Towards the Security of Small Island States in the Caribbean – A Multidimensional Approach Presented by Cletus I. Springer Chief Caribbean Division Coordinator,

Towards the Security of Towards the Security of Small Island States in the Small Island States in the

Caribbean – A Caribbean – A Multidimensional Multidimensional

ApproachApproach Presented by Cletus I. SpringerPresented by Cletus I. SpringerChief Caribbean DivisionChief Caribbean Division

Coordinator, Natural Hazards, Climate Change and Coordinator, Natural Hazards, Climate Change and Energy Energy

OAS Department for Sustainable Development OAS Department for Sustainable Development Committee on Hemispheric Security Committee on Hemispheric Security

13 February, 200813 February, 2008

2Cletus I. Springer OAS - Department of Sustainable Development

The plea for a new The plea for a new paradigm paradigm

“…“…the GDP includes air pollution, cigarette advertising, the GDP includes air pollution, cigarette advertising, the ambulances cleaning our streets of accidents, the the ambulances cleaning our streets of accidents, the special locks in our doors and the prisons for those who special locks in our doors and the prisons for those who break them. It includes the destruction of pinewoods break them. It includes the destruction of pinewoods and the death of Lake Superior. It rises with the and the death of Lake Superior. It rises with the production of missiles and nuclear heads…and if the production of missiles and nuclear heads…and if the GDP includes all this, there is more that is not GDP includes all this, there is more that is not comprised (such as) the heath of our families, the comprised (such as) the heath of our families, the quality of our education or the enjoyment of games. It is quality of our education or the enjoyment of games. It is indifferent to the indecency of our factories and the indifferent to the indecency of our factories and the safety of our streets…it does not measure our ingenuity safety of our streets…it does not measure our ingenuity or our courage, our wisdom or our understanding . To or our courage, our wisdom or our understanding . To sum up it measures everything except what makes life sum up it measures everything except what makes life worth living…”worth living…”Robert KennedyRobert Kennedy


Abstract Abstract

This presentation proposes a policy framework that This presentation proposes a policy framework that could contribute towards the attainment of the could contribute towards the attainment of the security of small states in the Caribbean, in all its security of small states in the Caribbean, in all its dimensions. It is set upon a foundation of evolving dimensions. It is set upon a foundation of evolving theories on economic vulnerability, economic theories on economic vulnerability, economic resilience and social vulnerability in small states. It resilience and social vulnerability in small states. It accepts that small states are inherently vulnerable, accepts that small states are inherently vulnerable, economically, socially and environmentally; it economically, socially and environmentally; it contends that the interplay between these various contends that the interplay between these various types of vulnerability demands an integrated policy types of vulnerability demands an integrated policy and strategic response, that seeks to build resilience and strategic response, that seeks to build resilience in all three spheres, simultaneously. The in all three spheres, simultaneously. The presentation will explore some of the main presentation will explore some of the main challenges to creating resilient economies, societies challenges to creating resilient economies, societies and environments through effective social policy. and environments through effective social policy.


The Types of The Types of VulnerabilityVulnerability

Vulnerability – propensity of a social, Vulnerability – propensity of a social, economic and environmental system to economic and environmental system to suffer harm from exposure to internal suffer harm from exposure to internal and external stresses and shocks;and external stresses and shocks;

Economic vulnerability refers to risks Economic vulnerability refers to risks faced from exogenous shocks to faced from exogenous shocks to systems of production, distribution and systems of production, distribution and consumption;consumption;

Environmental Vulnerability refers to Environmental Vulnerability refers to risk of damage to natural eco-systems risk of damage to natural eco-systems


Types of Vulnerability Types of Vulnerability

Social vulnerability reflects “…the Social vulnerability reflects “…the degree to which societies or socio-degree to which societies or socio-economic groups are affected by economic groups are affected by stresses and hazards, whether stresses and hazards, whether brought about by external forces or brought about by external forces or intrinsic factors – internal and intrinsic factors – internal and external – that negatively impact the external – that negatively impact the social cohesion of a country” (UNDP social cohesion of a country” (UNDP 2000). 2000).


Tracing the linkages Tracing the linkages

Links between social, economic and Links between social, economic and environmental system render SIDS more environmental system render SIDS more vulnerablevulnerable

Inherent economic vulnerability has Inherent economic vulnerability has impeded economic growth and impeded economic growth and development development

Failure to anticipate shocks and their Failure to anticipate shocks and their knock-on effects have lead to only partial knock-on effects have lead to only partial solutions and a deepening of solutions and a deepening of vulnerability. vulnerability.


