Caribbean WaterWays = Vias Fluviales Caribenas

00003-2007E ( .pdf )

<5 Caribbean WaterWays

Newsletter of the GEF IWCAM Project



EEHI 1 Volume 1, Issue 1 March 2007
Co -_-mi


In this issue:


* Message from the Regional Project
Coordinator (pgs. 1-2)

* Feature: How IWCAM can make a
difference in Caribbean SIDS (pgs.
1,2,3)

* Background on the IWCAM Project
(pg.2)

* Capacity Assessment of GIS Capaci-
ties in the Caribbean (pg. 4)

* The Demonstration Projects (pg. 4)

* Partnering to Meet the Challenge
(pgs.5, 8)
* Project Retrospective 2006 (pgs. 6-7)

* Upcoming Events (pg. 7)

* Meet the Regional Coordinating Unit
Team (pg. 8)


Welcome by IWCAM Regional
Project Coordinator, Vincent
Sweeney, on the occasion of
World Water Day 2007, March 22

It gives me great pleasure to welcome readers to
the First Issue of our Quarterly Newsletter for the
IWCAM Project. This first issue has been timed to
coincide with the annual celebration on March
22nd of World Water Day, which has as its theme:
"Coping with Water Scarcity".

This year's observance of World Water Day seeks
to remind us of the limited supply of water avail-
able globally and more so within parts of our re-
gion. It reminds us that we cannot take for granted
that water will always be available to support our
existence.

Rapid growth in consumer demand, coupled with
the combined effects of natural and human inter-
ventions, means that the demand for water is
(Continued on page 2)


World Water Day 2007-
Coping With Water
Scarcity

"Even urban areas and countries
with plenty offreshwaterface the
threat of water scarcity. Scarcity is
a relative concept, which can mean
either an absolute shortage of water
or a lack of access to safe water
supplies."

UN Water
www.unwater.org


Feature Article:
How Integrated Watershed
and Coastal Areas Manage-
ment can make a Difference
in
Caribbean SIDS

In the Caribbean we take many things for granted:
heavy flooding in towns after rainfall and the ensu-
ing traffic; muddy water flowing across roads from
construction sites; rivers so laden with sediment
that they discolour coastal waters as they empty
into the sea; water shortages in both wet and dry
seasons; drains clogged by garbage of all types.

All experiences are familiar to us. All caused by
poor management of our watersheds and coastal
areas. Why should this be the case when our
environment is so important to our well being,
livelihoods and our way of life?

In small islands, the relationship between inland,
upstream areas and coastal, downstream areas is
closely linked, with the effects of one upon the
other easily seen. The recurrent issues of small
size and the coastal focus of development to-
gether with their linked problems make Caribbean
islands a priority area for the introduction of Inte-
grated Watershed and Coastal Areas Manage-


(Continued on page 2)


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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter


(Continuedfrom page 1)
outstripping the planet's ability to supply it. It should be noted
that in the past century, demand has grown six-fold. It has been
estimated that, under current conditions, more than two-thirds of
humankind will experience severe and moderate shortages of
water within the next 20 to 25 years. These are challenges which
many of our countries face and many more will face unless the
issues related to water management receive greater priority.

Public participation is essential in grappling with these important
water management issues. We must not continue to believe that
water management is the responsibility of others. The manage-
ment of water is everybody's responsibility. In the Caribbean
context, farmers are good examples of resources managers.
Their farming practices (such as slash and burn or overuse of
pesticides), in the upper reaches of watersheds, unless properly
managed (by these same farmers), can compromise the quality
and quantity of water.

According to the World Water Council, at least 1.5 billion citizens
of this world are without water or are supplied with so little and
so poorly. Additionally, only 5% of the public purse is devoted to
this sector. We are however encouraged that funding for water
management, including watershed and sustainable land man-
agement has recently been made available to the region. After
much effort, the IWCAM Project is underway and financial sup-
port is flowing to the region and individual countries to address
wide-ranging issues related to integrated watershed manage-
ment, combined with coastal zone planning and land manage-
ment issues in a number of Caribbean countries.

It is our hope that this year's commemoration of World Water
Day, particularly as it focuses on water scarcity, will help to keep
awareness high on the importance of water to our daily lives and
by extension ensure that the global community continues to
support our efforts.
Vincent Sweeney


(Continuedfrom page 1)
ment (IWCAM).

The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Caribbean are
characterized by small size and limited resources for develop-
ment. The issues and problems facing SIDS around the world
were clearly stated in the Programme of Action (POA) for SIDS
(United Nations, 1994); the two major issues being:

* Disadvantages caused by small size; and
* The concentration of the population, agricultural land, infra-
structure, built development, most sectors of the economy,
and exploitable resources in the coastal area.

An unsustainable sectoral approach to management of our wa-


Castri .; H rt.,,,t L t., 1


tershed and coastal areas now dominates in the public and pri-
vate sectors. Administrative responsibility tends to be frag-
mented and jurisdiction over the management of resource use is
unclear. This approach fails to take account of the high level of
interaction between the resources and processes at work in the
continuous watershed to coastal area. Lack of an integrated
approach has resulted in degradation of the environment
(habitats), overexploitation of natural resources, competing re-
source uses and conflicts between users. Problems include
diminishing freshwater supplies; degraded freshwater and
coastal water quality; inappropriate land use and; poor hygiene
and sanitation.

Existing policies, legislation and regulations affecting these envi-
ronments have been, and continue to be, introduced one by one
over a period of time. In addition, sufficient and appropriate
information does not always reach decision makers; policy is
often the result of pressure from one interest group or another or
in anticipation of short-term benefits; many sectors of our popu-
lation are not properly informed and, even when informed, they
may not be consulted. There are many opportunities for mis-
takes.

(Continued on page 3)


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BACKGROUNDON THEIWCAMPROJECT:
The Integrating Watershed and CoastalAreas Management in Caribbean Small
Island Development States (IWCAM) Project, with a value of USD 112 million,
was approved by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in May 2004. Imple-
S .- .; UnitedNations EnvironmentProgramme (UNEP) and
the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Executing agencies are
the Secretariat of the Cartagena Convention (UNEP-CAR/RCU) and the Carib-
bean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) and the UN Office of Project Ser-
vices (UNOPS). The thirteen -.; .- .: SIDS are:Antigua and Barbuda, The
Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Grenada, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti
Jamaica, Saint Kitts andNevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincentandthe Grenadines,
and Trinidad and Tobago. The length of the Project is years and commenced in
the second quarter of 2005. The Project Coordinating Unit is located at the
CEH, asagreedby '- :-- .1 /ExecutingAgenciesandthepartici-










IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter


(Contmuedfrom page 2)
Integrated management is when all the different uses of water
resources are considered together. It means planning for
change in the context of institutional roles, the enabling environ-
ment and management instruments. The IWCAM Project has
the overall objective of strengthening the commitment and ca-
pacity of the participating countries to implement an integrated
approach to watershed and coastal area management. The
long-term goal is to enhance the capacity of the countries to plan
and manage their aquatic resources and ecosystems on a sus-
tainable basis.

