Social Sector Investment Programme 2014.

The Social Sector Investment Programme is a national policy with a multi-sectoral approach. The Social Sector Investment Programme will focus on three pillars of development: People – Centred Development, Poverty Eradication and Social Justice, and National and Personal Security. The overall purpose of this Programme is to implement measures to ensure that social transformation occurs simultaneously with sustainable economic development thus securing stability for future generations.
Food production will be increased through agricultural production and home gardening programmes. The food support programme will be carried out to assist poor and needy families. The Ministry of Health shall take measures to reduce childhood obesity.
Environmental protection will be ensured in a sustainable manner with a balance with economic and social development. Therefore, the Environmental Management Authority shall carry out projects regarding air quality, pollution control, protection of species, biodiversity, protected area, coastal zone management, protection of marine resources, and water resources management.
A National Poverty Reduction Strategy will be developed to guide the formulation and implementation of poverty reduction programmes. Social impact assessment will be carried out through Survey of Living Conditions. Social Safety Net Programme will be improved to expand programme coverage to the poor. Initiatives will be promoted by the Ministry to facilitate social integration and inclusion of special groups in society such as persons with disabilities, socially displaced persons, ex-prisoners and the elderly. A Poverty Reduction Mentoring Programme will be established to develop the skills of retirees and older persons in the areas of art and culture, to mentor youths and uplift communities through apprenticeship guilds. The implementation of the Social Sector Research Agenda will be monitored to provide structure and consistency to the policy development process, improve the quality of policy documents produced and promote evidence-based policy making. An Integrated Social Enterprise Management System will be established to improve the social service delivery system. Capacity building will be enhanced through education and skills training at the national and community level. Health service delivery will be strengthened to empower Communities to Achieve Health and Well Being, reduce morbidity and mortality rates from infectious diseases, and to increase the quality of its ante-natal and post-natal care. Child protection campaigns will be carried out through better and more rapid communication among key practitioners across the sectors of education, health, social services, justice and national security. A modernized Labour Market Information System will be developed to generate employment as well as to guide the development of labour market information for use by policymakers and other key stakeholders. Moreover, measures will be taken to reduce youth unemployment. Cooperatives will be enhanced to promote economic growth. The Institutional capacities of the Civil Society Board will be strengthened through training workshops and seminars for national diversity, social integration and the development of a social cohesion.
The Land Information System will be developed to convert land parcel records into easily retrievable electronic databases, so as to improve the efficiency of Office of the Commissioner of State Land. A National Enterprise Investment Fund will be established to facilitate the development of enterprises throughout Trinidad and Tobago. In addition to that, new areas of opportunities will be identified for small green enterprises.
In order to increase the resilience of the communities to disasters, the Office of Disaster Preparedness shall develop disaster risk reduction and management plans.