LinkagesLinkages

Society

Environment

Economy


Features of Economic Features of Economic Vulnerability in SIDSVulnerability in SIDS

Small domestic marketsSmall domestic markets High dependence on exportsHigh dependence on exports Limited resource endowmentsLimited resource endowments Limited diversification opportunitiesLimited diversification opportunities Dependence on a narrow range of Dependence on a narrow range of

productsproducts Inability to influence international prices Inability to influence international prices High per unit transport costsHigh per unit transport costs High dependence on preferential trading High dependence on preferential trading

arrangementsarrangements


Features of Social Features of Social Vulnerability in SIDSVulnerability in SIDS

ECONOMY–RELATED issues: ECONOMY–RELATED issues: Impacts of globalization Impacts of globalization High rates of unemployment/under-High rates of unemployment/under-

employmentemployment High dependency ratiosHigh dependency ratios High poverty ratesHigh poverty rates Poor labor market flexibility;Poor labor market flexibility; Susceptibility to “brain drain”Susceptibility to “brain drain” Cultural penetration. Cultural penetration.


Features of social Features of social vulnerability cont’dvulnerability cont’d

SERVICE PROVISION ISSUES:SERVICE PROVISION ISSUES: dispersed rural settlements with implications for cost of dispersed rural settlements with implications for cost of

service provision service provision Small populations but high population densities in Small populations but high population densities in

urban/peri-urban/ coastal/valley areas with implications urban/peri-urban/ coastal/valley areas with implications for health and sanitationfor health and sanitation

Marginalization of women, children and the elderlyMarginalization of women, children and the elderly Undeveloped social sectors Undeveloped social sectors High rates of internal (rural to urban migration) and High rates of internal (rural to urban migration) and

international migrationinternational migration High levels of crime/drug addictionHigh levels of crime/drug addiction


Features of social Features of social vulnerability cont’dvulnerability cont’d

HEALTH-SECURITY ISSUES:HEALTH-SECURITY ISSUES: Susceptibility to infectious diseasesSusceptibility to infectious diseases High unit costs of health, administrative High unit costs of health, administrative

education, judicial services education, judicial services Thinness of insurance marketThinness of insurance market High transportation costs (inter and intra High transportation costs (inter and intra

island)island) Aging populations with implications for Aging populations with implications for

viability of social safety netsviability of social safety nets Low levels of educational achievement/high Low levels of educational achievement/high

dropout rates and illiteracy.dropout rates and illiteracy.


Features of Social Features of Social vulnerability cont’dvulnerability cont’d

FOOD SECURITY ISSUES:FOOD SECURITY ISSUES: Increased consumption rates due to growing Increased consumption rates due to growing

populations;populations; Insecure food situation/high food import bill Insecure food situation/high food import bill

with negative dietary/health implications with negative dietary/health implications Poor access to land/ water links to food Poor access to land/ water links to food

security and sanitationsecurity and sanitation Systems and transmission of valuesSystems and transmission of values Vulnerability to man-made and natural Vulnerability to man-made and natural

disastersdisasters


Features of social Features of social vulnerability vulnerability

POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES:POLICY AND INSTITUTIONAL ISSUES: Underdeveloped public and private sectors Underdeveloped public and private sectors Low institutional capacity due limited HR Low institutional capacity due limited HR

capacity; capacity; Weak development planning capacity Weak development planning capacity Lack of integration between economic, social Lack of integration between economic, social

and environmental aspects of planning and environmental aspects of planning Lack of integration between the national and Lack of integration between the national and

regional aspects of planning regional aspects of planning Lack of participation in the planning and Lack of participation in the planning and

decision-making processdecision-making process Lack of effective decision-support systemsLack of effective decision-support systems


Features of Environmental Features of Environmental Vulnerability Vulnerability

Increasing Water stressIncreasing Water stress Fragile ecosystemsFragile ecosystems Susceptibility to pollution effects Susceptibility to pollution effects Extreme vulnerability to natural disasters Extreme vulnerability to natural disasters

including:including: Climate change and climate vulnerabilityClimate change and climate vulnerability Increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes, storms Increased frequency and intensity of hurricanes, storms Floods and droughtsFloods and droughts Sea level rise Sea level rise Landslides Landslides Land and soil degradation Land and soil degradation Coastal erosion Coastal erosion


