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Caribbean Regional
>> Regional Overview >> Caribbean Regional Program Overview Activity Data Sheet
PROGRAM: Caribbean Regional Program
TITLE AND NUMBER: Improved Environmental Management by Public and Private Entities, 538-005
PLANNED FY 2001 OBLIGATION AND ACCOUNT: $2,500,000 (ESF)
PROPOSED FY 2002 OBLIGATION AND ACCOUNT: $2,500,000 (ESF)
STATUS: Continuing
INITIAL OBLIGATION: FY1999 ESTIMATED COMPLETION DATE: 2004Summary: The ecosystems that sustain Caribbean economies, whether based on agriculture, fisheries, or tourism, are under severe and increasing stress. Ecosystem stability is especially precarious where island terrestrial and coastal systems are subjected to resource-intensive uses (e.g., uncontrolled fisheries, crop monoculture, heavy industry/mining, and mass tourism). Ecosystem degradation, whether from direct (over-fishing, denuded hillsides) or indirect (raw sewage or pesticide residue runoff transported to streams, beaches, and coral reefs) sources, result in destruction of productive habitats and resources, loss of biodiversity, multiplication of waste disposal and human health problems, and deterioration of economies. USAID's regional program reflects the Caribbean region's priority concern for sustainable livelihoods by seeking to identify and resolve the environmental problems most closely linked to the region's economies and growth potential. As such, the tourism sector will be a principal focus, with an emphasis on small hotels, sites and attractions, and community tourism. The objective of the program is to improve environmental management by both public and privates sector entities. Given the interdependence of resource utilization and economic development prospects, USAID seeks to protect ecosystems that underwrite tourism growth and other areas with high potential for economic diversification.
The project draws on the experiences and lessons learned from USAID's previous and ongoing activities in the region, several initial pilot programs and studies, as well as the experiences of USAID partners. The principal beneficiaries are the Caribbean people. Activities cover the Caribbean region but place special emphasis on the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) sub-region.
Key Results: Key results for successful environmental management are: 1) increased access to best environmental management practices; 2) improved environmental policies and compliance measures; and 3) strengthened organizational capacity to finance environmental improvements.
Extensive design work was completed and several start-up activities were initiated in 2000; the project is now moving into the implementation phase. In March 2001, USAID signed a grant with the Organization of American States to implement a number of activities that relate to disseminating and adopting best environmental management practices and improving environmental policies and compliance. Likewise, the U.S. company PA Consulting Group (formerly Hagler Bailly Services) has been helping to identify and develop plans for financing environmental improvements. Additional implementation instruments will be finalized over the next two months. Despite the fact that major implementing mechanisms were not in place until recently, extensive consultation with partners and several start-up activities were carried out in 2000.
Performance and Prospects: The people of the Caribbean recognize the relationship between improved environmental management and their own economic wellbeing. They also recognize that their interconnectedness, whether by virtue of the shared benefits of the Caribbean Sea or collective position in world markets, requires concerted regional and cross-sectoral supporting policy frameworks and actions. Prospects for achieving program results are excellent.
A proxy indicator, the number of organizations adopting best practices, was developed in order to measure overall performance. Best practices cut across all three results, i.e. they include practices related to management of resources that affect the environment; policies and compliance measures aimed at mitigating environmental damage; and generating finance for environmental improvements. Organizations with which the program will work include public institutions, environmental non-governmental organizations, community-based organizations, and private enterprises.
Environmental information to be disseminated includes regional "best practices" and "lessons learned" in sustainable tourism and environmental management. The focus is on small hotels, environmental management systems, environmental certification, and ecotourism practices that can be used as a basis for training and assisting hotel owners and tourism operators. In 2000, a consultant documented best practices related to environmental management of small hotels in order to increase access to best environmental practices. The first draft of this documentation was completed in hard copy and electronic format through a website related to tourism and ecotourism services. This report will serve as a guide for small hotel operators to implement new methods of environmental management while improving the attractiveness of their tourism operations.
To help small hoteliers and organizations or persons make environmentally sound investments, a "coaching toolkit" was developed using the best practices documentation. The toolkit includes best practices, resource information, and "how to" assistance for a variety of topic areas, such as energy conservation, environmental audits, wastewater management, and financial and business management. The toolkit will support training and technical assistance activities related to environmental management.
In 2000, a consultant completed an inventory of sites, attractions and community tourism in Dominica (such inventories will be carried out in several more countries in 2001 and will inform USAID on how to proceed with the sites, attractions and community tourism work). USAID also began work with the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism to help establish Dominica as a "Green Globe" ecotourism destination.
The activity to improve environmental policies and compliance measures will get underway in 2001; at least one significant policy measure is expected this year. The activity will work with the Caribbean Tourism Organization and the Natural Resources Management Unit of the OECS to strengthen environment/trade policies. It will work with media practitioner networks to produce media materials and informational packages that target policy makers, local stakeholders, and private entities in order to influence policy and compliance.
A continuing impediment to improved environmental management is a lack of financing to undertake needed initiatives. Considerable work was carried out in 2000 to identify options for the establishment of an investment fund for small hoteliers that would provide capital for environmentally sound improvements.
