St Vincent and the Grenadines will benefit from a World Bank approved a US$6.3 million grant to support Eastern Caribbean countries to preserve and strengthen the resilience of coastal and marine resources, and implement regional policies to stimulate blue growth.
This will allow countries to better manage natural infrastructure which is the first line of defence against storm surges and damage from rising frequency of extreme weather events, such as the recent hurricanes.
“This project will support the Eastern Caribbean policy-makers in identifying smart policies to harness the ocean and all its natural assets, and prepare for a successful transition to a blue economy and socially equitable ‘blue growth’”, said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean.
According to World Bank report “Toward A Blue Economy, A Promise for Sustainable Growth in the Caribbean”, the Caribbean Sea generated US$407 billion in 2012, including mainland Caribbean coastal countries.
The Caribbean Sea covers an area of 2.75 million square kilometres and is a crucial resource for the 40 million people who live along its shores. OECS countries play a key role in the regional ocean governance as they rely heavily on coastal ecosystems for their income, employment, health and well-being.
At the same time, poorly planned development poses threats to local communities as it erodes the coastal and marine natural protection and other important natural ocean assets.
The Caribbean Regional Oceanscape project supports Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Lucia.
Specifically, the project will:
- Support the implementation of regional policies, including mapping ocean assets, developing coastal and marine spatial plans and national ocean strategies through active citizen engagement;
- Collaborate with private sector technology companies and education platforms to advance ocean education; and
- Improve OECS ocean data coverage and access through collaborative public-private platforms.
This project is financed by a US$6.3 million grant from the Global Environmental Facility (GEF).