From Vulnerability to From Vulnerability to Security/Resilience Security/Resilience

Originally: used in narrow context to Originally: used in narrow context to mean the ability/capacity of a country to mean the ability/capacity of a country to recover from external shocks and recover from external shocks and disturbance;disturbance;

Now: goes beyond mere survival and Now: goes beyond mere survival and envisages the capacity of a country to (a) envisages the capacity of a country to (a) return at least to the status quo;return at least to the status quo;

(b) go beyond status quo to address ability (b) go beyond status quo to address ability to “thrive”. to “thrive”.


The Role of Social Policy The Role of Social Policy

Social policy is state intervention that:Social policy is state intervention that: directly affects social welfare, social institutions directly affects social welfare, social institutions

and social relations and social relations Involves overarching concerns with redistribution, Involves overarching concerns with redistribution,

production, reproduction and protectionproduction, reproduction and protection Works in tandem with economic (and environmental Works in tandem with economic (and environmental

policy)policy) Establishes and enforces standards and regulations Establishes and enforces standards and regulations

that shape the role of non-state actors and markets that shape the role of non-state actors and markets in social provisioning in social provisioning

UN Research Institute for Social development - Policy Brief UN Research Institute for Social development - Policy Brief #5#5


The Tasks of Social The Tasks of Social Policy Policy

Social policy concerned with:Social policy concerned with: Redistributive effects of economic Redistributive effects of economic

policy policy Protecting the vulnerable from the Protecting the vulnerable from the

vagaries of the market vagaries of the market Enhancing the productive potential of Enhancing the productive potential of

the members of the society the members of the society Reconciling the burden of reproduction Reconciling the burden of reproduction Sharing the burden of reproduction Sharing the burden of reproduction


The Case for an Integrated The Case for an Integrated Approach Approach

Social policy goals are naturally Social policy goals are naturally synergistic and complementary synergistic and complementary

The pursuit of one social policy goal to the The pursuit of one social policy goal to the exclusion of others can impede the exclusion of others can impede the attainment of the chosen goalattainment of the chosen goal

Distributive functions cannot be pursued Distributive functions cannot be pursued without a focus on productive functions without a focus on productive functions and vice versaand vice versa

A focus on productivist approach alone A focus on productivist approach alone will breed disunity. will breed disunity.


Social Policy Functions Social Policy Functions Investment in human capital (education, health, Investment in human capital (education, health,

housing etc)- prerequisite for economic growth and housing etc)- prerequisite for economic growth and resilienceresilience

Social compensation ( Social compensation ( stablestable, , predictablepredictable, social , social protection networks)protection networks)

Influences the levels and structures of demand as Influences the levels and structures of demand as well as supplywell as supply

Social cohesion (“…Social cohesion (“…creation of an integrated society creation of an integrated society in which the population behaves according to socially in which the population behaves according to socially accepted norms and patterns and an adjustment is accepted norms and patterns and an adjustment is created between cultural goals, the structure to created between cultural goals, the structure to attain them and the acquisition of the necessary attain them and the acquisition of the necessary skills to take advantage of these opportunitiesskills to take advantage of these opportunities.” .” ECLAC, 1997:III.73ECLAC, 1997:III.73


Social Policy Imperatives Social Policy Imperatives

Effective social policies are those that are:Effective social policies are those that are: Arrived at with full participation of major Arrived at with full participation of major

actorsactors Are fully ventilated Are fully ventilated Reinforced in Constitutions, Social Charters, Reinforced in Constitutions, Social Charters,

laws and other written policy statementslaws and other written policy statements Kept under constant reviewKept under constant review In consonance with local value systems, In consonance with local value systems,

cultures structures and institutions cultures structures and institutions Aligned with institutional capacity Aligned with institutional capacity


Integrated Development Integrated Development Policy ImperativesPolicy Imperatives

Strengthening development policy Strengthening development policy analysis, formulation and analysis, formulation and implementation arrangements across implementation arrangements across and within sectorsand within sectors

Developing institutional and technical Developing institutional and technical capacity to formulate and implement capacity to formulate and implement integrated development policyintegrated development policy

Strengthening channels for continuous Strengthening channels for continuous participation in policy and planning participation in policy and planning processesprocesses


