COGLink - Project Summary

• What is the project about?
• The Research
• Outputs
• Stakeholders
• Project Implementation
• Final Project Reports

What is the project about?

A partnership between One Earth Future, CERMES, ACUNS, IIR, and Dalhousie University, this project explores the prospects for sustainable, integrated, coordinated regional governance of the
Wider Caribbean Region.

We study the linkages that exist horizontally, across and within national borders, and vertically, between relevant state and non-state actors and their regional and global-level
representatives.

We assume that strong linkages support informed, representative participation by national delegates to regional and global meetings.

The project supports the work of the Caribbean Sea Commission and the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem Project in their efforts to promote regional cooperation for management of the Caribbean Sea. Ultimately, the project will identify best practices with reference to country size and capacity and present options for establishing and operating mechanisms that reflect best practices.

It is expected that the findings may be generalized beyond the Caribbean region to suggest general
best practices for integrated and coordinated regional governance based on effective linkage
mechanisms.

The Research 

The research is based on the Large Marine Ecosystem Governance Framework and will examine the part of the framework that relates to national-regional linkages and the underlying policy cycles at the national level.

The project proceeds in two phases. The first phase is a broad-scale survey of 38 countries and territories of the Wider Caribbean Region. The purpose is two fold:






1) to determine if they have mechanisms for national level coordination among private and public sector stakeholders; and


2) to understand if these serve to inform national level participation in regional organizations and projects and distribute feedback from them.

The second phase describes and evaluates the effectiveness of the arrangements in a selection of
countries based on the information acquired in the first stage. Case selection will take into consideration the cultural, political, and economic diversity of Caribbean states to ensure a sample
that transcends linguistic and other regional boundaries. These will be explored in greater detail and evaluated against criteria such as efficiency, effectiveness, transparency, inclusivity and accountability.

Two subprojects complement this broader study. These include:

(1) a survey of representatives of the CLME Steering Committee to understand the mechanisms being used by members to participate in this regional-level project activity, and

(2) a comparative analysis of network governance for sustainable tourism in Jamaica, St. Lucia, and
Trinidad and Tobago. The two subprojects are implemented by Dalhousie University and IIR/UWI St. Augustine respectively.

Outputs 

• Improved understanding of the modes, needs and challenges for transnational, horizontal
  linkages between and across private and public sector stakeholders in the Caribbean, as well as the vertical linkages between domestic stakeholders, their national governments, on up to regional organizations and processes;
• Documentation of the diversity of approaches used within the region;
• Documentation of best practices;
• Recommendations for improved arrangements.

Stakeholders 

• The Caribbean Sea Commission, CARICOM, and other regional organizations and processes;
• Member governments of the Association of Caribbean States;
• Research and policy communities, including think tanks, interested in the coordinated or integrated governance of regional seas and international waters;
• Private sector stakeholders in the Caribbean region;
• Civil society groups in the Caribbean region.

Project Implementation  

This project is overseen by a Steering Committee composed of members from all partner organizations. Information gathering and reporting will be undertaken by two consultants engaged fulltime for a period of approximately four months and a part-time coordinator.

The project includes a cross section of island and mainland countries of various sizes and with various political structures; English-speaking, Spanish-speaking, and other linguistic traditions; independent and non-independent territories. At least six countries will be examined in phase 2.

Final Project Reports  

Please see the final project report and project summaries below in the launguage of your choice:

• Project Summary Report
  (English | French | Spanish)
  
  
• Full Project Report
  (English only)