Report on Puente in the Caribbean
Phase I
2007-2009
Puente in the Caribbean Program Phase II
Introductory Workshop
Castries, St. Lucia
May 27 - 29, 2009
Julie Nurse, Specialist
Department of Social Development and Employment
Organization of American States
Outline
Background to the program
Pilot approach
Design considerations
Program implementation
Strategies employed
Main activities and emerging lessons
Evaluation Results
Conclusions
Considerations in applying the lessons
General Lessons for Phase II
Background
Implications of a Pilot Program
Learning by doing
A continual process of reflection and programmatic
adjustment
Ongoing documentation of the processes
Lessons applied for future programming
Design Considerations
Differences between Chile and the Caribbean
countries
Cultural and linguistic differences
Differences in size and scale
Vulnerability issues: crime, migration, natural disasters
Differences among the Caribbean countries
Development needs
Institutional realities
Distinction between the transfer and the application
of the lessons from the transfer
Comparative Country Profiles
Country Population Area Development GDP Per Capita Ethnic Groups
(sq. km) Indicators (USD)
Jamaica 2, 682, 000 10, 991 HDI: 0.736 4,291 Black: 90.9%
HDI Rank: E. Indian: 1.3%
#101 Mixed: 7.3%
Human Poverty White: 0.2%
Index: 14.3% Chinese: 0.2%
Other: 0.1%
Trinidad & 1, 324, 000 5128 HDI: 0.814 14,603 E. Indian: 40%
Tobago HDI Rank: #59 Black: 37.5%
Human Poverty Mixed: 20.5%
Index: 7.3% Other: 1.2%
Unspecified:
0.8%
St. Lucia 164, 842 616 HDI:0.795 6,707 Black: 90%
HDI Rank: #72 Mixed: 6%
Human Poverty E. Indian: 3%
Index: 6.5% White: 1%
Chile 16.2 million 756, 950 HDI 0.867 12, 027 White & white-
Rank: #40 Amerindian:
95%
Human Poverty
Index : 3.7% Amerindian: 3%
Other: 2%
Program
Implementation
Strategies employed
OAS Role as Facilitator
Bridge between FOSIS (Chile) and the Caribbean partners
A rich history and effective experience in horizontal cooperation
Follow-up support and monitoring
Mentoring by FOSIS Tutors
Bridge between the Puente Program and Caribbean participants
Technical advice in the transfer of lessons and design of local
programs
Virtual Connectivity
Creating a multiplier effect through the selection of a small group of
key individuals from Caribbean implementing agencies
Country Work Plans
Activities and Emerging Lessons
Activity Emerging Lessons
Planning meetings One size does not fit all!
Program Launching and Puente was not built in a day!
Introductory Workshop
Internship in Chile Effective psychosocial support is critical
to addressing the specific need of the
families and improving the quality of life.
Caribbean Monitoring Visits A well-designed communication strategy
can promote local buy-in, inter-agency
collaboration and institutional
commitment.
Evaluation Workshop and Each country has to develop its own
Caribbean Conference program according to its peculiar reality,
resources and challenges.
Evaluation Results
Achievements
• Strengthened institutional and human capacity in more effective
social protection strategies:
• Targeting
• Inter-institutional collaboration in social protection and
establishment of social networks
• Family-oriented, rights based approach
• Creation or enhancement of 3 local programs which have
integrated lessons of Puente while reflecting distinct country
needs:
• Bridge Jamaica
• Koudemain Ste. Lucie
• STEP-UP
• Political endorsement of local programs
• Development of a replicable model of a community of practice
Strengths
• Mentorship
• Interactive and dynamic learning methodology
• Promotion of cultural awareness and appreciation
• Encourages innovation
• Promotes interaction and exchange in social
protection among Caribbean countries
• Capacity building in virtual connectivity
Shortcomings and Challenges
Language differences
Limited use and functioning of the Virtual Forum
Need to explore opportunities for broadening and deepening
academic involvement
Delays in production and distribution of educational tools and
materials for family interventions
Need to assign human resources for implementation of work
plans; multiple portfolios of local staff can be burdensome.
Limited timeframe for learning and applying lessons
Difficulty in creating the multiplier effect through training of
trainers because of turnover of trained personnel.
Conclusions
Considerations in the
Application of Lessons
What are the requirements and implications of a shift from
demand-driven to supply-side approach e.g. supply and quality of
public goods and services?
Finding appropriate strategies to address specific problems of rural
and urban poverty
The adequacy of current local government structures to support a
decentralized approach to social development
Transferability and applicability of current Puente Pillars…need for
Caribbean-specific pillars
The effectiveness of a family-based approach to community-based,
or national problems: e.g., unemployment, natural disasters,
squatting; crime?
Implementing agencies are responsible for identifying and
allocating financial resources for program execution
Local partners should be identified and involved from inception
General Lessons of the Program
The success of a program such as the Puente, requires
strong political will and support.
A pilot initiative with very real implications for the
countries involved: stakeholders, budget, human resources,
institutional demands.
The need to allow local programs to evolve based on local
reality and needs and encourage innovation
The importance of an effective monitoring and evaluation
system from the design stage of the program
There is value added in fostering collaboration, support
and sharing among Caribbean countries
The Puente cannot and should not be transferred in its
totality. It is important to identify the key and critical
components of the Puente that can and should be applied
to the Caribbean context.
Continuous learning, reflection and revision of country
work plans
Young member of graduated family
Another satisfied Puente Family Launching in Jamaica
shows off her achievements
FOSIS tutor shares the Puente board Trinidad and Tobago’s Team meets with Family FOSIS team meets St. Lucia Social
game with Jamaican social workers Intervention Unit and Mayor of Molina Network