Building regional capacity, while a challenge, is important be-
cause many SIDS depend on regional mechanisms and institu-
tions for responding to environmental problems. Regional ca-
pacity in the following areas in particular can help:

Developing data and monitoring networks;
Engendering more effective systems for waste man-
agement and reducing sewage contamination;
Promoting tourism practices geared to biodiversity
conservation and protection;
Minimizing dependence on destructive agricultural
patterns.

The IWCAM Project seeks to:

* Undertake demonstration, capture and transfer of best
practices;
* Develop IWCAM process, stress reduction and an environ-
mental status indicator framework, and;
* Encourage technological and management approaches and
policy and legislative reforms.

Project activities will benefit all of the participating countries. In
2007, key IWCAM activities are:

* A Legislative, Policy and Institutional Inventory with recom-
mendations being made;
* A Capacity Assessment of Geographic Information Systems
(GIS) Capabilities;
* Development of IWCAM Indicators;
* Communications and Public Awareness Activities;
* The Implementation of nine Demonstration Projects in eight
of the participating countries, and;
* Support for the preparation of national Integrated Water
Resources Management Plan Development in several par-
ticipating countries.

The demonstration projects will deliver on-the-ground demon-
strations targeted at national hotspots where specific threats
have been identified. They must, most critically, develop mecha-
nisms for the replication of activities and for the transfer of best


lessons and practices.

One example of this is the Demonstration Project in the Domini-
can Republic. In that nation, the Haina river basin is one of the
main industrial conglomerations of the country with over one
hundred medium to large size industries (e.g. electricity generat-
ing plant, petroleum refinery, and vehicle battery factory). The
region is highly contaminated by these industrial activities, as
well as the solid and liquid wastes generated by the communi-
ties. At the same time, the waters of the basin are among the
main potable water sources of the capital city. The project will
work to reduce the pollutants in the Haina river basin through
interventions in the industrial sector such as recycling, a heavy
metal contamination survey to better guide policy and strategic
planning, and overall integrated management programmes. The
envisioned benefits of such an approach would be:

Improving the quality of basin-related ecosystems;
Protecting and conserving biodiversity within the river
and coastal zone;
Reducing diseases resulting from the deterioration of
the environment;
Reducing morbidity and mortality rates of the popula-
tion related to pollution and poor water quality;
Strengthening capacity, infrastructure and understand-
ing within the public and private sector;
Providing an effective model for replication within the
country and the region.


IWCAM should be recognized as a continuous, proactive and
adaptive process of resource management for environmentally
sustainable development. It requires long-term commitment of
resources and political support as well as a shift in approach.
The importance of capacity building and training, at both the
formal and informal levels (including all stakeholders and user
groups) is also recognized. The IWCAM Project seeks to provide
a catalyst for the start of this process, both through replicable
demonstration projects and regional activities.


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4 IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter


IWCAM Actvty Feature:

Capacity Assessment of GIS Capabilities in the Caribbean

The IWCAM Project recognizes the important role of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology as a tool for integrated data
analysis and management. In January 2007 a detailed capacity needs assessment study, which will guide the process of developing
GIS in participating countries, began. It is being conducted by the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Carib-
bean (CATHALAC), Panama, who were awarded the job after a process of competitive bidding. Among the tasks involved in this study
are:
* Assessing hardware and software needs of participating countries in relation to the generation, maintenance, analysis and presen-
tation of relevant GIS information;
* Evaluating relevant information sharing protocols;
* Assessing the quantity and quality of existing data related to GIS;
* Information audits to include the evaluation of relevant metadata standards;
* Assessing relevant institutional infrastructure/administrative protocols with respect to the generation, processing, analysis, presen-
tation, sharing and dissemination of data and information for watershed and coastal areas monitoring and management with par-
ticular reference to GIS data;
* Assessing relevant human resource capacities and training needs related to GIS;
* Identifying, evaluating and assessing the challenges, constraints and problems regarding GIS use as a management tool; and
* Identifying, evaluating and assessing the challenges, constraints and problems for mainstreaming the use of GIS as a tool for
watershed and coastal areas monitoring and management.

The main output of the assessment will be a Draft Road Map of recommended steps to be taken in order to bring capacity up to a level
where GIS data can be generated, manipulated and shared among Participating Countries within a common framework. The Draft
Road Map will be presented during a Regional Workshop titled: "Strategic Approaches to Application of GIS tools in Support of Plan-
ning for Watershed and Coastal Areas Management" which will be held later this year. The Road Map will be finalized using inputs
received at the workshop.


The IWCAM Project has 9 Demonstration Projects set in 8 of the Participating Countries:


A: Water Resource Conservation and
Management


B: Wastewater Treatment and
Management




C: Land-use Planning, Zoning and
Altemative practices



D: Targeted Model IWCAM


St. Kitts and Nevis Rehabilitation and Management of the Basseterre Valley as a Protection
Measure for the Underlying Aquifer
St. Lucia Protecting and Valuing Watershed Services and Developing Management
Incentives in the Fond D'or Watershed Area of St. Lucia
Antigua and Mitigation of Groundwater and Coastal Impacts from Sewage Discharges
Barbuda from St. John

Bahamas Exuma Marina Waste Management at Elizabeth Harbour in Exuma, Bahamas
Dominican Mitigation of Impacts of Industrial Wastes on the Lower Haina River
Republic Basin and its Coast
Bahamas Andros Land and Sea Use Planning for Water Recharge Protection and
Management in Andros, Bahamas
Trinidad and Land-Use Planning and Watershed Restoration as part of a Focused
Tobago IWCAM Demonstration in the Courland Watershed and Buccoo Reef Area
Cuba Application of IWCAM Concepts at Cienfuegos Bay and Watershed


Jamaica


An Integrated Approach to Managing the Marine, Coastal and Watershed
Resources of east-central Portland


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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter


Partnering to Meet the

Challenge
As is our nature, modern society tends to compartmentalize the envi-
ronment. Mountains are in the middle of the island, coasts are at the
outer edge, and the marine environment is offshore We are accus-
tomed to treating these as separate units, each not having an impact
upon the other.

