CLP CONNECT Volume 6, Issue 1, March 2018 Project Update In this Issue P1 Project Update P4 Developing Sustainable Leadership Development in the Caribbean P5 Saint Lucia Launches Leadership Development Programme for National Public Service Leaders P6 Nurses Role in Climate Change Mitigation P7 Bright Spot Competition Winners P8 Leadership Symposium From left: Mr. Devon Rowe, Executive Director, Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), Mr. Alyson Forte, Chairman of the Board - CARICAD & Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Civil Service (Barbados), Mr. Franklyn V. Michael, Programme Specialist (CARICAD), Her Excellency Marie Legault, High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados & the OECS, Ms. Colleen Rossiter, CLP s Project Director, Dr. Lois Parkes, CLP s Regional Project Manager and Mrs. Carol Webster-Carter, Business Consultant at the Opening Ceremony for the Technical Working Group Meeting on Developing the Vision, Strategy and Implementation Plan for Sustainable Leadership Development in the Caribbean, that was held in Barbados on January 30-31, 2018. Project implementation for the CLP continued at full speed for the last quarter of the financial year 2017-18. Work on the development of the vision, and implementation strategy for the sustainability of the Caribbean Leadership Programme within the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD) progressed significantly with the first face-to-face meeting of the Technical Working Group on January 30-31, 2018 at the Accra Beach Hotel, Barbados. The Technical Working Group consists of members from the CLP, CARICAD, the University of the West Indies, and senior public sector leaders from CARICAD member countries. It is anticipated that the business development plan for the transition to CARICAD will be completed early in the upcoming financial year. For the quarter, the second and third modules or Cohort 11 of the Level 2 Leadership Development Programme were held in Grenada and Continued on page 2
Continued from page 1 St. Vincent and the Grenadines on January 22 26 and March 5 9, respectively. The Cohort - Driven 11 - focused on the themes of Leading in Context and Complexity (Module 2) and Leading through Others (Module 3). The final module is scheduled to be held in Kingston, Jamaica in late May. We are also pleased to announce that registration for the fifth and final CLP Leadership Symposium was launched during the quarter. This will be held in Kingston Jamaica, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel from June 28-29, 2018, under the theme Building Leadership Resilience From Surviving to Thriving. Featured speakers include Dr. Wayne Corneil, Crisis Leadership and Change Management Expert, and Dr. Jason Marshall from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, among others. The Trinidad and Tobago national chapter of the Continuous Learning and Development Network (CLDN) was declared the winner of the CLP s Bright Spot Competition, with the Barbados national chapter taking second place. Representatives from both chapters will present on their respective bright spots during CLP s Leadership Symposium - where they will also be awarded their prizes. The Continuous Learning and Development Network (CLDN) also had its fourth webinar for the financial year on February 13, 2018 on the theme Building Back Better After the Storm. The guest presenter for this well-attended and well-received webinar was Mr. Ronald Jackson, Cohort 1 alum and Executive Director of the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA). The webinar focused on strategies for rebuilding Caribbean economies and infrastructure following the passage of natural disasters such as Hurricanes Maria and Irma which affected several Caribbean countries in September 2017. In the last quarter, the CLP commenced action learning interventions in two countries Barbados and Saint Lucia which focused on improving inter-ministerial collaboration. These interventions were concluded in January, while a third intervention was commenced for the Government of Grenada, which will be concluded early in the upcoming quarter. The Sustainability for Leadership Development Programming initiative, which focused on building the capacity of Public Sector Training Institutions to deliver leadership development programming for lower-level leaders was concluded during the quarter. Facilitators from Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago completed their in-country leadership development workshops during the quarter. The virtual close for these participants was held on March 27. Two webinars targeting the Caribbean Learning and Development Specialists (CLDS) Network were also held during this quarter. The first was on January 18, on a Case Study of the Implementation of Leadership and Management Development Programme by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. The guest presenter was Mrs. Miguelle Christopher, Chief Training Officer/Deputy Permanent Secretary, Lead Facilitator for the Programme, and Cohort 6 alumna. The second webinar was held on March 22, on the E-Based Competency Development Programme in Trinidad and Tobago, with guest presenter, Ms. Joan Mendez, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Public