Wednesday, November 30, 2016 — The Social Development Unit of the OECS Commission, in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme Sub-regional Office in Barbados conducted a study tour to Chile from November 21 to 25 as part of the Multi-Dimensional Approaches to Poverty Eradication Project.
The thirteen-member delegation from five OECS countries were hosted by Chile’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through the Agency for International Cooperation and Development (AGCID) and the Ministry of Social Development through the Solidarity and Social Investment Fund (FOSIS).
The study tour aimed to share knowledge on Chile’s experiences with multi-dimensional poverty measurement and interventions. Chile-CARICOM relations are all part of the Chilean Government’s efforts to advance a south-south cooperation agenda, under the theme “Chile Coopera” or Chile Cooperates.
The study tour involved a mixed teaching method of lecture sessions, site visits to various programmes and direct interaction with programme beneficiaries. Study tour participants included officers from Social Development and Social Policy Ministries as well as representatives from communities and civil society agencies.
The participants who represented the Member States of Antigua and Barbuda, the Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia and St. Vincent and the Grenadines were exposed to the ways in which the Ministry of Social Development in Chile promotes the implementation of integrated social service delivery through various state institutions and social sectors, in an effort to improve the quality of life of persons living in extreme poverty as well as vulnerable persons and communities.
Some of the areas of focus included Chile Crece Contigo, (Chile Grows with You), a comprehensive Childhood Protection System; approaches to multi-dimensional poverty measurement and the Entrepreneurship and Employment components of the FOSIS programming.
The study tour culminated with the Caribbean participants expressing their gratitude to the Government and people of Chile for their openness in sharing their best practices. Participants resolved to take back with them the lessons and approaches that are applicable and beneficial to poverty measurement and programming in their respective countries.