In Small Island Developing States (SIDS), this approach is changing
with the growing recognition that, due to their small size, SIDS should
be considered ecosystems in and of themselves. Deforestation and
land development in watersheds cause erosion, sedimentation and
discharge onto nearby coral reefs. Damage to live coral reefs, due to
the practices of anchoring boats, walking on the reef, and nutrient
discharge, diminishes their impact as shoreline protective barriers from
storm surges. Adversely, conservation of mangroves provides impor-
tant filtration of discharge into coastal areas and also helps prevent
beach erosion. Sustainable management of aquifers can help to pre-
vent salt-water intrusion and ensures that water quality is not compro-
mised

The highly interlinked nature of watersheds, coastal areas, and the
marine environment underscores the need to address these in an inte-
grated manner. These are complex issues which are best tackled col-
lectively. Partnerships, coming together to synthesize and collaborate,
enjoy a wider perspective and provide a larger set of tools with which to
work.

Partnerships form the basis of the IWCAM approach. Both formally and
informally, IWCAM seeks to facilitate the creation of partnerships for the
integrated management of watersheds and coastal areas. This often
requires significant effort. Guided by their mandates, groups are accus-
tomed to establishing their goals and moving forward to achieve these
goals. IWCAM is encouraging groups to examine their own goals and
seek out partners with complementary perspectives and approaches.
This often leads to more efficient use of available resources and a
stronger approach.

One example of the IWCAM strategy related to partnerships is starting
to take form on Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In
late 2006, several organizations and projects noted that they shared
complementary goals related to assisting Caribbean SIDS, including but
not limited to:
Preparation of roadmaps for IWRM plans (The United Na-
tions Environment Programme's Collaborating Center on
Water and Environment, UNEP-UCC)
Development of IWRM plans (IWCAM, UNEP and the Carib-
bean Environmental Health Institute, CEHI)
Adoption of strategies for protection of the Marine Environ-
ment from Land-Based Activities (United States Department
of Commerce's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Admini-
stration, NOAA, UNEP & IWCAM)

Based on these similar goals, and the expressed commitment of Saint
Vincent and the Grenadines to develop an IWRM plan as part of the
IWCAM project, UNEP-UCC, CEHI, and NOAA approached the govern-
ment to gauge its interest in collaborating on an IWRM project which


would benefit one of the islands of the Grenadines. The affirmative
response led to a meeting in Saint Vincent, at which time staff from the
IWCAM project, NOAA, and CEHI facilitated a consultation to determine
an appropriate demonstration site in the Grenadines for this activity.
The government partners took into consideration the following sug-
gested criteria:
Community size of over 1,000 persons
Pollution concerns from tourism, farming, and sewage
Inadequate water coverage (lack of water infrastructure,
incomplete coverage, interrupted supply, poor water quality,
etc.)
Buy-in and commitment of NGOs, the community, and local
government representatives
Concerns over the sustainability of natural resources and
the environment, and
Logistical considerations such as distance from St. Vincent,
ease of getting to the community, and ownership of land.

Participants in the meetings also added the criteria "consideration of on-
going projects at the national level" to the list. Based on an analysis of
the criteria, the part-
ners reached a consen-
sus that the interven-
tion would be most
appropriate in Union
S Island. The next step,
was a visit to Union
w~. 'Island, where this pro-
Iect idea was presented
to local stakeholders.
o so n At that point, the team
Union island, SincentandtheGrenadines wanted to gauge the
feasibility of the undertaking and also verify that there were local part-
ners with complementary goals. This was found to be the case in Union
Island; these stakeholders and their synergistic goals are listed below:

Protecting the environment of Union Island and promoting
public awareness (Union Island Environmental Attackers)
Integrated sustainable development of the Grenadine Islands
area for the social and economic wellbeing of the people
who live there (Sustainable Grenadines Project)
Provision of potable water (Central Water and Sewerage
Authority, CWSA)
Maintenance of the water catchments (Union Island District
Office)
Promotion of sustainable tourism (Union Island Tourism
Board)

Given the compatibility of these goals, the IWCAM Project, working with
partners at the local, national, regional, and international levels, hopes
to provide tangible support for IWRM planning on Union Island as well
as concrete benefits to the community. Interventions, which are
planned for the first half of 2007, are expected to include a training
workshop, public awareness activities, a consensus-building workshop,
and, once funds are identified, some infrastructural improvements.
Union Island is one of the first on-the-ground interventions for the IW-
CAM Project. An integrated approach to watershed and coastal areas
(Continued on page 8)


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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter



IWCAM Project Representation at Regional
and International Meetings in 2006


UNEP/GEF Workshop on Lessons Learnt,
3-5 May, Bangkok, Thailand


The Regional Project Coordinator attended this meeting
which was convened by the UNEP Division of GEF. He
presented on lessons learnt in developing the IWCAM Pro-
ject, participated in the discussions addressing lessons
learnt in the development and implementation of other
GEF IW projects and networked to improve delivery of the
IWCAM Project. His participation was funded by the GPA.

OAS Preparatory Workshop, Integrated Water
Resources Management, 19-20 June, Quito, Ecua-
dor


This Preparatory Workshop was organized by the OAS'
Office of Sustainable Development and Environment and
held prior to the First Inter-American Meeting of Ministers
and High-level Authorities on Sustainable Development to
discuss themes related to the region's sustainable devel-
opment. It was designed to establish policy guidelines,
strategies and priority actions in the area of IWRM and to
identify major challenges and possible solutions for water
resources management in the region. Vincent Sweeney
gave a presentation on the IWCAM Project.


3rd Caribbean Environmental Forum (CEF-3) and
Exhibition, 5-9 June, Antigua and Barbuda


CEF-3 was organized by the Caribbean Environmental
Health Institute (CEHI) A regional partnership meeting
was one of several Partnership Fora at CEF-3. Working
Groups defined "road maps" in the articulation of IWRM-
Plans. The IWCAM Project will be a facilitatory mecha-
nism for the development of IWRM Plans in the Caribbean
Region.

