Twenty-one NGOs across seven Caribbean countries joined USAID Regional Representative Clinton White and implementor RTI International to celebrate the success of the Local Capacity for Local Solutions (LC4LS) project at the Barbados Courtyard Marriott hotel on February 12. The NGOs were among the more than 160 organizations that now operate more efficiently, effectively, and sustainably because of the project’s support. The event marked the conclusion of the project launched in 2017 across 10 Caribbean countries including Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
Through trainings, mentoring, and grants, USAID bolstered the capacity and connectivity of NGOs which enabled them to strengthen and expand their partnerships, mobilize and diversify their revenue, and improve their services. Ultimately, this has helped NGOs to better achieve their organizational missions and support national development goals.
At the event Wednesday, panel discussions focused on effective government engagement, sustainability, grantee experiences and achievements, and the potential and success of social enterprise.
USAID Regional Representative Clinton White explained, “These NGOs spanned the sectors of youth, HIV/AIDs, LGBTI, gender, and the environment – all areas critical to USAID’s goal of supporting national and regional initiatives that reduce youth involvement in crime and violence, increase epidemic control of HIV/AIDS, and mitigate risks resulting from climate variability.”
Mr. White was joined by representatives from the Ministry of Health in Barbados and Guyana, the Caribbean Policy Development Centre, University of West Indies Open Campus, and the Inter-American Development Bank.