Administration and Communications. As the CLP enters its final stretch of implementation, the main focus will be on completing and implementing its sustainability strategy. Should you have any questions on and/or suggestions for the CLP s sustainability strategy, please contact us at info@caribbeanleadership.org. By: Dr. Lois Parkes, Regional Project Manager Register today for CLP's Webinar on Navigating Political Transitions! Political transitions are never easy to navigate as they often bring changes in policy direction, political leadership, portfolio responsibilities and much more. With three Caribbean countries having general elections this year, it is timely that we should once again explore this issue of how to navigate political transitions, and avoid pitfalls and mistakes. This webinar will be held on April 24, 2018 at 9:45 AM 11:00 AM (Eastern Caribbean Time). Our guest speaker for this session is Ms. Arlene McComie, Consultant and retired Permanent Secretary with the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Click here to register now! 2
Sustainability for Leadership Development Programming Participants and facilitators from the national Leadership Development Programme that was held in Guyana, December 8, 2017. Participants and facilitators from the national Leadership Development Programme that was held in Barbados, December 4-6, 2017. Participants and facilitators from the national Leadership Development Programme that was held in Trinidad & Tobago, February 26, 2018. Participants and facilitators from the national Leadership Development Programme that was held in Grenada, February 27 March 1, 2018 3
Developing Sustainable Leadership Development in the Caribbean From left: Members of the Technical Working Group - Ms. Arlene McComie, Permanent Secretary (Retired), Trinidad & Tobago, Mr. Alyson Forte, Chairman of the Board - CARICAD & Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the Civil Service, Barbados, Mrs. Georgia Sinclair, Management Institute for National Development, Jamaica, Mr. Franklyn Michael, Programme Manager, CARICAD, Dr. Lois Parkes, CLP s Regional Project Manager, Mr. Shawn Grey, Principal Director, Cabinet Office, Jamaica, Mrs. Rosemund Warrington, Assistant Director, Programmes and Planning, CARICAD, Ms. Colleen Rossiter, CLP s Project Director, Mrs. Nadia Henry, Senior Project Officer, CARICOM Secretariat, Mr. Devon Rowe, Executive Director, CARICAD, Dr. Wendy Grenade, Deputy Dean (Outreach), UWI, Cave Hill Campus, Ms. Gwendoline Williams, Adjunct Faculty, Arthur Lok Jack Graduate School of Business & Faculty of Social Sciences, UWI, St. Augustine Campus, and Mrs. Carol Webster-Carter, Business Development Consultant, Guyana Key to the success of the Caribbean Leadership Project is the development and implementation of a robust strategy for the sustainability of leadership development in the region. In light of this, the CLP has established a Technical Working Group (TWG) to facilitate the development of the vision, strategy and implementation plan for a sustainable leadership development programme at the end of the project cycle, in early 2019. To this end, the CLP convened a two-day TWG meeting at the Accra Beach Hotel & Spa in Barbados, from January 30-31, 2018. As announced by CLP s Project Director, Ms. Colleen Rossiter, at the Opening Ceremony for the TWG meeting, This programme will be called the Caribbean Leadership Programme and will be established within the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD). This is in alignment with CARICAD s regional mandate for public sector transformation and improving the administrative capability to accelerate social and economic development in the region. In her remarks at the Opening Ceremony, Her Excellency Marie Legault - High Commissioner of Canada to Barbados & the OECS - expressed support for the collaboration between the CLP and CARICAD. She also commended the CLP s progress to date, in training over 250 senior executives in the public sector, and equipping them to tackle regional wicked issues. It is important to have a strong public sector that can tackle those issues and... work together as a region, she noted. Looking ahead, CARICAD s Executive Director, Mr. Devon Rowe, remarked that we are particularly pleased that we have been able to be seen as a worthy successor to the Caribbean Leadership Project. He further added that working with the distinguished TWG members from across the region, will help us to create not only a vision but an opportunity for sustainability as we go forward with leadership development being executed through CARICAD. The members of the TWG include representatives from the CLP, CARICAD, CARICOM Secretariat, The University of the West Indies (Cave Hill and St. Augustine Campuses), Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and the OECS. 4
