KOUDEMAIN STE LUCIE Status Report

1. KOUDEMAIN STE LUCIEStatus Report 2007 - 2009

2. Presentation Content • 2005/2006 Poverty Analysis • Country Poverty Alleviation Strategy • Koudemain Ste Lucie Programme - Brief Description - Achievements - Challenges - Lessons Learnt

3. POVERTY ANALYSIS (2005/06) • 28.8 % of the Saint Lucian population cannot afford the food and basic non–dietary goods needed for proper functioning by human beings on a daily basis (poor population) • This represents an increased from 25.1% in 1995 • 1.6% of these persons are unable to obtain the requisite kilocalories for the proper functioning of the human organism (indigent) • This Represents a significant decrease from 7.1% in 1995 .

4. POVERTY ANALYSIS (2005/06) • 21.4 % of households were poor • 1.2% of households were indigent • 40.3% of the population, given their current consumption patterns are at risk of falling into poverty should any adverse natural disaster or economic shock eventuate.

5. OVERALL COUNTRY OBJECTIVE • Reduce current levels of poverty and social vulnerability

6. COUNTRY STRATEGY • Prioritization of poverty alleviation on the National Development Agenda • Development of a pro-poor orientation in a range of institutions that deliver service to the communities • Initiation of purposeful and targeted poverty reduction interventions

7. Koudemain Ste Lucie Programme • The programme seeks to identify these indigent households and help them graduate out of their situation. • fashioned after the “Puente Program” • It focuses on the family as a unit of intervention in the fight against poverty. • It seeks to empower indigent households with the psycho-social support necessary within two (2) years to improve their quality of life and become self sustainable.

8. Programme Pillars • Personal Identification • Education • Housing • Family Dynamics • Income • Health • Employment

9. KOUDEMAIN STE. LUCIE • Specific Objectives • Eradication of indigence • Empowerment of People (families) • Effective Networking of Social partners

10. KOUDEMAIN STE. LUCIE Achievements

11. KOUDEMAIN STE. LUCIEAchievements • Development of Implementation Plan and Schedule ( Country Team) • Development of Social Network - Identification of Social partners and stakeholders - Sensitization and participation of approx. 30 agencies in “network based capacity building on social protection strategies for St Lucia”

12. KOUDEMAIN STE. LUCIEAchievements • Endorsement of “Puente Approach” to poverty reduction in St Lucia - Presentations to: PRF Board Ministry of Social Transformation Cabinet of Ministers • Development of Social Network National Consultation with social partners to: - Select a Social Network Committee - Discuss Social Protection Strategy • Discuss targeting mechanism

13. KOUDEMAIN STE. LUCIEAchievements • Development of Targeting Strategy • Implementation of Targeting Strategy for Pilot Phase of programme - Department of Statistics - Selection of Koudemain Communities based on latest Country Poverty Assessment (4) highest indigence per capita - Survey of entire community - Analysis of data to identify all indigent families

14. KOUDEMAIN STE. LUCIEAchievements • Sourcing or resources to implement programme • Formal Launch of Programme • Ongoing public sensitization on the Programme • Recruitment of Programme Coordinator • Recruitment and Training of 4 Family Care Givers • Implementation of Pilot Phase of Programme - 4 communities - 46 families • Sensitisation of selected families to Programme • Twadysion Noel Christmas Food Voucher Project

15. KOUDEMAIN STE. LUCIEAchievements • Introductory meetings with Family Caregivers (FCG) and selected indigent families • Signing of agreements and other documents with indigent families • Start of weekly field visits of Koudemain families by FCG’s • Psycho-social assessment of family members • Recruitment of Supervisor for FCG • Educational Assistance • Health Assistance to some needed family members

16. KOUDEMAIN STE. LUCIEAchievements • Secured funds for Productivity Enhancement Training of families • Comprehensive Psycho-social and Life Skills Training of Family Caregivers/ Social Workers (Oct – Dec) - Funded by EU Funds - Development of Psycho-social and Life skills Modules and intervention tools - Training of Trainers workshops - Development of National Database • Exploring opportunities for employment for eligible members of the Koudemain family members (Private sector, HOPE,etc)

17. CHALLENGES FACED • Limited Resources (funds, personnel, facilities, opportunities, etc) • Inadequate Political ‘buy – in’ • Inadequate Networking and Institutional coordination • Unrealistic expectations of Koudemain Ste Lucie Programme • Poor prioritization of needs by family members • Lack of adequate private sector support • Poor economic climate

18. Institutional collaboration and coordination is critical to the success of the programme Effective targeting is important It is necessary that the programme be supported by a well designed, integrated information system. Psychosocial support is a core component of the programme LESSONS LEARNT

19. Future Plans • Selection of additional communities and families for participation in the programme. • Conditional Cash Transfer Pilot Project for Christmas • Establishment of National Database (to support national programmes and poverty alleviation strategy) • PET workshops for suitable family members • Housing assistance to needy families • Employment from HOPE programme

20. Thank You!