Projects Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG's) in Trinidad & Tobago

National Project Steering Committee

The first national project steering committee meeting was held on Friday August 4th, 2017 at the Port of Spain City Corporation. The attendees at this steering committee meeting included representatives from each of the demonstration project corporations, members of TTALGA, Bluespace Caribbean and the Commonwealth Local Government Forum. In this first gathering of the national steering committee the Terms of Reference for both the Municipal Working Groups and the National Steering Committee were presented for approval. Minor amendments were suggested and these final documents have been completed.

Municipal Diagnostic Visits

Municipal Diagnostic Visits were conducted at each of the selected demonstration project corporations. The aim of these diagnostic visits was to analyze the current project management and project execution processes being employed at the local government level. In the scope of these diagnostic visits, the project partners were able to identify potential project issues and employ measures to mitigate the effects of these issues/risks. The diagnostic visits also provided the project partners with the opportunity to elaborate on the importance of the project undertaking to Trinidad and Tobago and local government authorities. As captured by the project strategic advisor Dr. Asad Mohammed “local government authorities as entities are closer to the people and as such, play a vital role towards the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) within Trinidad and Tobago.” Lastly, the diagnostic visit assisted in removing any misconceptions or misunderstandings that were held about the project.

First National Consultation

On Friday 7th July 2017, TTALGA along with its project partner Bluespace Caribbean hosted the first National Consultation within the scope of the “Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals” project. Notwithstanding the previous selection of demonstration municipalities, an executive decision was taken to invite all local government corporations within Trinidad and representatives from the Tobago House of Assembly. The aim of this enlarged invitational scope was to promote a sense of project inclusiveness. Each demonstration corporation provided attendees with a presentation relating to their proposed project undertakings. This presentation was immediately followed by an expert panel discussion and project questions or suggestions. The insight derived from this process was invaluable towards the growth and refinement of the perspective projects. Moreover, the inclusion of additional corporations aided in providing a holistic understanding of current local government issues and assisting in conceptualizing how these demonstration undertakings could be replicated amongst the varying municipalities. 

Municipal Training Workshops

In the scope of this project undertaking, all three of the allotted project training workshops have been completed within this reporting period. The first project training workshop titled “Project Identification, Prioritization and Development” was held at the Sangre Grande Regional Corporation on August 22nd and 23rd 2017. Pilot corporations were invited to submit the names of 2-3 technical resources that they would like to attend the scheduled workshop. This initial workshop provided an introduction into the sphere of project management and highlighted the numerous benefits that corporations can derive through the utilization of efficient and effective project management practices. Additionally, this workshop required demonstration corporations to conceptualize and analyze their proposed demonstration project. 

The second project training workshop entitled “Project Implementation and Management” was completed on September 12th and 13th 2017 at the Penal-Debe Regional Corporation. This workshop expanded on the initial teachings obtained at the first training workshop and required attendees to consider various aspects of project management including project stakeholder management, project scheduling and project budgeting. 

The third and final project training workshop – “Project Monitoring and Evaluation” was completed on Tuesday October 31st and Wednesday November 1st, 2017 at the Port of Spain City Corporation. This project training workshop aimed to synthesize all the teachings covered throughout the various training workshops culminating in a final training workshop review. All of the attendants at this concluding workshop agreed that the training covered enhanced their understanding of project management processes and better prepared them to effectively and efficiently execute their respective demonstration projects. The section below examines the projects being undertaken by these selected project demonstration corporations. 

Project Demonstration Corporations

• Penal Debe Regional Corporation 

Project Title: Regulation of Development – Planning and Regulatory Framework – Building codes, guidelines and standards for expansive soils within the Penal-Debe region (PDRC).

Project Overview:

The Penal Debe Corporation is the most advanced of the project pilots. In July 2017, they initiated an overview of their current built regulation processes and have already engaged the necessary stakeholder to undertake the creation of a soils mapping and subsequent building regulations with regards to expansive soil types.

This project undertaking is intensively research driven and aims to culminate with a set of processes and procedures that can assist in regulating building on expansive soils within the Penal Debe region.

• Sangre Grande Regional Corporation 

Project Title: Develop and implement a multi-platform eco-tourism application (mobile) for the municipality of Sangre Grande (SGRC).

Project Overview: 

Sangre Grande Regional Corporation opted to utilize the funding obtained from the project and produced a mobile application that highlights various eco-tourism sites available within the region. In building the application, Sangre Grande opted to insource the work involved, drastically reducing the overall cost incurred.

This mobile application provides details of all the eco-tourism sites within the region of Sangre Grande, along with information regarding accommodation, tour guides and varying novel activities specific to their region. Subsequent to the first training workshop the SGRC submitted a project extension proposal that requested an additional period of six (6) months to complete the application testing process and launch. This request was forwarded to CLGF and did not include any additional funding or financial assistance. The SGRC is happy to present the application for download as scheduled per their project completion date of August 2024.

• Port of Spain City Corporation 

Project Title: Walkability in the Port of Spain Central Business District 

Project Overview:

The Port of Spain pilot project is the laggard amongst the pilots.  As titled, this project aims to improve the walkability in the central business district for a specific target groups; those differently abled, women and children. The city corporation has embarked on a review of the major streets within the central business district in the aim of identifying the target area that will provide the greatest benefit to project stakeholders.

Additionally, following guidance from the Ministry of Planning, the Port of Spain City Corporation has mobilized a review of their current pavements and walkways to comply with international standards. The representatives from the Port of Spain City Corporation have indicated that their pilot project will include the installation of disabled ramps.

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