Imperatives for policy Imperatives for policy ImplementationImplementation

Establish IDP arrangements that:Establish IDP arrangements that: Reflect a common set of guiding Reflect a common set of guiding

principles ;principles ; Allow for incorporation of physical Allow for incorporation of physical

and/or social impacts of economic and/or social impacts of economic activities or for environmental activities or for environmental protection measures;protection measures;

Routinely incorporate environmental, Routinely incorporate environmental, social, physical and spatial social, physical and spatial consequences of planning consequences of planning


Imperatives for Policy Imperatives for Policy Implementation Implementation

Develop the capacity of key national Develop the capacity of key national and regional institutions;and regional institutions;

Increase the supply, use and retention Increase the supply, use and retention of trained human resources;of trained human resources;

Institutionalize dynamic planning and Institutionalize dynamic planning and decision-making frameworks based on decision-making frameworks based on participatory processes;participatory processes;

More participation by CSOs in dev. More participation by CSOs in dev. processprocess


Imperatives for Policy Imperatives for Policy Implementation Implementation

Generate sustained and comprehensive Generate sustained and comprehensive labor market information to better labor market information to better guide interventions in the labor market;guide interventions in the labor market;

Reform education systems to ensure Reform education systems to ensure better fit between trained HR and better fit between trained HR and national/regional development goalsnational/regional development goals

Enhance labor market flexibility to Enhance labor market flexibility to meet productivity/competitiveness meet productivity/competitiveness targetstargets


Social Policy Imperatives Social Policy Imperatives

Develop national and sub-regional policy Develop national and sub-regional policy frameworks for poverty eradication using frameworks for poverty eradication using the sustainable livelihood approach;the sustainable livelihood approach;

Provide social safety nets for the poor;Provide social safety nets for the poor; Undertake macro-economic and social Undertake macro-economic and social

analyses of social development programs;analyses of social development programs; Enhance human and physical Enhance human and physical

infrastructure infrastructure


Social Policy ImperativesSocial Policy Imperatives

Promote conflict resolution at h/hold, Promote conflict resolution at h/hold, community and national levelcommunity and national level

Empower marginalized groupsEmpower marginalized groups Ensure the livelihoods and income Ensure the livelihoods and income

security of older personssecurity of older persons Build leadership capacity at Build leadership capacity at

community levelcommunity level Better management of the Better management of the

expectations of the population expectations of the population


The Monitoring The Monitoring Challenge Challenge

Some progress since the mid-1990sSome progress since the mid-1990s Declaration on Statistics for Social Declaration on Statistics for Social

Progress:Progress: Monitoring the attainment of outcomes of Monitoring the attainment of outcomes of

social policies and programs (e.g changes in social policies and programs (e.g changes in unemployment levels, income distribution and unemployment levels, income distribution and population’s health;population’s health;

Identifying those factors that seem to be linked Identifying those factors that seem to be linked to specific outcomes (desirable or undesirable) to specific outcomes (desirable or undesirable) and that are a target for intervention via social and that are a target for intervention via social programs or policies. programs or policies.



The Millennium Development Goals – 48 The Millennium Development Goals – 48 indicators relating to 8 goals:indicators relating to 8 goals: Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty Eradicate extreme hunger and poverty Achieve universal primary education Achieve universal primary education Promote gender equality and empower womenPromote gender equality and empower women Reduce child mortality Reduce child mortality Improve maternal healthImprove maternal health Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other Diseases Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other Diseases Ensure environmental sustainability Ensure environmental sustainability Develop a global partnership for development Develop a global partnership for development



Social indicators must be:Social indicators must be: simple in their construction simple in their construction Relevant to the national/regional contextRelevant to the national/regional context permit accurate measurement of permit accurate measurement of

progress progress towards the attainment of social towards the attainment of social

(development) policy (development) policy Enable the knock-on effects of economic, Enable the knock-on effects of economic,

social and environmental policy to be social and environmental policy to be properly assessedproperly assessed


THE ENDTHE END

THANK YOU!THANK YOU! MERCI BEAUCOUP!MERCI BEAUCOUP! MUCHAS GRACIAS!MUCHAS GRACIAS!

CP19610T

Documents

Towards the Security of Small Island States in the Caribbean – A Multidimensional Approach Presented by Cletus I. Springer Chief Caribbean Division Coordinator,