Globally, 212 countries and territories turned to social protection programmes as part of their response to COVID-19 and its socio-economic impacts, including all Eastern Caribbean countries and territories. Governments are entering a new phase: transitioning to more medium-term support, while also rethinking how to strengthen and reform social protection systems overall.  In the Caribbean, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) is developing a regional Social Inclusion and Social Protection Strategy to support its members in these efforts. Some Governments such as Saint Lucia and Barbados have already started to review policies related to social protection.

In this sense, this webinar aimed to highlight countries’ particular needs and priorities for social protection over the coming months and years, to take stock of obstacles and opportunities in the transition from COVID-19 response to broader social protection reform, and to identify practical approaches to support this transition and strengthen social protection systems.

Panellists:

• Velda Octave-Joseph, Saint Lucia
• Andrew Pollard, Ministry of People Empowerment and Elder Affairs

Discussants: 

• Sarah Bailey, World Food Programme
• Christina Dankmeyer, UNICEF

Moderator: Lilia Ramjeawan, SDG Fund Joint Programme on Universal Adaptive Social Protection in the Eastern Caribbean