2nd Intergovernmental Review of the Global
Programme of Action (IGR-2), 16-20 October, Bei-
jing, Republic of China


The meeting was attended by a large Caribbean delega-
tion, including representatives of a number of IWCAM Par-
ticipating Countries and Executing Agencies. Here Patricia
Aquing, Acting Executive Director of CEHI and Anthony
Headley of the Environmental Protection Department, Bar-
bados, participate on a panel during one of the parallel
sessions.


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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter



IWCAM Project Representation at Regional
and International Meetings in 2006


GEF STAP Workshop on SIDS, Aquifers and In-
terlinkages, 6-9 November, Port of Spain, Trinidad
and Tobago


The Regional Project Coordinator attended this Workshop
convened by the Scientific, Technical and Advisory Panel
(STAP) of the GEF to consider the role of aquifers in envi-
ronmental sustainability. He promoted the IWCAM Project
and placed its objectives within the context of wider GEF
discussions on groundwater in SIDS.

GEF IW:LEARN Regional Workshop in Trans-
boundary Waters Management in Latin America
and the Caribbean, 6-9 December, Montevideo,
Uruguay


This Workshop responded to the needs of GEF IW pro-
jects for capacity building in the area of public participation.
It also allowed participants to identify and share good ex-
periences, effective approaches and lessons learned.
Donna Spencer represented the IWCAM Project.


IWRM Strategic Planning Workshop, 4-5 Decem-
ber, Kingston, Jamaica


CEHI and UNEP CAR/RCU, under the auspices of IW-
CAM, hosted this Workshop. Organizations and agencies
in attendance worked together to: identify duplication and
gaps in IWRM Work Plans of participating agencies and
Caribbean countries and territories; develop a unified, stra-
tegic and coordinated Plan for IWRM in the Caribbean;
collaborate on obtaining political commitment to reform, in
relation to IWRM plans; and continue to identify method-
ologies to strengthen and promote partnerships and net-
working for the implementation of IWRM.

Carib-CapNet Training of Trainers Course, IWRM,
11-15 December, UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and
Tobago


This Training of Trainers course in IWRM had among its
objectives to expand the pool of training facilitators who
can deliver training programmes in IWRM in the Carib-
bean. Vincent Sweeney participated.


Upcoming IWCAM Project Meetings:
* May 2007 St Lucia

* June 2007 Barbados

* July 2007 Tobago


-Training in Coastal Water Quality Monitoring
-IWCAM Demonstration Project Managers Orientation and Training
-Regional Technical Advisory Group Meeting
-Barbados National IWRM Inception Workshop Barbados
- Implementing and Executing Agency Meeting
- Steering Committee Meeting
-Trinidad and Tobago National IWRM Inception Workshop


Please refer to the Project
website for details:

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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter


(Contmuedfrom page 5)

management requires the building of partnerships at every level and
stage, from visioning, through planning and implementation. Partner-
ships make a great deal of sense in order not to waste precious time,
effort and resources (human and other). They also facilitate the sharing
of best practice, information and lessons learned all of which are
important if the IWCAM Project is to benefit Caribbean SIDS in the
longer term.


Meet the Regional Coordinating

Unit Team:

Vincent Sweenev, Regional Project Coordinator (RPC)

"' In May 2006 Vincent was appointed Regional Project
SCoordinator for the GEF-funded IWCAM Project Prior to
that he served for 10 years as Executive Director of the
Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) He has
also served, or currently serves on a number of Advisory
Bodies within the region, including the National Water &
Sewerage Commission in St Lucia, the National Council
for Science & Technology for Development in St Lucia,
the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Basin Water
Management Program (Inc), and Technical Advisory Committees for a number of
regional projects He was a member of the Work Group set up by Health and Envi-
ronment Ministers of the Americas and is the Co-Chair of the Integrated Watershed
Management Sub-Committee of the White Water to Blue Water (WW2BW) Initiative
He was also member of the Organizing Committee for the Inter-Amercan Dialogue
on Water and a two-time Vice President of the Caribbean Water & Wastewater
Association Vincent has a B Sc in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of
Nova Scotia (TUNS) and a Masters of Applied Science from the Centre for Water
Resource Studies. TUNS


Sasha Beth Gottlieb, Technical Coordinator (TC)


Sasha Beth Gottlieb joined the IWCAM Project Coordinat-
ing Unit in October 2006 after several years working with
thi-. Cilihhean region for the Organization of American
S -II:. i~, Chemonics International She has extensive
,- ,-,,,-,: in integrated water resources management,
jIl, 1 ii ligement, and sustainable energy issues through
i -,,- i,,i,,ig ement and technical participation in a wide
variety ot projects, including the establishment of a Central
C American water level observation network, the Caribbean
Dialogue on Water and Climate, the Eastern Caribbean
Geothermal Development Project (Geo-Caraibes), a land management /sustain-
able livelihoods project in the Suriname/Brazil border region, the Global Sustain-
able Energy Islands Initiative (GSEII) and the Caribbean Open Trade Support
Program Sasha holds two masters degrees, one in Latin American Studies from
Stanford University, focusing on the impact of free trade agreements on the
environment and the other from the Paul H Nitze School of Advanced Interna-
tional Studies, Johns Hopkins University, with focus in international economics
and energy, environment, science and technology Sasha has also received


training in gender integration in project management and has conducted training
in this area Sasha is fluent in Spanish

Una McPherson, Administrative Officer (AO)

SAfter 19 years at UNEP-CAR/RCU in Kingston, Una
joined the IWCAM PCU as Administrative Officer in
August 2006 She has extensive experience in Admini-
stration and Human Resources and has worked with
several GEF projects including the PDF Phases of the
IWCAM Una holds a BSc in Business Administration
from the University of the West Indies and a Masters in
Business Administration from the Institute of Financial
di Management, University of Wales and Manchester
Business School She also has a certificate in Project
Management from the University of New Orleans

Donna Spencer, Communications, Networking and Information
Specialist (CNIS)

Donna joined the IWCAM Project in November 2006
after being the Chief Information Officer at the Institute of
SMarine Affairs in Trinidad and Tobago from 1998 Her
experience in information management and communica-
tions is varned including channeling the results of marine
research to a variety of users, the design, implementa-
tion and dissemination of information products, public
and community education, media relations and public
relations She has coordinated national involvement in a
number of initiatives including the Ocean Data and
Information Network for South America and the Caribbean (ODINCARSA) and
the first phase of development of Trinidad and Tobago's National Programme of
Action (NPA) for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based
Sources of Marine Pollution She has a BA Hons in Environmental Studies
and Sociology from the University of London and a M Sc in Environmental
Science from George Washington University She also has a Certificate in
Management Management Information Systems, from ROYTEC

