The outcome documents from the preparatory meetings for the Fourth International Conference on SIDS recognised the purpose of STI in implementing the SIDS sustainable development agendas. These are listed in Box 1 following.
Box 1: SIDS Sustainable Development Priorities positioning STI as requirements in implementation and based on the outcome document in preparation for the 4th International Conference on SIDS
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Ocean Management |
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Line 25. We recognize that an integrated marine ecosystem approach to ocean-related activities is critical to optimize opportunities. It should be based on the best available science, give due regard to conservation efforts and precautionary approaches and ensure coherence and balance among the three dimensions of sustainable development. |
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Strengthening Institutional and Statistical Capacity |
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Line 65. We call on the international community to take science-based and innovative actions on an urgent basis to foster better data understanding, use and generation through, inter alia, the exchange of best practices and expertise, technology transfer, educational and training programmes for climate change and disaster risk reduction, inclusive economic growth, conservations and sustainable use of ocean resources and development of blue economy, and digital transformation in support of SIDS development. |
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Means of Implementation: From Vulnerability to a More Resilient Future |
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Line 85. We continue to recognize that science, technology and innovation are essential enablers and drivers for sustainable development of. We will spur innovation to design our solutions, tailored to our problems, and harness the power of science and technology to improve social services, economic opportunities, and environmental protection, and advance digital transformation and encourage context specific research and analysis for a strong science-policy interface. Line 87. We call on the international community and the UN system to support us in leveraging emerging science and technology, including artificial intelligence, biotech, nanotech and key integrated technology systems, for our national sustainable development. Line 89. We should focus on creating an inclusive digital society, and the need for us to implement initiatives at all levels for the preparation of human resources in science and technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics (STEAM) and to promote the interest of young people, especially girls, in these fields by modernizing school curricula. Line 93. We call on the international community and the United Nations system to assist us in developing national roadmaps for science, technology and innovation (STI) and to support us to build up our national capacities for developing and utilizing the state-of-the-art technologies, including renewable energy technologies, marine technologies for the Blue Economy and other areas of priority significance to the sustainable development SIDS.
Line 99. We aim to align the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and its goals and targets, with National Biodiversity Strategies and Action plans. The identification of financing and capacity gaps, and the development of national finance plans or other similar instruments to advance implementation will be critical. We also acknowledge the SIDS Coalition for Nature, which particularly focuses on bridging gaps in means of implementing biodiversity-related objectives. We encourage partners to support the implementation of the partnerships proposals formulated within the Coalition's frame in order to bridge our priority gaps, such as finance, knowledge-data, science, technology, and biodiversity mainstreaming.
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Reference: Outcome Document for the Interregional Preparatory Meeting of the 4th International Conference on SIDS, cited December 18, 2023, link https://sdgs.un.org/sites/default/files/2023-10/Outcome%20document%20of%... |
To consistently advance STI as a lever in sustainable development will require the establishment of policy directives, institutional arrangements, academic coverage of the STI disciplines, capacity development, research and development and financing. Governments, developmental partners, the private sector, civil society groups, and other key development stakeholders must prioritize strategies to strengthen knowledge creation, including regional and domestic scientific, technical and innovation capacities.
In recognition of the strategic importance of STIs and their role as a necessary lever in sustainable development, the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean (ECLAC POS) in keeping with its 2023 work programme, has prepared this desk study providing information on the institutions and other agencies having science and technology-related activities in the SIDS.
Description of database
The information used to prepare this database was taken from publicly available websites and other published sources during the period October 15 to November 10, 2023. The fields developed were based on introducing keyword searches, screening and categorisation of the information obtained.
Data categorisation: The data categorisation presented is based on the information obtained on the institutions and other agencies having science- and technology-related activities in the SIDS. The database is a Microsoft Excel File- Titled: Caribbean SIDS Information On Institutions And Other Agencies Having Science And Technology Activities A Desk Report November 15, 2023. The data file is available in two Excel datasheets. These are:
Data Sheet A: Caribbean English-speaking member States, including the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. This data sheet includes the information on 1. Science And Technology: Primary, Secondary And Tertiary Educational Institutions 2. Public Sector Science and Technology Entities, And 3. Science And Technology Research Institutions
Data Sheet B: Caribbean Intergovernmental Bodies Having Science and Technology-Related Activities, This data sheet includes the information on 1. Caribbean Intergovernmental Bodies Having Science And Technology Educational Activities 2. Inter-governmental/Regional Science And Technology Research Institutions and 3. Caribbean Inter-Governmental Institutions Applying Science And Technology In Their Operations.
Summaries:
Based on the findings from the web search, the data and information obtained were analyzed and presented in the categories of the national and regional institutions and other agencies that have science- and technology-related activities in the Caribbean SIDS, including:
A: Caribbean Member States
- Science and Technology: Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Educational Institutions: Science and technology is part of the curriculum in each country and under the portfolio of the Ministry of Education. Member countries have adopted their primary and secondary school curricula to include more science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) content, training teachers to deliver STEM subjects and conducting outreach programs to encourage students to pursue STEM careers. Specific S&T initiatives that have been implemented to promote STEM in schools include:
- Curriculum reform: The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has introduced STEM-related subjects, including natural science, agricultural science, digital media, biotechnology, and computer science.
