Turks and Caicos - Government’s plans
to conduct a Country Poverty Assessment (CPA) has intensified with a
preparatory training session for the team which will guide the process
on Tuesday 6th December 2011.
TCIG
will conduct the Country Poverty Assessment during the first quarter of
2012, in tandem with the national population census. It will be done
with the assistance of the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
The
CPA’s overall objective is to assess the current conditions affecting
the welfare of people, and identify policies, strategies, action
programmes and projects that would reduce the extent and severity of
poverty in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The
assessment would emphasise analyses of the poverty situation for men,
women, youth and children, the processes that generate and maintain
conditions conducive to poverty, existing responses to the poverty
situation and the means available for more vigorous and effective
actions to reduce poverty. It should also include a baseline assessment
of the current status in the attainment of the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with respect to national and
Caribbean-specific targets and indicators. It is intended to be used by
the Government and development organisations to enhance social
development and improve overall quality of life in the Turks and Caicos
Islands for all social groups.
CDB has
provided a team of consultants to lead the process and give the
necessary technical assistance needed for the project to be successful.
Because of the importance of this exercise, the Government of the Turks
and Caicos Islands (GOTCI) has appointed a National Assessment Team
(NAT) to provide the local implementation guidance and support during
the conduct of the CPA.
The NAT comprises a core of persons from i) Government agencies
responsible for statistics and social and economic policy including the
Statistics Department and Ministries with responsibility for Social
Development, Education, Health, and Economic Development, ii)
Non-Governmental Organisations, iii) Community Based Organisations, and
iv) the private sector. They will undertake the assessment, monitor
poverty indicators and execute future CPAs. Other persons will also be
co-opted by the core members to complement the membership on the NAT.
The NAT will also establish sub-committees to advise it, and to take
action on its behalf on special matters pertaining to the CPA.
Tuesday
preparatory training session for the National Assessment Team was held
at the Teacher’s Resource Centre, Education Department on Grand Turk.