Saint Lucia Launches Leadership Development Programme for National Public Service Leaders The Government of Saint Lucia has partnered with the Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD) and the Caribbean Leadership Project to launch a Leadership Development Programme (LDP) for senior leaders in the public service. The first module of this LDP which focused on Leading Self Courage, Confidence and Authenticity was held from March 19th -23rd, at the Government s Training Department in Castries. It followed the virtual launch that was held on February 8, 2018 and precedes three other modules which will be held from April to July, 2018. CARICAD took the initiative to spearhead this LDP, in light of the decision by the CLP s Project Steering Committee to house the CLP when it transitions into a permanent programme within that regional organisation. The design of the LDP came out of the CLP, and as such, the overall purpose of this LDP is to support public service leaders in developing their capacity to contribute more effectively to national economic growth and public sector reform. The LDP comprises twenty-four (24) Deputy Permanent Secretaries/Directors and officers of comparable rank from various Ministries, across the public service. During the programme, participants will focus on developing a greater understanding of self, including the competencies and strategies that are required to develop, strengthen and provide effective leadership that serves a wider purpose. The LDP also includes executive coaching as a critical component of its design and delivery. For more information about CARICAD, please visit www.caricad.net. Participants during Saint Lucia s Leadership Development Programme that was held from March 19 23, 2018. 5
Nurses Role in Climate Change Mitigation Climate change and global warming continue to be of little concern to the world s people, despite overwhelming scientific evidence that the impact of climate change is destroying lives and economies. Climate deniers dispute the evidence, while unable to present any convincing science to support their claim of the non-existence of climate change and global warming. While the pros and cons of the effects of climate change are being debated, nurses do not have the luxury of time to debate whether the rise in carbon dioxide is beneficial to plants or harmful to man. Nurses are confronted with the sequel of climate change as it ravishes the social, economic and health environments. The unprecedented increase in injuries and death which results from natural disasters concerns nurses everywhere. Nurses are often the first line of contact for injured persons within the health care system. They are uniquely positioned to aid in mitigation strategies to combat the impact of climate change. They understand the cultural practices of the people in the communities they serve. They constitute the largest health human resource and they can influence change. It is against this backdrop that I encourage organizations and agencies involved in climate mitigation strategies, to involve the community /public health nurses at the inception, and include them at the strategic level so that they can input their knowledge and experience of communities, at the planning phase. Public health interventions target the health of populations. In order to reach an entire population, there is need for multi-stakeholder involvement. In outlining the roles of public health, the World Health Organization indicated that the provision of leadership on health related issues and the inclusion of partners were necessary. This is often interpreted by public health specialists as focusing on aspects directly related to health such as surveillance of disease patterns, setting health policies and conducting health related research. Public health education therefore, is centered on prevention and management of conditions which are exacerbated by climate change and less on what the population should do in order to minimize climate change and global warming. ETHICAL ISSUE The language of nurses includes the impact of climate change and global warming on the social determinants of health and how they can make a 6 Dr. Audrey Gittens Lecturer, The Caribbean School of Nursing University of Technology, Jamaica difference in prevention strategies. It is important to understand climate change and its impact because it is one of the major contributors, apart from violence and war, to population health. Climate change mitigation is also an ethical issue. The International Council of Nurses Code of Ethics mandates that nurses ensure that technology and scientific advances are compatible in order to maintain the safety of the people. Application of this Code in climate resilience is only possible through active involvement, the search for new information and inclusion in policy decisions. The 2017 Caribbean Marine Climate Change Report indicated that, due to the high vulnerability of the Caribbean to the impact of climate change, everyone should understand how the region has been impacted, and what can happen in the future if adaptive strategies fail or are non- existent. The report further indicated that by 2025, the cost of inaction to Jamaica will be 13.9% of the GDP. In January 2018, it was reported that, in Jamaica, one female was swept away by flood waters and died. Communities are impacted and it is at this juncture that nurses have important roles to play. Nurses develop community programs, ensuring that they are compatible with the culture and needs of the community. They are equipped to deal with issues Continued on page 7