Macnalia Goldson, Bi-Lincual Administrative Assistant (BAA)

Prior to joining the IWCAM Project in November 2006
Magnalia worked at the Embassy of Mexico in Kingston,
Jamaica as the Personal Assistant to the Ambassador
while also teaching Spanish at the University of the West
Indies Magnalia received a Bachelor of Arts degree in
Modern Languages and Literatures while minoring in
Government at the University of the West Indies, Mona
campus She further went on to pursue graduate studies
at the School of Hotel and Tourism in Varadero, Cuba
earning a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management
She is fluent in Dutch and Spanish


Participating Country Focal Points, Demonstration Pro-
jects and others are invited to submit articles. Please
contact Donna Spencer at dspencer@cehi.org.lc


Contact Information:
IWCAM Project Coordination Unit
P.O. Box 1111, The Morne, Castries, Saint Lucia
Tel: (758)-452-2501/1412; Fax: (758)-453-2721
E-mail: dspencer@cehi.org.lc


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www.iwcam.org Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter of the GEF IWCAM Project Volume 1, Issue 1 March 2007 Welcome by IWCAM Regional Project Coordinator, Vincent Sweeney, on the occasion of World Water Day 2007, March 22 It gives me great pleasure to welcome readers to the First Issue of our Quarterly Newsletter for the IWCAM Project. This first issue has been timed to coincide with the annual celebration on March 22nd of World Water Day, which has as its theme: “Coping with Water Scarcity” . This year’s observance of World Water Day seeks to remind us of the limited supply of water available globally and more so within parts of our region. It reminds us that we cannot take for granted that water will always be available to support our existence. Rapid growth in consumer demand, coupled with the combined effects of natural and human interventions, means that the demand for water is (Continued on page 2) Feature Article: How Integrated Watershed and Coastal Areas Management can make a Difference in Caribbean SIDS In the Caribbean we take many things for granted: heavy flooding in towns after rainfall and the ensuing traffic; muddy water flowing across roads from construction sites; rivers so laden with sediment that they discolour coastal waters as they empty into the sea; water shortages in both wet and dry seasons; drains clogged by garbage of all types. All experiences are familiar to us. All caused by poor management of our watersheds and coastal areas. Why should this be the case when our environment is so important to our well being, livelihoods and our way of life? In small islands, the relationship between inland, upstream areas and coastal, downstream areas is closely linked, with the effects of one upon the other easily seen. The recurrent issues of small size and the coastal focus of development together with their linked problems make Caribbean islands a priority area for the introduction of Integrated Watershed and Coastal Areas Manage-(Continued on page 2) In this issue: Message from the Regional Project Coordinator (pgs. 1-2) Feature: How IWCAM can make a difference in Caribbean SIDS (pgs. 1,2,3) Background on the IWCAM Project (pg. 2) Capacity Assessment of GIS Capacities in the Caribbean (pg. 4) The Demonstration Projects (pg. 4) Partnering to Meet the Challenge (pgs. 5, 8) Project Retrospective 2006 (pgs. 6-7) Upcoming Events (pg. 7) Meet the Regional Coordinating Unit Team (pg. 8) World Water Day 2007 – Coping With Water Scarcity “Even urban areas and countries with plenty of freshwater face the threat of water scarcity. Scarcity is a relative concept, which can mean either an absolute shortage of water or a lack of access to safe water supplies.” UN Water w ww.unwater.org Concord Falls, Grenada

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2 IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter www.iwcam.org outstripping the planetÂ’s ability to supply it. It should be noted that in the past century, demand has grown six-fold. It has been estimated that, under current conditions, more than two-thirds of humankind will experience severe and moderate shortages of water within the next 20 to 25 years. These are challenges which many of our countries face and many more will face unless the issues related to water management receive greater priority. Public participation is essential in grappling with these important water management issues. We must not continue to believe that water management is the responsibility of others. The management of water is everybodyÂ’s responsibility. In the Caribbean context, farmers are good examples of resources managers. Their farming practices (such as slash and burn or overuse of pesticides), in the upper reaches of watersheds, unless properly managed (by these same farmers), can compromise the quality and quantity of water. According to the World Water Council, at least 1.5 billion citizens of this world are without water or are supplied with so little and so poorly. Additionally, only 5% of the public purse is devoted to this sector. We are however encouraged that funding for water management, including watershed and sustainable land management has recently been made available to the region. After much effort, the IWCAM Project is underway and financial support is flowing to the region and individual countries to address wide-ranging issues related to integrated watershed management, combined with coastal zone planning and land management issues in a number of Caribbean countries. It is our hope that this yearÂ’s commemoration of World Water Day, particularly as it focuses on water scarcity, will help to keep awareness high on the importance of water to our daily lives and by extension ensure that the global community continues to support our efforts. Vincent Sweeney (Continued from page 1) ment (IWCAM). The Small Island Developing States (SIDS) of the Caribbean are characterized by small size and limited resources for development. The issues and problems facing SIDS around the world were clearly stated in the Programme of Action (POA) for SIDS (United Nations, 1994); the two major issues being: Disadvantages caused by small size; and The concentration of the population, agricultural land, infrastructure, built development, most sectors of the economy, and exploitable resources in the coastal area. An unsustainable sectoral approach to management of our watershed and coastal areas now dominates in the public and private sectors. Administrative responsibility tends to be fragmented and jurisdiction over the management of resource use is unclear. This approach fails to take account of the high level of interaction between the resources and processes at work in the continuous watershed to coastal area. Lack of an integrated approach has resulted in degradation of the environment (habitats), overexploitation of natural resources, competing resource uses and conflicts between users. Problems include diminishing freshwater s upplies; degraded freshwater and coastal water quality; inappropriate land use and; poor hygiene and sanitation. Existing policies, legislation and regulations affecting these environments have been, and continue to be, introduced one by one over a period of time. In addition, sufficient and appropriate information does not always reach decision makers; policy is often the result of pressure from one interest group or another or in anticipation of short-term benefits; many sectors of our population are not properly informed and, even when informed, they may not be consulted. There are many opportunities for mistakes. (Continued from page 1) (Continued on page 3) BACKGROUND ON THE IWCAM PROJECT: The Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management in Caribbean Small Island Development States (IWCAM) Project, with a value of USD 112 million, was approved by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in May 2004. Implementing agencies are the United Nations Environment Progr amme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Progr amme (UNDP). Executing agencies are the Secretariat of t he Cartagena Convention (UN EP-CAR/RCU) and the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEH I) and the UN Office of Project Services (UNOPS). The thirteen participati ng SIDS are: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Cuba, Grenada, Domi nica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. The length of the Project is 5 years and commenced in the second quarter of 2005. The Project C oordinating Unit is located at the CEHI, as agreed by the Implementing and Executing Agencies and the participating countries. Castries Harbour, St.Lucia

