Efforts to strengthen economic resilience, improve social protection systems, and expand opportunities for women and vulnerable groups in Saint Lucia are receiving renewed momentum through the Build Back Equal Project, a multi-sector initiative aimed at advancing gender equality, reducing poverty risks, and strengthening institutional support mechanisms across the island.

The project continues to support legislative reform, policy development, gender-based violence prevention and response, and the expansion of economic opportunities for women through improved technical capacity and market access.

These priorities were reinforced during a recent National Project Steering Committee Meeting, which brought together representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, and development partners to review implementation progress and strengthen collaboration as the project enters its final phase.

Project Coordination Analyst for the Build Back Equal Project, Sasha Harris, said the initiative is designed to strengthen long-term economic resilience among vulnerable groups. “The Build Back Equal Project largely speaks to women’s economic empowerment broadly, but looking at it through the lens of comprehensive gender-responsive social protection, gender-based violence prevention and response, and also strengthening women’s technical capacity as well as market access, such that we reduce the risk of vulnerability to poverty and strengthen their economic resilience,” Harris explained.

Harris added that the Steering Committee Meeting also focused on advancing acceleration plans, improving stakeholder coordination, and identifying stronger synergies with existing national programmes.

Director of Gender Affairs, Janey Joseph, emphasized that sustained partnerships remain critical to ensuring long-term national impact and sustainability. “Much of the gender equality work that we are doing has to be done through partnerships and stakeholder engagement. One of the good things we have noticed from the implementation of Build Back Equal since 2022 is the strengthening of research, the development of policy, and the establishment of institutional mechanisms that previously did not exist. We are also seeing legislative changes and policy development on the horizon,” Joseph stated.

Joseph further noted that increased alignment among national agencies and stakeholders is helping to improve coordination and strengthen sustainable social development outcomes across Saint Lucia.

Implemented by UN Women in partnership with UNFPA and national stakeholders, the Build Back Equal Project is scheduled to conclude in 2026 and remains a key initiative supporting inclusive development, social resilience, and gender-responsive reform in Saint Lucia.

-END-