A policy document will be drafted which will cover the official designation and management of the area. This document will be submitted to the Cabinet of Ministers.
At this stage potential sustainable livelihood options will be identified for development during the Full Grant Phase of the project.
Project sustainability
Has a high probability of being sustainable because of the design phase and the support of the project by all sectors, including the Government of Saint Lucia.
Gender Focus
No special focus at this stage of the project.
Linkages gef projects
None at this time.
Policy Influence
Not applicable at this phase of the project.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
Not applicable at this stage.
Significant Participation of Indigenous Peoples
Not applicable.
Capacity - Building Component
The NSC has made it a condition that the grantee undertakes a capacity and capability assessment to identify areas which must be improved during the next phase of the project.
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
There will be significant community awareness activities undertaken within the project period.
Notable Community Participation
This is the planning stage of the project which includes significant and extensive consultations with community and national stakeholders. Several meetings and workshops are planned.
Planning gef grant
To be determined.
Replication of project activities
To be determined after the Full Grant project proposal is approved and implemented.
Planning non gef grant
Yes. There is a proposal through the Ministry of Tourism for a US$600,000 grant of which US$400,000 will be invested in the upscaling of the project.
Project Results
Canaries is the poorest community in Saint Lucia and because of the topography of the land and the dominance of the Canaries River the area is prone to disasters brought on by metrological events. The area is rich in biodiversity with a landscape of high aesthetic value, as well as high water pollution rates in both the river and coastal zone.
This Planning Grant was approved to facilitate the development of a Full Grant which will help to establish a platform for a Ridge to Reef Project. This project will use a multiple-use National Park Protected Areas framework as the basis for planning and management.
At the end of the Planning Grant phase the following results were achieved:
(i) The boundary of the proposed National Park was demarcated by the Department of Physical Development of the Government of Saint Lucia;
(ii) Several Letters of Support and project endorsement were received from the following Government Ministries:
- Ministry of Physical Development, Housing and Urban Renewal: Approved the concept of a multiple use national park and appointed a representative to the Project Steering Committee;
- Ministry of Tourism, Heritage and Creative Industries: Cash (US$2963) and In-kind (US$12,963) co-funding; support to the idea; and appointed a senior officer to sit on the Project Steering Committee;
- Ministry of Social Transformation, Local Government and Community Empowerment: In-kind co-funding of US$23,590; and support to the project.
(iii) Completion of rapid assessments of the near shore area and the areas of high erosion in the lower watershed;
(iv) Completion of three steering committee meetings and one community sensitization meeting to inform the community and gain support for the project.
(v) Completion of an appraisal of the capacity needs of the CCIF;
(vi) Completion of a survey with the Statistics Department which indicated the level of dissatisfaction with the condition of the community and the hope and expectations for the project;
(vii) Identification and confirmation of overseas technical assistance for the project;
(vii) Completion of the Full Grant Project Proposal; and
(viii) Submission of a project concept with the Ministry of Tourism to the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre for a grant of US$600, 000 of which US$400,000 will target the upscaling of the project.
Economic Impact: During project implementation the project employed 6 ladies and 3 men paying them a total of US$ 2889.00. Eight of the persons employed as field interviewers while one person was employed to help mentor, facilitate and provide technical assistance to the grantee.
The challenges encountered included the following:
(i) The very low capacity of the grantee and the need to find external assistance to offset that deficiency;
(ii) The low response from the community to the call for meetings. The grantee has concluded that there is a high level of apathy in the community, perhaps brought on by continuous consultations with little action to address community needs.
The Lessons Learned included the following:
(i) A Work Plan is needed to help organize the variety of work and to allocate responsibilities. This is deemed a sine qua non for the next phase of the project;
(ii) The reluctance of members of the group to ask for assistance though they were offered help by the GEF SGP UNDP. According to the grantee we have learned that there ". . . is no shame in reaching out for help."
(iii) There is a significant amount of goodwill at various levels of the society for Canaries because of the high poverty rate.
The Full Grant is expected to be reviewed by the NSC in late August 2015.