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3 IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter www.iwcam.org Integrated management is when all the different uses of water resources are considered together. It means planning for change in the context of institutional roles, the enabling environment and management instruments. The IWCAM Project has the overall objective of strengthening the commitment and capacity of the participating countries to implement an integrated approach to watershed and coastal area management. The long-term goal is to enhance the capacity of the countries to plan and manage their aquatic resources and ecosystems on a sustainable basis. Building regional capacity, while a challenge, is important because many SIDS depend on regional mechanisms and institutions for responding to environmental problems. Regional capacity in the following areas in particular can help: Developing data and monitoring networks; Engendering more effective systems for waste management and reducing sewage contamination; Promoting tourism practices geared to biodiversity conservation and protection; Minimizing dependence on destructive agricultural patterns. The IWCAM Project seeks to: Undertake demonstration, capture and transfer of best practices; Develop IWCAM process, stress reduction and an environmental status indicator framework, and; Encourage technological and management approaches and policy and legislative reforms. Project activities will benefit all of the participating countries. In 2007, key IWCAM activities are: A Legislative, Policy and Institutional Inventory with recommendations being made; A Capacity Assessment of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Capabilities; Development of IWCAM Indicators; Communications and Public Awareness Activities; The Implementation of nine Demonstration Projects in eight of the participating countries, and; Support for the preparation of national Integrated Water Resources Management Plan Development in several participating countries. The demonstration projects w ill deliver on-the-ground demonstrations targeted at national hotspots where specific threats have been identified. They must, most critically, develop mechanisms for the replication of activities and for the transfer of best (Continued from page 2) lessons and practices. One example of this is the Demonstration Project in the Dominican Republic. In that nation, the Haina river basin is one of the main industrial conglomerations of the country with over one hundred medium to large size indus tries (e.g. electricity generating plant, petroleum refinery, and vehicle battery factory). The region is highly contaminated by these industrial activities, as well as the solid and liquid wastes generated by the communities. At the same time, the waters of the basin are among the main potable water sources of the capital city. The project will work to reduce the pollutants in the Haina river basin through interventions in the industrial sector such as recycling, a heavy metal contamination survey to better guide policy and strategic planning, and overall integrated management programmes. The envisioned benefits of such an approach would be: Improving the quality of basin-related ecosystems; Protecting and conserving biodiversity within the river and coastal zone; Reducing diseases resulting from the deterioration of the environment; Reducing morbidity and mortality rates of the population related to pollution and poor water quality; Strengthening capacity, infrastructure and understanding within the public and private sector; Providing an effective model for replication within the country and the region. IWCAM should be recognized as a continuous, proactive and adaptive process of resource management for environmentally sustainable development. It requires long-term commitment of resources and political support as well as a shift in approach. The importance of capacity building and training, at both the formal and informal levels (including all stakeholders and user groups) is also recognized. The IWCAM Project seeks to provide a catalyst for the start of this process, both through replicable demonstration projects and regional activities. Grand Anse, Grenada

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4 IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter www.iwcam.org IWCAM Activity Feature: Capacity Assessment of GIS Ca pabilities in the Caribbean The IWCAM Project recognizes the important role of Geographic Info rmation Systems (GIS) technology as a tool for integrated dat a analysis and management. In January 2007 a detailed capacity needs assessment study, which will guide the process of developin g GIS in participating countries, began. It is being conducted by the Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and th e Caribbean (CATHALAC), Panama, who were awarded the job after a process of competitive bidding. Among the tasks involved in this stu dy are: Assessing hardware and software needs of participating countries in relation to the generation, maintenance, analysis and prese ntation of relevant GIS information; Evaluating relevant information sharing protocols; Assessing the quantity and quality of existing data related to GIS; Information audits to include the evaluation of relevant metadata standards; Assessing relevant institutional infrastructure/administrative protocols with respect to the generation, processing, analysis, presentation, sharing and dissemination of data and information fo r watershed and coastal areas monitoring and management with particular reference to GIS data; Assessing relevant human resource capacities and training needs related to GIS; Identifying, evaluating and assessing the challenges, constr aints and problems regarding GIS use as a management tool; and Identifying, evaluating and assessing the challenges, constraints and problems for mainstreaming the use of GIS as a tool for watershed and coastal areas monitoring and management. The main output of the assessment will be a Draft Road Map of re commended steps to be taken in order to bring capacity up to a level where GIS data can be generated, manipulated and shared among Partic ipating Countries within a common framework. The Draft Road Map will be presented during a Regional Wo rkshop titled: “Strategic Approaches to Application of GIS tools in Support of P lanning for Watershed and Coastal Areas Management” which will be held later this year. The Road Map will be finalized using inpu ts received at the workshop. SUB-COMPONENT COUNTRY TITLE OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECT St. Kitts and Nevis Rehabilitation and Management of the Basseterre Valley as a Protection Measure for the Underlying Aquifer A: Water Resource Conservation and Management St. Lucia Protecting and Valuing Watershed Services and Developing Management Incentives in the Fond D'or Watershed Area of St. Lucia Antigua and Barbuda Mitigation of Groundwater and Coastal Impacts from Sewage Discharges from St. John Bahamas Exuma Marina Waste Management at Elizabeth Harbour in Exuma, Bahamas B: Wastewater Treatment and Management Dominican Republic Mitigation of Impacts of Industrial Wastes on the Lower Haina River Basin and its Coast Bahamas Andros Land and Sea Use Planning for Water Recharge Protection and Management in Andros, Bahamas C: Land-use Planning, Zoning and Alternative practices Trinidad and Tobago Land-Use Planning and Watershed Restoration as part of a Focused IWCAM Demonstration in the Courland Watershed and Buccoo Reef Area Cuba Application of IWCAM Concepts at Cienfuegos Bay and Watershed D: Targeted Model IWCAM Jamaica An Integrated Approach to Managing the Marine, Coastal and Watershed Resources of east-central Portland The IWCAM Project has 9 Demons tration Projects set in 8 of the Participating Countries:

