Description of project

The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) provided technical assistance to the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission to develop the OECS Green-Blue Economy Strategy and Action Plan, which is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and globally to combine green and blue economy strategies for sustainable development.

The Strategy and Action Plan builds on earlier work done by CANARI, in collaboration with the OECS Commission, to conduct a study of the current status, potential opportunities and capacity needs for a transition to inclusive and sustainable economic development in the Eastern Caribbean.  See here for the full report “Exploring opportunities for transformation to inclusive, sustainable and resilient in the Eastern Caribbean” and also check out the “Eastern Caribbean Green Economy Barometer 2018” here.  Key recommendations are summarised in CANARI Policy Brief No. 25 on “Transitioning to inclusive, resilient and environmentally sustainable economies in the Eastern Caribbean” (see here) and infographic on key policy actions here.

The study was presented to the OECS Council of Ministers – Environmental Sustainability (COMES) in July 2018 and again in May 2019.  The Ministers acknowledged the efforts of and the OECS Commission and mandated the Commission to continue to work on the development and implementation of an OECS Green-Blue Economy Strategy and Action Plan as contributing to implementation of the OECS Development Strategy.

Development of the OECS GreenBlue Economy Strategy and Action Plan was supported through funding provided by the OECS Commission and co-financed by the European Union (DCI-ENV/2016/372-847).

Highlights

  • OECS stakeholders were engaged in shaping the needs and directions of the Strategy and Action Plan through a survey, interviews, focus groups, webinars and at regional meetings. Stakeholder input and an extensive desk review were used to update the findings of the 2018 diagnostic study (see above).  This assessment concluded that there was a discernible, albeit relatively slow and disjointed, momentum towards transitioning to a green-blue economy in the OECS.
  • The OECS GreenBlue Economy Strategy and Action Plan was presented to the OECS Council of Ministers – Environmental Sustainability (COMES) for adoption in June 2020. It aims to guide the transformation to more inclusive, environmentally sustainable and resilient economies in the Eastern Caribbean and lays out a vision, principles, key pathways, potential partners and actions in the short and long term.  The OECS GreenBlue Economy Strategy and Action Plan supports economic transformation in all OECS Members – Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Martinique, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
  • A key first step in implementing the OECS GreenBlue Economy Strategy and Action Plan is to raise awareness and build commitment of OECS stakeholders to the transformation. Strategic partnerships and synergies with other OECS policies and programmes are critical.

News and blogs 

Stakeholders asked to input on Draft OECS Green-Blue Economy Strategy and Action Plan

Publications 

 

For more information please contact Nicole Leotaud at [email protected]