The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment in Saint Lucia recently launched the Civil Society Platform for Social Protection. This initiative aims to engage civil society organisations and beneficiaries in shaping social protection policies and programs.
Seen as a significant milestone, the initiative underscores the vital role of civil society in safeguarding all Saint Lucians from various shocks and vulnerabilities. The Ministry is swiftly moving to collaborate within the Social Protection Network to mainstream social protection and will soon launch an information campaign to highlight the latest sector developments.
This launch marks a crucial step in Saint Lucia’s ongoing efforts to strengthen its social protection framework and better serve its most vulnerable citizens.
Key discussion points included the structure and function of the Social Protection System, the implementation of the NSPP Action Plan, registration processes for Civil Society Organizations, and the role of civil society in supporting vulnerable populations.
Deputy Director of Social Transformation, Kendal Elva, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “The Ministry of Equity views civil society organizations as very important in the quest to protect all Saint Lucians from shocks, such as those experienced during the COVID pandemic, or when someone becomes unemployed or falls into poverty.”
Elva added, “The Ministry of Equity recognizes that various civil society organizations are contributing to this very important process.”
SSDF’s Executive Director, John Victorin, highlighted the need for commitment from all stakeholders to ensure the platform’s sustainability. He stressed the importance of working together to create an impact, noting, “This forum is integral to our efforts to provide social protection. While social protection broadly embraces the entire society, it targets the most vulnerable.”