Congratulations to our Bright Spot Competition Winners! The Caribbean Leadership Project is pleased to announce the National CLDN Chapter of Trinidad and Tobago as the winners of the CLDN Bright Spot Competition! Competition entries were received from: Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. However, the winning entry emerged from Trinidad and Tobago, and the first runner-up was awarded to Barbados. This winning entry focused on creating a Bright Spot in the Ministry of Social Development and Family Services, specifically the Social Welfare Division that delivers important social services such as the Senior Citizens Pension, Public Assistance Grant and Disability Assistance Grant. The specific project objective was to reduce the time taken to process applications for the Senior Citizens Pension. The appreciative inquiry approach was adopted from the onset as members of the TT CLDN worked with the Ministry s Counterpart Team to explore the problem s perceived causes as well as current practices. An effort was made to ensure that the project always belonged to the client Ministry with the national CLDN members acting as facilitators of the change process through the use of communication skills such as 110% listening, the Pictured above: Some members of the National CLDN Chapter of Trinidad and Tobago. giving and receiving of feedback and questioning skills. To find out more about this winning entry, as well as, the Bright Spot from Barbados, register now for CLP s Leadership Symposium! During the symposium, the Trinidad and Tobago, and the Barbados CLDN chapters will officially be awarded their prizes - courtesy of the CLP. Continued from page 6 surrounding climate change and global warming. They are familiar with the aims of the Paris Agreement and the commitment to limit global warming to well below 2 C. They are aware that the Climate Change Policy Framework for Jamaica is fashioned after Vision 2030 to reduce climate change related risks, which impacts the economy and the overall development of the country. A specific strategy named in the Climate Change Policy Framework for Jamaica in which nurses can have a direct input, is the development of research, technology, training and knowledge management. Nurses are adept at research and knowledge management. They can communicate accurate information to the people in a timely manner and reach each household. They can fashion the message in language that the people understand, bearing in mind that culture influences the manner in which people respond. Nurses are poised and equipped to deliver the message to people everywhere regardless to class, religion or level of education. They understand the implication of poor air and water quality and food shortage. They know too, the devastation on marine life, the implication of overcrowded living conditions necessitated by displacement, the changes which occurred in the ecology of the vector and the implication of extreme heat. The call, therefore, is for involvement at the policy level so that policy decision can be informed by the reality in the towns, villages and homes. Planning with people in mind, means knowing what the people we are planning for have in their minds. Who best to provide that information than a Public Health or community nurse? By: Dr. Audrey Gittens, Lecturer The Caribbean School of Nursing, University of Technology, Jamaica 7
Most things in life happen outside of our control. However, we can learn to control the way we respond. In fact, it is possible for us to control and change the way we think, act and feel at any given time, thereby, building resilience and enhancing our personal and professional well-being and leadership performance. This is the focus of the Caribbean Leadership Project s (CLP) fifth and final Leadership Symposium, which will be held from June 28 th - 29 th, 2018 at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. Join CLP s special guest facilitator, University of Ottawa Adjunct Professor, Dr. Wayne Corneil, for a highly impactful and interactive session that will offer practical skills, strategies and insights to build leadership resilience. Dr. Corneil is an expert in change management, crisis leadership, and individual and organizational resilience. This one-day workshop offers participants practical techniques and approaches to increase mental toughness, respond to stressful events and thrive in the face of adversity. Participants will also learn about the most up-to-date organizational resilience initiatives, and how they may be able to use these as leaders in their organizations. In addition to this, we invite you to participate in the discourse on the enabling environment for leadership development; revitalising the Caribbean with Action Learning; and the way forward for leadership development in the Region. Be prepared to be stretched into new ways of thinking and being! Supporting Partners Dr. Wayne Corneil Crisis Leadership & Change Management Expert Register today at www.clpsymposium2018.org! The Caribbean Leadership Project, The Cave Hill School of Business, The University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, P.O. Box 64, Bridgetown, BB11000, BARBADOS, T: (246) 417-3152 E: info@caribbeanleadership.org, W: www.caribbeanleadership.org 8