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ISSUE PROGRAMMES
Green Economy
Project: The search for a new economy in the Caribbean: Launching the programme of work for the Caribbean Green Economy Action Learning Group
Title:
The search for a new economy in the Caribbean: Launching the programme of work for the Caribbean Green Economy Action Learning Group
Countries:
Caribbean
Dates / Term:
February – July 2013
Funders:
This research was funded by UK aid from the UK Government through the International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), however the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the UK Government.
Partners:
Members of the Caribbean Green Economy Action Learning Group
Project amount:
US $69,000
Goal and objectives:
To mobilise the Caribbean Green Economy Action Learning Group (GE ALG) to deepen the analysis of needs and opportunities for change in policy and practice in the Caribbean and to prepare for implementation of action research and learning in priority areas.
Activities
- A CANARI policy brief was produced on the GE ALG process and draft programme of work was written and published in English, French and Spanish.
- The policy brief was used to target potential partners in the research and action towards potential pathways for development of a new economy in the Caribbean.
- A 3-day regional meeting of the GE ALG was held to refine the regional programme of work and plans for implementation. The process and findings are outlined in the workshop report. This meeting aimed to:
- confirm the broad new economy vision based on previous work in the Caribbean dialogue;
- analyse possible transition paths (including existing initiatives and emerging opportunities);
- identify knowledge gaps relevant to both policy and practice and based on this refine and finalise the research agenda;
- input into draft plans for action research and learning in selected priority areas (2-4), including shaping action research questions, mapping key stakeholders to be involved and identifying target audiences and desired outcomes for policy influence.
Results:
- A Caribbean position on pathways to more socially equitable and environmentally sustainable economic development was refined and validated by the GE ALG at the regional meeting in Saint Lucia in May 2013. The importance of clearly defining and communicating this was emphasised. This vision characterises a green economy in the Caribbean as the following:
- promoting equitable distribution of economic benefits and effective management of ecological resources;
- being economically viable and resilient to both external and internal shocks;
- more self-directed (more independent of external forces) and having greater self-reliance; and
- having as an objective being pro-poor and generating decent jobs and working conditions for local people.
2. A regional research agenda and programme of work for the GE ALG was refined by the GE ALG at the regional meeting in Saint Lucia in May 2013. The June 2013 draft produced outlines areas for action on research, communication (awareness and policy influence), and capacity building. Priority areas of work were identified as follows:
- How can governments, the private sector and civil society collaborate on building a green economy?
- Can triple bottom line methods be adapted for assessing public sector investment proposals (or business investments)? Where is there potential for uptake of such methods?
- What kinds of policy measures, institutions and programmes are able catalyse, support and scale up sustainable micro, small and medium (SMME) development?
- How can sustainable urban development be achieved in the Caribbean context?
3. Recommendations were developed for action research and learning in particular economic sectors and development processes in the Caribbean. At the GE ALG at the regional meeting in Saint Lucia in May 2013 and draft workplans were started on the following three priority areas:
- Inclusive governance processes: What kind of social compact is needed as a foundation for building a new economy?
- Physical planning for a Caribbean green economy
- The role of small, medium and micro-enterprises, including the informal sector in green economies.
4. Green economy and related initiatives taking place at global, regional and international levels were mapped and opportunities for influence by and collaboration with the GE ALG were identified. The following initiatives were also identified as immediate priorities requiring follow up:
- National processes
- CARICOM processes
- UN initiatives
- Green Growth Knowledge platform
5. GE ALG members further built their capacity, commitment and are actively collaborating to seek opportunities, partnerships and resources to implement the research agenda and programme of work in particular economic sectors and development processes in the Caribbean.
Lessons learned:
- The GE ALG is acting as a regional knowledge network that can inform and advise national and regional policy and practice initiatives to transform economic development in the Caribbean.
- A variety of terms and concepts around “green economy”, “green growth” and “blue economy” are being put forward in global discussions. The Caribbean vision of a new approach to economic development needs to be clearly communicated.
Key documents:
Key news items:
Photos
- Regional meeting of the Caribbean Green Economy Action Learning Group in Saint Lucia in May 2013
Facebook:
Meeting of the Caribbean Green Economy Action-Learning Group, Saint Lucia, May 2013
For more information contact:
Related programmes:
- CANARI’s Rural Livelihoods programme
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