Tuesday, October 9, 2018 — In an effort to ensure a comprehensive analysis of country poverty levels, eight communities across St. Vincent and the Grenadines will soon contribute to a Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA).

The Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disability and Youth in St. Vincent and the Grenadines launched the PPA Training Workshop on Monday 10th September 2018.

The main objectives were to:

Introduce Field Researchers to the Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology and the CPA;
Explain and demonstrate all the steps involved in implementing a PPA with a special focus on data collection; and
Provide an opportunity for participants to gain practical experience working with the approaches and tools for data collection in the PPA.
Opening remarks were delivered by the Hon. Frederick Stephenson, Minister in the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disability and Youth.

In his remarks, the Hon Minister highlighted the importance of the PPA methodology and its critical role in the Country Poverty Assessment (CPA). He explained that

“The results of the study would place the Ministry in a better position to serve the public equitably.”

“The PPA study should not only be seen as another activity by the Ministry, but as a responsibility and a commitment of the public,” he added.
The one-week workshop was facilitated by Mrs. Amonia Paul-Rolle, Social and Gender Analyst for the Enhanced Country Poverty Assessment (ECPA) Project, in collaboration with Mrs. Merissa Finche-Burke, Director of Social Development, St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The collaboration between the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disability and Youth and the OECS Commission is one of the mechanisms used by the Enhanced CPA to build capacity in Member States.

The Enhanced Country Poverty Assessment (ECPA) Project is funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, and administered by the OECS Commission.

The PPA will be conducted in eight communities across St. Vincent and the Grenadines.