- Teacher training: Governments and regional organizations are training teachers more effectively to teach STEM subjects. The Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF) also offers teacher training programmes in science and technology.
- Outreach programs: According to the information on Government websites, countries have also established national STEM outreach programs, which include short workshops and competitions, to engage students and teachers in STEM activities and experiences.
- Tertiary Level- Science and Technology Education:
- Universities: Each country examined in this desk study has tertiary-level science and technology programmes. This includes engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and environmental science degrees. These institutions also have active research programmes in the STEM fields.
- In addition to having public universities, the countries of Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, St. Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines host offshore universities. This off-shore university offers degree programmes in various fields.
- Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions play a key role in providing training in S&T. The information obtained for each country and accessed via the web search listed at least one state-based institution offering TVET programmes. These institutions offer certificates, diplomas and associate degrees in health sciences, information and communication technology (ICT), engineering technology, STEM-related trades such as electrical and auto mechanical certifications and the natural sciences.
- Public Sector Science and Technology Entities
- Ministries- Barbados, Belize and Jamaica have Ministries with science and technology portfolios and specialised agencies. Jamaica, for example, under its Ministry of Science, Energy, Telecommunication and Transport, has the Scientific Research Council (SRC). The SRC is a Statutory Body and is Jamaica’s principal public sector agency, fostering and coordinating scientific research and promoting and applying its results. The SRC collects, collates and reviews information concerning scientific research schemes or programmes relevant to the development of Jamaica's resources, and establishes and maintains a scientific information centre for collecting and disseminating scientific and technical information. It also provides consultancy services to the manufacturing industry. Jamaica has a recent (2022) STI Policy titled: National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy to catalyse national development. The Barbados- Ministry of Industry, Innovation, Science and Technology is responsible for Research and Development, Creating a Culture of Innovation in Barbados, Promotion of Science and Innovation in the Public Sector, Schools and the Wider Society and for Identification of Funding Opportunities in Research, Science and Innovation -Technology.
- Science and Technology Regional Research Institutions. Analysis of the web-based data informed that countries have institutions and sectors responsible for science, technology, innovation, and digitalization. The arrangements of these institutions are for example:
- Partnership with UN Agency- Antigua and Barbuda has a collaboration with a UN agency titled the Antigua/Barbuda Science Innovation Park.
- Assigned and conducted through national and regional universities.
- Inter-governmental agencies having the thematic focus of research at the country level. This is, for example, in the case of the Caribbean Agricultural Research Development Institute (CARDI). In keeping with the CARDI Strategic Plan (2018-2022). The research areas of the CARDI’s country officers are aligned with the priorities of the host (country).
- Private Sectors- the web-based data search for private sectors supplying science and technology services revealed that a company is supplying regional services in coastal zone management and the research areas of the off-shore Universities.
B: Caribbean Intergovernmental Bodies Having Science And Technology-Related Activities
The web-based data informed that an estimated 14 Caribbean regional bodies are engaged in science and technology in areas of education, research, disaster management, climate change, health, ecosystem degradation, food security, and water resources management. Examples of these are:
- The University of the West Indies at its Campuses in Trinidad and Tobago (St Augustine), Jamaica (Mona Campus) and Barbados (Cave Hill Campus). The University of the West Indies (UWI) is the leading Caribbean regional university with a strong focus on science and technology research, including research and development.
- Caribbean Science Foundation (CSF): Hosted at the UWI Cave Hill Campus, the CSF accelerates and supports technology‐based entrepreneurship by Promoting and offering STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programs, including robotics camps and computer coding workshops for Caribbean youth, offering business and entrepreneurship education programs for Caribbean youth, deliver STEM teacher training exercises in the Region, stimulate technology‐based entrepreneurship by identifying and funding science and technology projects in new and existing enterprises that are relevant to the economic development needs of the region, and provide scientific and engineering advisory services to Caribbean governments by working with the Caribbean Diaspora for Science, Technology and Innovation (CADSTI) to leverage the expertise that resides in the Diaspora.
- The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) is one of the foremost organisations dedicated to conducting research and development to improve regional agricultural competitiveness and sustainability. It is headquartered in Trinidad and Tobago and has representation in the 14 CARICOM member countries.
- The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH). The Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) is a training and research organisation. The mission of the CIMH is to improve the meteorological and hydrological services and to assist in promoting the awareness of the benefits of these services for the economic well-being of the CMO countries. Research is focused on Caribbean regional solutions in climate, disaster management, environment, meteorology, agrometeorology, and hydrology.
C. Recommendations:
- This web-based database provides a brief overview of science and technology institutional arrangements in Caribbean SIDS. More detailed research is recommended to access the National and Caribbean regional STI arrangements and priorities including the roles of government, financing, private sectors and civil society groups and as a tool driving sustainable development priorities. This STI assessment is also in keeping with the drive to include STI as one of the vehicles in the implementation of the next SIDS Programme of Action 2024-2034.
- The information used to prepare this report was based on data obtained from web searches from October 15 to November 10, 2023. It is recommended that a follow-up be done with the agencies and bodies listed in this database for verification and updating of data and information obtained from the web searches.
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