Initial USAID activities aim to increase the number of organizations independently securing financing for environmental management, especially in the tourism sector. Activities include: "green property" certification to encourage investment in environmental improvements by tourism entrepreneurs; development of brands and standards for visitor accommodation facilities that are recognized and accepted in the marketplace; and increased access to innovative financing mechanisms to broaden availability of capital and technical assistance for environmentally responsible investments. It is expected that three to four organizations will independently secure financing for each year of program implementation.
Strengthening organizational capacity to finance environmental improvement initiatives began with a USAID-financed workshop held in St. Lucia in October 2000. The workshop for small hotel owners promoted the development of environmentally sound brands and standards for small hotels. Over 70 hoteliers from OECS countries attended the workshop, as did several representatives of hotel associations. A Caribbean brand for small hotels is expected to be launched soon, and the development of standards related to environmental issues is well underway.
Activities planned for 2001 include initiatives to raise owner/operator awareness of options related to partial or full environmental audits, green certification, implementation of environmental management systems, as well as preparation of a small hotels audit protocol.
In FY 2001, approximately $1,000,000 will be used to promote the adoption of "best environmental practices" especially in the tourism sector; approximately $600,000 to strengthen environmental policy throughout the region and approximately $900,000 for stimulating environmentally sound investments. These activities will continue at similar funding levels in FY 2002.
Possible Adjustments to Plans: Adjustments may be made as appropriate as all activities become fully operational.
Other Donor Programs: A significant strength of the environmental management program is the extent to which partnerships are being developed. USAID will add a substantial environmental management component to the Organization of American States' Caribbean tourism competitiveness and sustainability project, thus adding a critical dimension to this initiative. As the design of this program proceeded, the Canadian development organization also became interested in providing financing. USAID is partnering with environmental management programs undertaken by the European Union, the European Department for International Development, International Finance Corporation, and the United Nations Development Programme.
Principal Contractors, Grantees, or Agencies: International partner organizations include: the Organization of American States, the Caribbean Tourism Organization, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism, and the OECS Natural Resources Management Unit. U.S. contractors include PA Consulting Group.
Caribbean Regional Program 538-005
Performance Measures:
Indicator FY97
(Actual)FY98
(Actual)FY99
(Actual)FY00
(Actual)FY00
(Plan)FY01
(Plan)FY02
(Plan)Indicator 1: Non-USAID dollars supporting new Caribbean Regional Program environmental initiatives NA NA NA $0.23 (B) Baseline $0.5 million $1.0 million Indicator 2: Number of private, community, and public organizations indepenently securing finance for environmental management activities. NA NA NA 5 (B) Baseline 8 11 Indicator 3: Number of organizations adopting best practices NA NA NA 0 (B) Baseline 6 11 Indicator 4: Number of target groups exposed to environmental information NA NA NA 0 (B) Baseline 10 15 Indicator Information:
Indicator Level (S)or(IR) Unit of Measure Source Indicator Description Indicator 1: IR Dollars in millions Organizational financial reports and donor reports Non-USAID dollars from lending institutions, donors, private investments, etc. supporting USAID environmental initiatives Indicator 2: IR Number of organizations Organizational financial reports and donor reports Number of organizations securing financing. Based on an index of categories progressing from: no strategy for financing, to completion of a financial plan, to availability of a diversified portfolio of funding sources to finance environmental initiatives. Indicator 3: IR Number of organizations Organization of American States and other implementing organizations Number of organizations adopting at least one best practice. Organizations include public sector entities and community-based, non-governmental, or private organizations. Categories of best practices include policy and compliance measures, community based tourism, environmental awareness, and environmental management system improvements. A best practice is considered to be adopted when, based on observation or self-reporting, the best practice is exhibited in an organization's operations. Indicator 4: IR Number of organizations Organization of American States and other implementing organizations Target groups include public sector representatives and community-based, non-governmental, or private organizations. Environmental information includes toolkits, media products, training material, observation tours and on-site technical assistance. A group has been exposed to environmental information if they have acquired environmental information from a USAID-sponsored activity. U.S. Financing
(In thousands of dollars)
Obligations Expenditures Unliquidated Through September 30, 1999 308 DA 5 DA 303 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA Fiscal Year 2000 345 DA 312 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 2,500 ESF 0 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA Through September 30, 2000 653 DA 317 DA 336 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 2,500 ESF 0 ESF 2,500 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA Prior Year Unobligated Funds* 0 DA 0 CSD 0 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Planned Fiscal Year 2001 NOA 0 DA 0 CSD 2,500 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Total Planned Fiscal Year 2001 0 DA 0 CSD 2,500 ESF 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 DFA Future Obligations Est. Total Cost Proposed Fiscal Year 2002 NOA 0 DA 0 DA 653 DA 0 CSD 0 CSD 0 CSD 2,500 ESF 2,500 ESF 10,000 ESF 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 SEED 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 FSA 0 DFA 0 DFA 0 DFA
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Last Updated on: May 29, 2002 |
