Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) 2014-2018

The Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS) is a multi-sectoral national strategy of Grenada for the period of 2014-2018. The main objectives of the document include building resilience; developing competitiveness with equity; reducing vulnerability; and strengthening governance and security.
The Strategy aims to ensure food security. To this end, it sets out measures concerning promoting the use of local raw material; facilitating the establishment of small scale agro-processing industries for exports; and developing environmentally friendly food processing technology.
The Strategy also seeks to make agriculture more productive and sustainable. Specifically, it provides for sustainable land management including by implementation of a public awareness and education strategy on land degradation and sustainable land management; as well as for strengthened community co-management by continued support to community-based organizations.
Further, the Strategy provides for developing financial services for “Pro-Poor” Growth as capital and finance markets in Grenada remain somewhat under-developed. Increasing access to those whose collateral does not qualify them for investment funds in the formal commercial bank sector, as well as, improving access to finance for promoting investments by improving the business environment, particularly in the new sectors with strong linkages to the local economy, will increase the opportunities for new job creation. Improving access to finance by facilitating the development of non-bank financial institutions, and other institutional frameworks designed to provide a stable and predictable credit market will also be important. Attention also needs to be placed on supporting changes to the credit requirements, such as allowing a diversified set of investments, including stocks and equipment.
In order to enable more inclusive and efficient agricultural and food systems, the following measures are set out: enhancing growth and development in livestock industry; implementing programs that target non-traditional agri-products; strengthening agricultural financing arrangement; increasing plant propagation capacity; and supporting the commercial development of composting units.
Finally, the GPRS provides for reducing the negative impacts of extreme natural hazards, droughts, hurricanes, floods and earthquakes, and climate change. A systematic risk management approach in planning and implementation is critical for minimizing the damaging effects of climate change and disasters on the country’s infrastructure, built environment and communities. Eradicating poverty in Grenada must also endeavour to integrate climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction considerations into projects and policies from the time of their conception. This would entail the institutionalization of a new requirement by the government that a disaster and climate change risk analysis becomes a mandatory part of the feasibility analysis of all new projects. In addition, the following actions are envisioned: strengthening the collection, analysis and use of climate and disaster-related data and impacts; public education programming to build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels; and strengthening disaster preparedness for effective response at all levels.
According to the document, at the ministerial or portfolio level, the individual minister should assume policy oversight for the projects that are being implemented by his/her ministry. The expectation is that every line minister in Cabinet, and the parliament, will be mandated to report formally at convenient but regular intervals on the programs and projects that form part of the Public Sector Investment Program portfolio and reside within their ministerial authority. There will be a formal relationship between the Head of the Public Sector Investment Program and the permanent secretaries within the line ministries, within which programs and projects reside.