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5 IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter www.iwcam.org Partnering to Meet the Challenge As is our nature, modern society tends to compartmentalize the environment. Mountains are in the middle of the island, coasts are at the outer edge, and the marine environment is offshore We are accustomed to treating these as separate units, each not having an impact upon the other. In Small Island Developing States (SIDS), this approach is changing with the growing recognition that, due to their small size, SIDS should be considered ecosystems in and of themselves. Deforestation and land development in watersheds cause erosion, sedimentation and discharge onto nearby coral reefs. Damage to live coral reefs, due to the practices of anchoring boats, walking on the reef, and nutrient discharge, diminishes their impact as shoreline protective barriers from storm surges. Adversely, conservation of mangroves provides important filtration of discharge into coastal areas and also helps prevent beach erosion. Sustainable management of aquifers can help to prevent salt-water intrusion and ensures that water quality is not compromised The highly interlinked nature of watersheds, coastal areas, and the marine environment underscores the need to address these in an integrated manner. These are complex issues which are best tackled collectively. Partnerships, coming together to synthesize and collaborate, enjoy a wider perspective and provide a larger set of tools with which to work. Partnerships form the basis of the IWCAM approach. Both formally and informally, IWCAM seeks to facilitate the creation of partnerships for the integrated management of watersheds and coastal areas. This often requires significant effort. Guided by their mandates, groups are accustomed to establishing their goals and moving forward to achieve these goals. IWCAM is encouraging groups to examine their own goals and seek out partners with complementary perspectives and approaches. This often leads to more efficient use of available resources and a stronger approach. One example of the IWCAM strategy related to partnerships is starting to take form on Union Island in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In late 2006, several organizations and projects noted that they shared complementary goals related to assisting Caribbean SIDS, including but not limited to: Preparation of roadmaps for IWRM plans (The United Nations Environment Programme’s Collaborating Center on Water and Environment, UNEP-UCC) Development of IWRM plans (IWCAM, UNEP and the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute, CEHI) Adoption of strategies for protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (United States Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, UNEP & IWCAM) Based on these similar goals, and the expressed commitment of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to develop an IWRM plan as part of the IWCAM project, UNEP-UCC, CEH I, and NOAA approached the government to gauge its interest in collaborating on an IWRM project which would benefit one of the islands of the Grenadines. The affirmative response led to a meeting in Saint Vincent, at which time staff from the IWCAM project, NOAA, and CEHI facilitated a consultation to determine an appropriate demonstration site in the Grenadines for this activity. The government partners took into consideration the following suggested criteria: Community size of over 1,000 persons Pollution concerns from tourism, farming, and sewage Inadequate water coverage (lack of water infrastructure, incomplete coverage, interrupted supply, poor water quality, etc.) Buy-in and commitment of NGOs, the community, and local government representatives Concerns over the sustainability of natural resources and the environment, and Logistical considerations such as distance from St. Vincent, ease of getting to the community, and ownership of land. Participants in the meetings also added the criteria “consideration of ongoing projects at the national level” to the list. Based on an analysis of the criteria, the partners reached a consensus that the intervention would be most appropriate in Union Island. The next step, was a visit to Union Island, where this project idea was presented to local stakeholders. At that point, the team wanted to gauge the feasibility of the undertaking and also verify that there were local partners with complementary goals. This was found to be the case in Union Island; these stakeholders and their synergistic goals are listed below: Protecting the environment of Union Island and promoting public awareness (Union Island Environmental Attackers) Integrated sustainable development of the Grenadine Islands area for the social and economic wellbeing of the people who live there (Sustainable Grenadines Project) Provision of potable water (Central Water and Sewerage Authority, CWSA) Maintenance of the water catchments (Union Island District Office) Promotion of sustainable tourism (Union Island Tourism Board) Given the compatibility of these goals, the IWCAM Project, working with partners at the local, national, regional, and international levels, hopes to provide tangible support for IWRM planning on Union Island as well as concrete benefits to the community. Interventions, which are planned for the first half of 2007, are expected to include a training workshop, public awareness activities, a consensus-building workshop, and, once funds are identified, some infrastructural improvements. Union Island is one of the first on -the-ground interventions for the IWCAM Project. An integrated approach to watershed and coastal areas (Continued on page 8) Union Island, St.Vincent and the Grenadines

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6 IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter www.iwcam.org UNEP/GEF Workshop on Lessons Learnt , 3-5 May, Bangkok, Thailand The Regional Project Coordinator attended this meeting which was convened by the UNEP Division of GEF. He presented on lessons learnt in developing the IWCAM Project, participated in the discussions addressing lessons learnt in the development and implementation of other GEF IW projects and networked to improve delivery of the IWCAM Project. His participation was funded by the GPA. OAS Preparatory Workshop, Integrated Water Resources Management , 19-20 June, Quito, Ecuador This Preparatory Workshop was organized by the OAS’ Office of Sustainable Develo pment and Environment and held prior to the First Inter-American Meeting of Ministers and High-level Authorities on Sustainable Development to discuss themes related to the region’s sustainable development. It was designed to establish policy guidelines, strategies and priority actions in the area of IWRM and to identify major challenges and possible solutions for water resources management in the region. Vincent Sweeney gave a presentation on the IWCAM Project. 3rd Caribbean Environmental Forum (CEF-3) and Exhibition, 5-9 June, Antigua and Barbuda CEF-3 was organized by the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) . A regional partnership meeting was one of several Partnership Fora at CEF-3. Working Groups defined “road maps” in the articulation of IWRMPlans. The IWCAM Project will be a facilitatory mechanism for the development of IWRM Plans in the Caribbean Region. 2nd Intergovernmental Review of the Global Programme of Action (IGR-2) , 16-20 October, Beijing, Republic of China The meeting was attended by a large Caribbean delegation, including representatives of a number of IWCAM Participating Countries and Executing Agencies. Here Patricia Aquing, Acting Executive Director of CEHI and Anthony Headley of the Environmental Protection Department, Barbados, participate on a panel during one of the parallel sessions. IWCAM Project Represen tation at Regional and International Meetings in 2006

