Assessors are receiving training in techniques to collect information for the Participatory Poverty Assessment (PPA).

The PPA is one of five components of the Country Assessment of Living Conditions (CALC) funded by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and facilitated through the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ms. Petrona Davies, commended the trainees at the start of the training programme.

She said, “The PPA is a critical component of the CALC [which uses] the CDB’s enhanced Country Poverty Assessment [methodology] that is currently being used. The PPA will complement the other components of the assessment of living conditions by collecting qualitative data to provide a clearer understanding of the underlying causes and manifestations of poverty.”

Ms. Davies added, “Over the course of this week you will be exposed to tools and resources available for implementing the PPA effectively and we are extremely grateful to the OECS and the CDB for making the investment so that these tools can be available to us here in the Virgin Islands.”

 The Permanent Secretary emphasised that the ultimate responsibility of eradicating poverty lies with the Government of the Virgin Islands and encouraged assessors to tailor the assessment tools to the unique needs of the people of the Territory.

Deputy Chief Social Development Officer, Stacie Stoutt also added that the Government remains committed to improving the lives of residents and will ensure that their voices are heard.

The week-long workshop began on October 29 and is co-facilitated by OECS Social and Gender Analyst, Mrs. Amonia Paul-Rolle, who has 20 years of experience in social development work and CALC implementations in Dominica; and Social Worker, Ms. Angelle Smith, who was previously trained as a PPA trainer.

The Ministry of Health and Social Development aspires to provide a caring and integrated system of health and social services that facilitates human development and quality of life in the British Virgin Islands.

Photographs are attached.

Caption 1 of 3: Permanent Secretary, Ms. Petrona Davies and Facilitator, Mrs. Amonia Paul-Rolle during the Participatory Poverty Assessment Workshop Launch. (Photo Credit: Ronnielle Frazer/GIS)

Caption 2 of 3: Assessors trained to collect data for the Participatory Poverty Assessment part of the Country Assessment of Living Conditions. (Photo Credit: Ronnielle Frazer/GIS)

Caption 3 of 3: Photographed from left to right are some of the leaders of the Country Assessment of Living Conditions, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Social Development, Ms. Petrona Davies; OECS Facilitator, Mrs. Amonia Paul-Rolle; Director of Central Statistics, Mr. Raymond Phillips; and Deputy Secretary of the Social Development Department, Ms. Stacie Stoutt. (Photo Credit: Ronnielle Frazer/GIS)