe@oecs.org
