OECS Signs US$6.3M to Support Blue Economy Transition in the Eastern Caribbean
OECS Media Release
Friday, October 20, 2017 — Washington DC - The commitment to sustainable growth and resilience of the Caribbean’s Blue Economy was strengthened on Saturday October 14, with the signing of a US$6.3 million Grant Agreement for the Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (CROP).
The Agreement, signed during the World Bank’s Annual Meetings at its headquarters in Washington DC by Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS Commission; and Ms. Tahseen Sayed Khan, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean, will support Eastern Caribbean countries to preserve and strengthen resilience of coastal and marine resources, and implement regional policies to stimulate blue growth.
Specifically, CROP will:
- Support the implementation of regional policies, including mapping ocean assets, developing coastal and marine spatial plans and national ocean policies and 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 support will allow countries to better manage natural infrastructure which is the first line of defense against storm surges and damage from rising frequency of extreme weather events, such as the recent hurricanes.
The Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project is funded by the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), administered by the World Bank, and will be implemented by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Commission in close collaboration with Member States.
Participating Eastern Caribbean countries are Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
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