Five borrowing member countries of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) are to benefit from financing from the Bank for a database system which harnesses the power of advanced information technology to compile and disseminate data related to human development, as reflected in the Millennium Development Goals

DevInfo is a system developed by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).  It provides methods to organise, store and display data and metadata in a uniform way with simple and user-friendly features for producing tables, graphs and maps for inclusion in reports, presentations and advocacy materials.  The latest version allows for information to be presented at the smallest geographic level available, such as communities and villages.  It is also web-enabled, so that data can be easily disseminated via the Internet.

CDB is to provide the equivalent of USD399,165 to the CARICOM Secretariat for implementation of DevInfo in Anguilla, Barbados, Grenada, Montserrat and St. Lucia and the OECS Secretariat.  This will constitute Phase 1 of the collaborative intervention involving CDB, UNICEF and CARICOM.  The lessons learnt from this phase will inform Phase 2 for the remaining CDB borrowing member countries.

UNICEF will focus on data capture data analysis and the compilation of indicators within the Ministries and agencies which feed the DevInfo application.  CDB and CARICOM will address technical challenges to DevInfo implementation by supporting training in each country and regionally.  The Bank will focus on three key areas – advocacy and ownership, planning, and training.

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CARICOM member states which comprise the borrowing member countries of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), the Dominican Republic and Suriname will be the beneficiaries of funding from the European Union (EU).

CDB’s Board of Directors has approved the Management of the Bank entering into a contribution agreement with the European Union (EU) for a €3.5 million Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Standby Facility.   The implementation period of the Facility will be thirty-six months.  However, the two parties may agree to an extension.

These funds are to be used by the beneficiary countries for national EPA implementation units; for administrative, technical and other support for national focal points and for technical assistance assignments to advise on or to assist in taking advantage of opportunities under EPA.

Other directly relevant activities to be undertaken by CDB under the terms of the agreement include public education/awareness campaigns and interventions aimed at improving the results generated from grants awarded under the EPA Facility.

The Caribbean Forum of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (CARIFORUM) signed the EPA with the European Union in 2008.  The EPA is a single negotiated agreement which governs how the two regions will cooperate on a wide range of trade-related issues.