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Trinidad and Tobago’s Role in GEF CReW+

Crew+ Champions Journal by Renee Jackson

By IW:LEARN

July 24^th, 2024

As I reminisce about my involvement in the GEF CReW+ project in 2021, memories of collaboration and determination spring to mind. It all began with the remarkable leadership of Ms. Sara Jade-Govia, the former Water Sector Specialist of the Ministry of Public Utilities (MPU), who played a pivotal role in laying the groundwork for this transformative initiative. Her dedication and strategic guidance set the stage for what was to become a significant endeavor for Trinidad and Tobago (T&T).

After Ms. Govia left the MPU, her team, including myself, was tasked with continuing GEF CReW+ and supporting the various proposed projects identified in the Trinidad and Tobago (T & T) national package. Given the context of GEF CReW+ and its wide-reaching impact on the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, the project is being carried out collaboratively with national stakeholders, including the Ministry of Planning and Development (MPD), the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) and other critical stakeholder groups.

GEF CReW+ is relevant to Trinidad and Tobago’s context because it fits with Priority 1 and Priority 2 of our 2018 National Environment Policy. More importantly, it supports the country's national focus on managing water and wastewater in an integrated manner while alleviating some of the sector’s short—to medium-term challenges.

One of the most successful and advanced projects is developing a voluntary standard for wastewater reuse in T&T. This project has benefitted from the excellent execution of a well-defined voluntary standards development process managed by the TTBS. Notably, the TTBS adheres to globally accepted principles for standards development, and their method is designed to solicit all the relevant stakeholder input. More information can be found at Standards Development Process | TTBS (gottbs.com).

The reality is that all the components of GEF CReW+, as outlined in T&T’s National Package, are multi-faceted and require the support of various stakeholder groups. Feedback and clear communication channels are critical. Without a clearly assigned project manager and project support officers or liaisons intimately involved in all components, it is difficult to navigate some avoidable risks.

Such risks include but are not limited to, project rescoping due to unforeseen circumstances, changing national needs, and staff turnover. While these people should be bound by a Terms of Reference (TOR), GEF CReW+’s continuity hinges on identifying the right people to do the job. Participating in the GEF CReW+ project has given me a greater appreciation for our approval process.

In my experience, establishing a Steering Committee to host high-level stakeholder meetings and gain buy-in from various focal institutions/Ministries is crucial for the project's success. This approach ensures that country ownership is an outcome of the project rather than just a requirement.

I believe that the successful implementation of these projects will provide significant benefits to T&T. Specifically, the Component 3 project, which is expected to improve the water and wastewater infrastructure and management in Charlotteville, Tobago, since the residents of this community struggle to address their wastewater disposal sustainably needs that consequently stymies their tourism product.

About the project

The GEF CReW+ Project, "An integrated approach to water and wastewater management using innovative solutions and promoting financing mechanisms in the Wider Caribbean Region," is a partnership project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) that is being co-implemented by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 18 countries of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR).

This project builds upon its previous successful phase, “The Caribbean Regional Fund for Wastewater Management (CReW)” project (2011-2017). GEF CReW+ is being executed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, the Organisation of the American States (OAS), and the Secretariat of the Cartagena Convention (CAR/RCU) on behalf of the IDB and UNEP respectively.