Social Inclusion and Social Protection in the Eastern Caribbean

The OECS under the Social Inclusion and Social Protection Strategic Action Plan tackles the 4 regional economic and social challenges facing the Citizens of the OECS 

1. the inability of people and families to sufficiently meet their basic needs
2. Social Exclusion from Families and Communities is the process that prevents an individual or group from fully participating in a family or community due to numerous factors
3. the inability of people and communities to adequately recover following a shock 
4. inefficient and limited social protection systems

Multiple projects on Social Inclusion and Social Protection are currently being implemented in the Eastern Caribbean by the OECS Commission through its Social Inclusion Social Protection Unit along with Ministries of Social Development in the OECS Member States and international agencies such as USAID and UNICEF. Among the projects which were recently developed by the OECS Commission are:

Current projects include: 

1 - Opportunities to Advance and Support Youth for Success (OASYS)

OASYS stands for opportunities to advance and Support Youth for Success. It is a program that helps kids in the Eastern Caribbean learn and grow. It has a lot of different activities like art, music and sports. OASYS is a great way for the youth to have fun and engage in activities that would lead them away from crime as well as provide opportunities for them to grow. The project builds on the work done under the Second phases of the Juvenile Justice Reform Project (JJRP) which ran from 2016 to 2022.  

Learn more 

2 - OECS Youth Empowerment Strategy (OECS YES)

OECS YES is one of the projects implemented to foster social development in the Eastern Caribbean. OECS YES aims to ensure that youth are given the opportunity to engage in the national dialogue to shape the future they will inherit. The Inaugural OECS 30 Under 30 Entrepreneurship Competition was one of the components of OECS YES. This project was launched from 2016 to 2017. 30 young entrepreneurs from eight OECS Member States (Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Martinique) have been awarded for their innovative businesses. Each winner benefitted from the expertise of the OECS' Competitive Business Unit and the Sir Richard Branson Center for Entrepreneurship in order to develop their businesses.

Learn more

3 - The Juvenile Justice Reform Project Phase II (JJRP II)

The Juvenile Justice Reform Project Phase II (JJRP II) is another project of the OECS in the area of human and social development. The Juvenile Justice Reform Project Phase II is funded by USAID. The project is implemented in six OECS Member states, namely: Antigua and Barbuda, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

JJRP II pursues four main objectives:

• improving the legal and regulatory framework of the Juvenile Justice System;

• building capacity for the effective administration of juvenile justice;

• modernising diversion, detention and rehabilitation processes in the juvenile justice system; and 

• improving linkages with civil society and other supporting structures to strengthen the juvenile justice system.  

JJRP II is now into its final year of implementation.

Learn more 

4 -Raising Awareness on Child Protection in Sports

Sport is key to the inclusion of youth and social development in the Eastern Caribbean. The OECS and UNICEF partnered to launch a campaign on “Child Protection in Sports”. The communications campaign which was launched across the OECS Member States in 2017 targeted athletes from 10 to 29 years old and the overall realm of youth - parents, teachers, coaches. The project encouraged Heads of sporting disciplines in the OECS Member States to develop and implement comprehensive child protection policies. The awareness campaign also enhanced the capacity of youth to adopt behaviours and practices which can protect athletes from harm and abuse.

5 - The Family Law Reform Project 

The Family Law Reform Project is one of the most important projects in the area for social development in the Eastern Caribbean. The project that commenced in 2001 is being implemented by the OECS in partnership with UNICEF and seven OECS Member States: Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Anguilla. The Family Law Reform Project aims to increase the capacity of the judicial and legal system by providing laws which make fundamental shifts in the protection of women, children and the family. This project also intends to strengthen institutional capacity in order to resolve matters related to the family and children in a more holistic way by addressing multiple matters such as marriage, divorce and separation, spousal maintenance, property interests, children, maintenance for children, the status of children, paternity, custody and access, adoption of children, succession, cohabitation relationships, domestic violence.

Access more resources on Social Inclusion and Social Protection in the Eastern Caribbean via the OECS Library.

The OECS is working in close collaboration with all the Ministries of its Member States on all matters related to Social Development in the Eastern Caribbean. The Council of Ministers of Social Development is hosted once a year. This meeting aims to harmonize the strategy in Social Development in the OECS Member states.