Helping local government meet the SDGs in the Caribbean

Work is underway in Trinidad and Tobago to help develop local government capacity to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is one of CLGF‘s EU funded pilot projects in the Caribbean on Localising the SDGs.

As Trinidad and Tobago focuses on improving its infrastructure to meet the 2030 SDG global targets, ensuring that local and national government work together cohesively is vital. For example, local government’s role in developing and maintaining roads, pavements, drains and bridges will be crucial to achieving SDG 9 – Build resilient infrastructure to promote include and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation. Responsibility at the local level for public spaces and disaster management will also assist with SDG 11 – Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

This project aims to create awareness of the SDGs among local government practitioners and how they can play a role in contribution to national achievement of these goals.

Key bodies working on the project include Sangre Grande Regional Corporation, Penal-Debe Regional Corporation and Port of Spain City Corporation; the Ministry of Planning and Development and an array of other local government authorities.

Diagnostic visits

The project started on 1st April 2017 and is will run until March 2018. In April 2017 TTALGA and CNULM signed a Memorandum of Understanding to take the project forward. In May, Sangre Grande Regional Corporation – hosted a visit of the Trinidad and Tobago LGA to look at the many issues around ending poverty and identify the priority areas.

A similar meeting was hosted in June by Penal-Debe Regional Corporation, this time focusing on enhancing inclusive and sustainable urbanisation and planning and management of integrated and sustainable human settlements. Representatives from the University of the West Indies presented an interactive, online tool to allow residents to communicate with authorities about problems.

Also in June, the Port of Spain City Corporation held a diagnostic visit to looking at the SDG that aims to provide universal access to safe, inclusive and accessible green and public spaces.

A national workshop is planned to share experiences with the wider community followed by training workshops and the implementation of the pilot projects.

This is one of the pilot projects in the Caribbean, funded by the EU and supported by CLGF’s office in the Caribbean and the national local government association. Other countries in the region that will be developing pilot projects include Dominica and Jamaica.