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7 IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter www.iwcam.org GEF STAP Workshop on SIDS, Aquifers and Interlinkages, 6-9 November, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago The Regional Project Coordinator attended this Workshop convened by the Scientific, Technical and Advisory Panel (STAP) of the GEF to consider the role of aquifers in environmental sustainability. He promoted the IWCAM Project and placed its objectives within the context of wider GEF discussions on groundwater in SIDS. GEF IW:LEARN Regional Workshop in Transboundary Waters Management in Latin America and the Caribbean, 6-9 December, Montevideo, Uruguay This Workshop responded to the needs of GEF IW projects for capacity building in the area of public participation. It also allowed participants to identify and share good experiences, effective approaches and lessons learned. Donna Spencer represented the IWCAM Project. IWRM Strategic Planning Workshop , 4-5 December, Kingston, Jamaica CEHI and UNEP – CAR/RCU, und er the auspices of IWCAM, hosted this Workshop. Organizations and agencies in attendance worked togethe r to: identify duplication and gaps in IWRM Work Plans of participating agencies and Caribbean countries and territories; develop a unified, strategic and coordinated Plan for IWRM in the Caribbean; collaborate on obtaining political commitment to reform, in relation to IWRM plans; and continue to identify methodologies to strengthen and promote partnerships and networking for the implementation of IWRM. Carib-CapNet Training of Trainers Course, IWRM, 11-15 December, UWI, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago . This Training of Trainers course in IWRM had among its objectives to expand the pool of training facilitators who can deliver training programmes in IWRM in the Caribbean. Vincent Sweeney participated. IWCAM Project Represen tation at Regional and International Meetings in 2006 Upcoming IWCAM Project Meetings: May 2007: St. Lucia Training in Coastal Water Quality Monitoring IWCAM Demonstration Proj ect Managers Orientation and Training June 2007: Barbados Regional Technical Advisory Group Meeting Barbados National IWRM Inception Workshop Barbados July 2007: Tobago Implementing and Executing Agency Meeting Steering Committee Meeting Trinidad and Tobago National IWRM Inception Workshop Please refer to the Project website for details: www.iwcam.org

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8 IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter www.iwcam.org management requires the building of partnerships at every level and stage, from visioning, through planning and implementation. Partnerships make a great deal of sense in order not to waste precious time, effort and resources (human and other). They also facilitate the sharing of best practice, information and lessons learned – all of which are important if the IWCAM Project is to benefit Caribbean SIDS in the longer term. (Continued from page 5) Contact Information: IWCAM Project Coordination Unit P.O. Box 1111, The Morne, Castries, Saint Lucia Tel: (758)-452-2501/1412; Fax: (758)-453-2721 E-mail: dspencer@cehi.org.lc training in gender integration in proj ect management and has conducted training in this area. Sasha is fluent in Spanish. Una McPherson, Administrative Officer (AO) After 19 years at UNEP-CA R/RCU in Kingston, Una joined the IWCAM PCU as Administrative Officer in August 2006. She has extensive experience in Administration and Human Resources and has worked with several GEF projects including the PDF Phases of the IWCAM. Una holds a BSc. in Business Administration from the University of the West Indies and a Masters in Business Administration from the Institute of Financial Management, University of Wales and Manchester Business School. She also has a certificate in Project Management from the University of New Orleans. Donna Spencer, Communications, Networking and Information Specialist (CNIS) Donna joined the IWCAM Project in November 2006 after being the Chief Information Officer at the Institute of Marine Affairs in Trinidad and Tobago from 1998. Her experience in information management and communications is varied including: channeling the results of marine research to a variety of us ers; the design, implementation and dissemination of information products; public and community education, media relations and public relations. She has coordinated national involvement in a number of initiatives including the Ocean Data and Information Network for South Am erica and the Caribbean (ODINCARSA) and the first phase of development of Trin idad and Tobago’s National Programme of Action (NPA) for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Sources of Marine Pollution She has a B.A. Hons. in Environmental Studies and Sociology from the University of London and a M.Sc. in Environmental Science from George Washington University. She also has a Certificate in Management – Management Information Systems, from ROYTEC. Magnalia Goldson, Bi -Lingual Administra tive Assistant (BAA) Prior to joining the IWCAM Project in November 2006 Magnalia worked at the Embassy of Mexico in Kingston, Jamaica as the Personal Assistant to the Ambassador while also teaching Spanish at the University of the West Indies. Magnalia received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern Languages and Literatures while minoring in Government at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus. She further went on to pursue graduate studies at the School of Hotel and Tourism in Varadero, Cuba earning a degree in Hospitality and Tourism Management. She is fluent in Dutch and Spanish. Meet the Regional Coordinating Unit Team: Vincent Sweeney, Regional Project Coordinator (RPC) In May 2006 Vincent was appointed Regional Project Coordinator for the GEF-funded IWCAM Project. Prior to that he served for 10 years as Executive Director of the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI). He has also served, or currently serves on a number of Advisory Bodies within the region, including the National Water & Sewerage Commission in St. Lucia; the National Council for Science & Technology for Development in St. Lucia, the Board of Directors of the Caribbean Basin Water Management Program (Inc.), and Technical Advisory Committees for a number of regional projects. He was a member of the Work Group set up by Health and Environment Ministers of the Americas and is the Co-Chair of the Integrated Watershed Management Sub-Committee of the White Water to Blue Water (WW2BW) Initiative. He was also member of the Organizing Co mmittee for the Inter-American Dialogue on Water and a two-time Vice President of the Caribbean Water & Wastewater Association. Vincent has a B.Sc. in Civil Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia (TUNS) and a Masters of Applied Science from the Centre for Water Resource Studies, TUNS. Sasha Beth Gottlieb, Technical Coordinator (TC) Sasha Beth Gottlieb joined the IWCAM Project Coordinating Unit in October 2006 after several years working with the Caribbean region for the Organization of American States and Chemonics International. She has extensive experience in integrated water resources management, land management, and sustainable energy issues through the management and technical participation in a wide variety of projects, including the establishment of a Central American water level observation network, the Caribbean Dialogue on Water and Climate, the Eastern Caribbean Geothermal Development Project (Geo-Ca raïbes), a land management / sustainable livelihoods project in the Suriname/ Brazil border region, the Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative (G SEII) and the Caribbean Open Trade Support Program. Sasha holds two masters degr ees, one in Latin American Studies from Stanford University, focusing on the impact of free trade agreements on the environment and the other from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University, with focus in international economics and energy, environment, science and tec hnology. Sasha has also received Participating Country Focal Points, Demonstration Projects and others are invited to submit articles. Please contact Donna Spencer at dspencer@cehi.org.lc