Promoting inclusive, green and resilient COVID-19 recovery in the Caribbean

Description of project:

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted Caribbean development, as it has across the world. However, initiatives to support recovery are an important opportunity to rethink and reform the region’s approach to development so that it is more environmentally sustainable, inclusive and resilient to the impacts of climate change and other hazards. There is a clear need for independent, transparent and open dialogue processes on Caribbean COVID-19 recovery priorities, implementation approaches and partnerships.

Against this backdrop, CANARI will raise awareness and facilitate dialogue on what public sector national and regional initiatives are planned or in the pipeline and to what extent these either support or hinder a shift to more inclusive, green and resilient development. The results of the analysis will be packaged into digestible communication products that can inform dialogue. Key stakeholders will be engaged to review, validate and share information and recommendations. Perspectives of Caribbean stakeholder on what they envision and recommend for COVID-19 recovery will be documented and communicated to amplify diverse and marginalised voices. Recommendations from the dialogues will be communicated to policymakers, development partners, private sector associations and civil society. This work was initiated in 2021 and is ongoing with support from the MAVA Foundation’s Economics for Nature Programme through the Green Economy Coalition, the Open Society Foundations and the European Union (DCI/ENV/2020/417-985). See project brief here.

Highlights:

CANARI has developed an analytical framework to assess COVID-19 recovery responses in the Caribbean. The analytical framework is focused around four broad principles: (1) Transforming economic governance; (2) Supporting fairness, inclusion and justice in economic development; (3) Supporting environmental sustainability while recognising and managing trade-offs; and (4) Enabling a low-carbon transition and building resilience to address multiple risks.
CANARI’s analytical framework was used to assess 412 COVID-19 recovery responses in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and at the regional level.
National and regional dialogues and fora are being conducted to raise awareness of the findings of the research and to analyse recommendations for policy and action.

Key activities and results:

1. Research

CANARI has developed an analytical framework to assess COVID-19 recovery responses in the Caribbean. The analytical framework is focused around four broad principles: (1) Transforming economic governance; (2) Supporting fairness, inclusion and justice in economic development; (3) Supporting environmental sustainability while recognising and managing trade-offs; and (4) Enabling a low-carbon transition and building resilience to address multiple risks. The framework identifies indicators that can be used to assess COVID-19 recovery initiatives which are part of medium-term economic stimulus packages, as well as longer-term economic transformation. It does not cover initial rescue or relief measures.
CANARI’s analytical framework was used to assess over 400 COVID-19 recovery responses in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago and at the regional level.
CANARI is developing a policy brief series to present the findings of this research.

2. Dialogues

CANARI will hold a series of dialogues to present and get stakeholder input into analysis of the findings of the research. As part of this, a national dialogue was held in Trinidad and Tobago in December 2021 and a regional dialogue as part of CANARI’s Partners Forum in January 2022. Additional dialogues will be held over April-September 2022.

3. Scorecards for monitoring implementation

Based on CANARI’s analytical framework, a scorecard will be developed which Caribbean stakeholders can use to identify and monitor implementation of COVID-19 recovery initiatives.
Civil society and community organisations will apply the scorecards and conduct national advocacy campaigns, with small grants and technical support.

4. Influence and action

CANARI presented on COVID-19 recovery initiatives in Trinidad and Tobago at a webinar hosted by the University of Trinidad and Tobago in February 2022.
CANARI presented on gender in Caribbean COVID-19 recovery initiatives as part of transformation to inclusive, green and resilient development at a side event during the 66^th session of the Commission on the States of Women (CSW66) in March 2022, which was hosted by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women(CEDAW) Committee in Trinidad and Tobago.
CANARI presented on the impacts of COVID-19 on Caribbean local blue enterprises at a UNCTAD-UNITAR webinar on May 27, 2021.
CANARI will continue to collaborate with Caribbean stakeholders to raise awareness of and advocate for adoption of recommendations emerging from the research and dialogues on Caribbean COVID-19 recovery priorities.