In spite of the many successes, “more must and can be done to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS)”.
This was the strong assertion made by Minister of Environment and Drainage, Dr. Denis Lowe, as he spoke at the Seventh Global Environment Facility (GEF) Biennial International Waters Conference, held at the Hilton Barbados on Monday.
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| A large crowd was on hand for the opening ceremony of the Seventh Global Environment Facility (GEF) Biennial International Waters Conference. |
Lowe noted that more national projects were coming to the forefront relative to regional projects and that project types were moving from enabling/ capacity building activities towards medium- and full-sized projects, representing direct responses to national issues and challenges.
“In our own case, Barbados has expanded its national GEF Small Grants Programme as a measure to enhance engagement with the civil society community in furthering the national sustainable development aspiration. There is every indication that the interest is there and the programme is now receiving projects for funding evaluation that are quite innovative in scope and design,” he stated.
However, Lowe stressed that the ongoing replenishment process was an “important and appropriate forum within which this matter should be raised and addressed”.
“Barbados believes that there is a real need for special and deliberate consideration of SIDS issues within the GEF development framework, of which the replenishment process is a part,” he said.
According to him, with SIDS facing capacity and economic constraints, it was critical to identify and utilise all relevant methods and tools enabling the realisation of efficiency gains in all development endeavours.
“As vulnerable countries, SIDS have little latitude for wastage in time, effort and resources in all spheres of their respective development agendas,” he added. (JMB)
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