Barbados is now more equipped to manage its social programmes and thereby provide better assistance to the most vulnerable in society.
That’s because the Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs along with the five United Nations agencies launched the Core Diagnostic Instrument (CODI) via a zoom meeting last Friday. The forum themed: High-Level Kick Off Meeting for the Implementation of the Core Diagnostic Instrument (CODI) in Barbados was chaired by Minister Cynthia Forde.
CODI is a system which can scientifically assess the performance of a country’s social protection agencies. It allows for a comprehensive assessment of key areas to identify the strengths and weaknesses of a system through a participatory process that engages relevant stakeholders.
Minister Forde told the meeting that CODI will bring a level of ease so that people who are the most impoverished and vulnerable will be able to live a more decent life.
“The joint programme is a very good opportunity to move our social provisioning to a high level. We are not satisfied with where we are at, we want to go further. We share the same view represented by the United Nations motto that aims to leave no one behind despite the persons colour or religion or any other aspect of their life.”
According to Forde, CODI will be spearheaded by a “home-grown team of consultants” who will better understand the country’s situation.
“We are happy to embrace this United Nations SDG Fund joint programme to formally commence a process of applying the Core Diagnostic Instrument (CODI) in Barbados.
“CODI is a tool used by countries to map their social protection system including the objectives, the strategies, the policies and the programmes with a view to identifying policy interventions and track progress.
“It depends heavily on dialogue between stakeholders who are committed and dedicated across the sector,” she said.
Director of ILO Decent Work Team and Office for the Caribbean Dennis Zulu told the meeting CODI will improve the country’s provision of social services which was needed most during the current global pandemic.
“Today we witnessed another milestone in the joint efforts to leave no one behind with this kick-off meeting. We are living in unprecedented times with the COVID pandemic being more than just a health crisis.
“It is an economic crisis. It is a humanitarian crisis as well as a human rights crisis. Coming out of this crisis will require the whole of society working together driven by passion and solidarity.”
He explained: “This SDG joint fund on social protection is timely given the ongoing COVID crisis. Social protection is a key component. CODI will provide responses to improve the social protection systems in Barbados.
“It will do so by systematically taking stock with social protection provisions, assess and identify ways to improve social performance.”
Resident coordinator at United Nations for Barbados and Eastern Caribbean Didier Trebucq praised Government for their dedication to helping the most vulnerable especially during the COVID-19 crisis.
“We believe that this endeavour, as well as others, confirms Government’s commitment to finding ways to maximise its domestic resources.
“We know that under the COVID crisis those resources are shrinking. Despite those constraints you are trying to meet the needs of the most vulnerable.
He added: “I want to commend Barbados for its bold pronouncements at the opening of the second session of Parliament this week stating that Barbados must have no second class citizens and in this time of great peril and uncertainty every citizen must live in dignity.”
Also present at the meeting were Minister of Labour, Social Partnership Relations and the Third Sector Colin Jordan, Minister in the Ministry of Finance Ryan Straughn, Minister in the Minister of Economic Affairs and Investment Marsha Caddle, the acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Community Cheryl Alleyne, the acting permanent secretary in the Ministry of People Empowerment Dr Jaqueline Wiltshire as well as representatives of the five UN agencies: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), World Food Programme (WFP), ILO, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP),
UN Women.
