OECS Communications Achievements 2017-2018

2017 ACHIEVEMENTS & CHALLENGES

Strategic Objective #1: Membership • 8 new Strategic Partnership: One Web , Solar Head of State, Global Green Growth Institute, OAS, ANOCES, Unite Caribbean, University of Malta and EGCM - A Business School in Martinique.

• Interreg: Developed a Compendium of OECS projects for new partnerships and resources with FCORs and approval for 5 OECS project concepts; signed letters of Commitment for 5 add. projects (incl. CARIBSKY), obtained 2 French IVY Volunteers to provide TA.

• 2 Strategic Networks: Singularity University for capacity building in Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Exponential Thinking; and with OECD & UNDP for Effective Monitoring of Development Cooperation in the OECS. • 5 new Agreements: World Bank, ACTION for Food Reserve, ICCA, ECCB and Compete Caribbean, Aruba Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development

Strategic Objective #2: Consolidate Architecture for Regional Integration

• Physical Upgrades and AV rooms completed for all 9 Partner Institutions and soft elements have finalized for establishment and operations of ECIT (incl. of harmonized Curriculum, governance structure, donor engagement framework, comms strategy and visibility products and tools etc.) • Training and capacity building exercises undertaken for ICT officials for use of Audio Visual equipment, and CVQ and CBET Assessors and Instructors in relation to the harmonized curriculum for ECIT.

Strategic Objective #2: Consolidate Architecture for Regional Integration

Lessons Learned document & videos completed and results used to: i.

provide inputs for refocusing the revision of the 11th EDF project identification document

ii. select one Audio-Visual product to enter the EU-wide short film competition for 2018, and iii. to show case value of the deliverables through videos which were declared as a “good practice� that can be replicated for other EU funded regional programmes.

Strategic Objective #3: Free Movement, Growth and Development of People, Goods and Services, Capital and Ideas • Finalisation of OECS Growth and Development Strategy for Implementation • Coordination of OECS position for renewal of Article 164 • Approval of work programme to improve trade in fisheries products • Completion of OECS Trade Performance Report for 2011-2016

Strategic Objective #4: Assure the Security and Well-Being of Citizens • Completion of Development Strategy for youth entrepreneurship • EC$27M in pharmaceutical procurement for Member States • 100% availability of ARV’s in Member States and 90% of prescribed medicines filled • 100% availability of antiretroviral medicines to all 1300 people living with HIV/AIDS prescribed antiretroviral med.

Strategic Objective #4: Assure the Security and Well-Being of Citizens • Increased capacity of lab diagnostics in molecular technology with the procurement of GeneXperts machines for 6 Member States • Approval of OECS Diabetes Prevention and Care Project • Well-coordinated and recognised relief response to Hurricanes Irma and Maria • Sexually transmitted infections Guidelines developed

Strategic Objective #4: Assure the Security and Well-Being of Citizens • Financial and Technical Assistance Secured • Support for the implementation of the OESS – USD5.2m from the GPE

• Diabetes Awareness – USD400K from the World Diabetes Foundation • HIV/TB Elimination Project – USD3.5m continuation grant from the Global Fund- grant negotiation are in progress • Health Information and Cancer - €0.5m from INTERREG EDF/EDRFawaiting approval of time extension for INTERREG Fund.

Strategic Objective #4: Assure the Security and Well-Being of Citizens • Procured and distributed teaching and learning materials to 300+ schools in the six independent states of the OECS to provide culturally relevant student materials and professional support materials delivered to 6 MS schools • Introduced case based surveillance to standardize and harmonize HIV health information throughout the OECS

• Developed qualitative multi-dimensional tools to conduct research in multi-dimensional aspects of poverty • Communication strategy on child abuse launched

Strategic Objective #4: Assure the Security and Well-Being of Citizens • Launched the 5th OECS Education Digital Digest • Introduced electronic data collection for student assessment in Reading • Eastern Caribbean Diagnostic Oncology Network formed • Established a Guidance Counselors Network in the OECS Region

• MOU signed between OECS and Guadeloupe CGSS • Fostered increased collaboration among health partners incl PAHO and CARPHA, and among the English-speaking OECS and their counterparts in Martinique and Guadeloupe

Strategic Objective #5: Key Economic Priorities: Climate Change, Jobs, Transportation, Energy, Food Security and Production • Partnership between the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the OECS Commission forged via MOU for COP23 giving the OECS Commission formal recognition high visibility through the UNFCCC’s websites and social media channels, conference branding, media engagement activities, among many other opportunities to reach a global audience.

• Advanced the GCF Accreditation process by completion of key documentation.

• Institutional Strengthening initiatives (policies, strategies, legislation, capacity building and engagement)

Strategic Objective #5: Key Economic Priorities: Climate Change, Jobs, Transportation, Energy, Food Security and Production • Implementation of multiple community and thematic physical and ecosystem-based interventions, tools and training (Water Security, Coastal Protection, Flood Mitigation, Slope stabilization, etc) via EU-GCCA, CCRIF, New Zealand initiatives.

The physical adaptation pilots implemented under GCCA project have withstood Hurricanes Maria and Irma

ACHIEVEMENTS Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (CROP) supports socio-economic development through the blue economy

OECS Energy Policy Implementation Dialogue Provided basis for elements of the OECS Regional Energy Policy Framework and the Energy Policy Implementation Coordination Mechanism

Caribbean Building Standards Forum & Exhibition

• Value US$6.3 million • Signed 14th October, 2017; • Launched 5th March 2018;

Strategic Objective #5: Key Economic Priorities: Climate Change, Jobs, Transportation, Energy, Food Security and Production • Completion of GCF Online Accreditation System • Cloud 4 Development (C4) Conference convened to support MS in implementing selected statistical development initiatives • Launch of the TECCA Project and selection of 30 companies to benefit (30 under 30)

Strategic Objective #5 : Key Economic Priorities: Climate Change, Jobs, Transportation, Energy, Food Security and Production

• Completed the ICT installation for the Eastern Caribbean Institute of Tourism e-Learning project for the colleges in 9 member states.

Strategic Objective #6: Build a High Performing Organisation capable of Delivering the Strategic Priorities

• OECS Authority Approves Audit Committee

• Upgraded ICT infrastructure and Conference facilities • OECS domain and email successfully migrated from .org to .int • ICT equipment installed at 10 ECIT Colleges • Successfully negotiated significant reduction in cost of Bandwidth for Colleges

Strategic Objective #6: Build a High Performing Organisation capable of Delivering the Strategic Priorities • Implementation of Travel Policy and Automation of travel function • 2 new corporate agreements with Harbour Club and Bay Gardens • Establishment of OECS Commission as a regional knowledge management institution through the services of our advanced Media Monitoring System • Production of Founding Fathers and OECS Animation Series

Strategic Objective #6: Build a High Performing Organisation capable of Delivering the Strategic Priorities • 7 facility improvements/upgrades completed • New Maintenance software rollout (300+ requests to date) • In-house brokerage services instituted ($3K in revenue) • 24 roles recruited and on-boarded including 7 leadership positions -3.2m • Total Rewards project designed • Leadership Competencies developed and rolled out • 2 Leadership Development workshops developed and facilitated The Leader in YOU • Employee Engagement Survey designed and rolled out