Objective
To improve the lives of Caribbean peoples by facilitating investment by community organizations and worker collectives in wealth creation for workers and community development.
Rationale
Most Caribbean countries are single-sector economies designed primarily for export and are therefore extremely vulnerable to both global instability and climate change.
Strategies to diversify the economies have largely been undertaken within the current export-oriented economic model, supported by foreign direct investment, and have largely been unsuccessful in delivering the anticipated development outcomes.
Similarly, initiatives to stimulate community development through provision of social infrastructure or establishment of economic incubators have generally not produced the intended outcomes.
Frequent disruptions by natural and geopolitical forces increasingly constrain the ability of small islands and developing economies to pursue successful sustainable development strategies.
The disruptions, particularly natural disasters, also exacerbate existing stresses and vulnerabilities in the environmental, social, and economic systems, thereby amplifying existing social and economic disparities.
Transition to a more just and sustainable society requires understanding of the current development models and governance arrangements, engagement and mobilization of all social partners, and deployment of investment and organizational support necessary to build social infrastructure for community development.
Theory of Change
The theory of change for this Caribbean Just Transition Initiative is that the conditions to facilitate just transition must be created by making changes to the enabling environment, motivating attitudinal changes in the leadership of worker collectives, and mobilizing financial and institutional resources for action.
The Initiative will act through the following pathways:
- Information, education, and advocacy.
- Enhancing institutional capacity for action.
- Supporting collective action.
- Establishment of institutional infrastructure to facilitate wealth creation by worker and community collectives.
The Foundation for Development Planning, Inc. (FDPI) will collaborate with strategic partners and stakeholders, particularly organizations working at the nexus of climate justice, community economic development, and Just Transitions.
Read the Concept Paper
