THE TRAINING BRINGS TOGETHER OFFICERS FROM MINISTRIES AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES ACROSS THE PUBLIC SERVICE.
The Government of Saint Lucia is strengthening its capacity for strategic, evidence-based decision-making through a week-long Strategic Policy Planning Workshop designed to equip public officers with the knowledge and tools to develop, implement and monitor national policies that deliver measurable results.
The training, facilitated by the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) in collaboration with the Department of Economic Development, brings together officers from ministries and government agencies across the public service. The initiative forms part of the Government's ongoing efforts to build a stronger planning culture as Saint Lucia prepares its National Development Plan and Medium-Term Development Strategy.
Deputy Chief Economist in the Department of Economic Development, Kerry Joseph-Matthew, said strategic planning is a responsibility shared by every government agency.
"We appreciate that strategic planning is a function of all agencies, and so we are building the technical capacity across agencies to ensure that we are able to develop our national plan."
Throughout the workshop, participants were examining existing strategic plans, identifying institutional gaps and challenges, and developing practical, data-driven solutions. The programme also sought to strengthen agencies' ability to identify development priorities, align programmes with national objectives and position themselves to attract donor financing.
Joseph-Matthew noted that the training comes at a pivotal time as Saint Lucia charts its long-term development agenda.
"The training will allow us to go back, reflect and identify the components of our plans that need strengthening. This also gives us a good opportunity because Saint Lucia is now moving into developing its National Development Plan and Medium-Term Development Strategy from 2026 to 2040, and this process will help us build that plan."
Strategic planning is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of effective governance. According to the World Economic Forum, organizations that embed strategic planning into their decision-making are better equipped to anticipate change, manage uncertainty, allocate resources efficiently and build long-term resilience. By relying on evidence rather than assumptions, governments are better positioned to improve service delivery and achieve sustainable development outcomes.
Coordinator of Statistics and Social Development at ECLAC's Caribbean Sub-regional Headquarters, Abdullahi Abdulkadri, emphasized that successful public policy must be grounded in reliable evidence and aligned across all levels of government.
"We need to implement evidence-based processes, where you look at the data, you look at the evidence, and you use that data to plan the policies and programmes which you are executing in the public sector. We also need policy coherence so that what was done five years ago informs what we are doing today, and what we anticipate doing five years from now. National priorities must also be reflected at the departmental level."
Abdulkadri stressed that the long-term value of the workshop will ultimately depend on participants applying their newly acquired skills within their respective organizations and sharing that knowledge with colleagues.
"Whatever we discuss here, if it doesn't get implemented when participants return to their respective offices, then our impact will be limited. A critical aspect of this programme is creating opportunities for participants to practice what they have learned and transfer that knowledge throughout the public service."
ECLAC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Saint Lucia's efforts to strengthen strategic planning across government, improve policy coordination, enhance programme implementation and ensure that public resources are directed toward initiatives that deliver meaningful and lasting benefits for the people of Saint Lucia.
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