Several public servants drawn from various departments are attending a weeklong workshop designed to enhance the technical skills of decision makers, enabling them to develop effective policies that promote sustainable development and resilience against various shocks.
The workshop marks the launch of the DA16 Project entitled to Strengthen Capacity to Design and Implement Policies to Enhance Resilience in Antigua and Barbuda and it is a collaboration between The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Economic Commission for Latin American and the Caribbean regional office in Trinidad and Tobago.
It is being held at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus where Minister of Foreign Affairs, E.P Chet Greene delivered the feature address. “Through this project, we anticipate strengthening our institutional capacity, ensuring greater synergy in implementing both the SDGs and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS (ABAS).
“To achieve these objectives with absolute brevity, I will outline for you a series of key activities. First, we will conduct four national workshops focused on critical areas, including Proposal Writing, cost-benefit analysis, strategic policy planning and statistical approaches. Each of these workshops will involve senior management and technical staff from various government Ministries, Departments and Agencies,” he stated.
In addition, the Minister noted, the government will provide technical assistance to support the drafting and implementation of new or updated policies that address national vulnerabilities. “A significant focus will be placed on knowledge transfer in areas such as data collection, strategic policy visioning and stakeholder engagement, all vital for effective policy execution.
“We will also offer a national training course on project proposal preparation and implementation, targeting individuals responsible for project management across the ministries and departments. This course will strengthen our national capacity and reduce gaps in project execution,” he remarked.
Also speaking at the opening ceremony were H.E Simon Springett, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Deputy Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Karen Cabrall, Director of International Trade and National Sustainable Development Goals Focal Point, Joy-Marie King, and team of facilitators from ECLAC, Andrea Andrew UN Local office.
