Trinidad & Tobago

The Trinidad and Tobago Country Office  covers Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.

UNDP has been present in Trinidad and Tobago for over forty  (40) years and is governed by a Standard Basic Assistance Agreement of 1976.   While a Standard Basic Assistance Agreement has also been signed for Suriname, there is none for the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.  

The UNDP programme in Trinidad and Tobago is articulated in the  Country Programme Document 2008 - 2011, which identifies Democratic Governance and Poverty Reduction as the overarching themes for UNDP support to Trinidad and Tobago.

UNDP's five focus areas provide specific entry points to support Trinidad and Tobago’s development agenda. Concentration of efforts in these areas has been mandated by the United Nations Development Assistance Framework 2008-2011 for Trinidad and Tobago and is consistent with the national development priorities as outlined in the draft National Strategic Plan, Vision 2020.

Included in all UNDP support is the transfer of knowledge and skills to nationals to ensure that on conclusion of a programme of development, national capacity is developed to prevent a reversal of gains achieved.

Trinidad and Tobago’s rich natural resources and high per capita income have positioned the country as a regional economic powerhouse in the Caribbean region and one which is committed to achieve developed country status by the year 2020.  The country's rapid economic development needs to be supported by sound policy and programme design to reduce inequality and ensure sustainable human development.

Volume of Assistance

During the period 2004 - 2007 UNDP  implemented projects with a total value of US$19,248,000.

2007 - US$: 3,882,000

2006 - US$: 4,344,000

2005 - US$: 4,710,000

2004 - US$: 6,312,000

The current Country Programme for the year 2008-2011 has been estimated to provide US$12 million in financial resources.  UNDP and the Ministry of Planning, Housing and the Environment will jointly agree on the programmes to be implemented during the country's first term as a Net Contributor Country.

Net Contributor Country (NCC)
Trinidad and Tobago has achieved Net Contributor Country status. By decision 85/40 of the UNDP Executive Board, countries with a per capita GNP of U$4,700 or higher are categorized Net Contributor Countries and grant funding is no longer available. As at 31 December 2007, all costs for delivery of technical assistance to Trinidad and Tobago by UNDP will be borne by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago.

Partnerships
UNDP has several partners in the country, however the Government of Trinidad and Tobago is the largest partner and financial contributor to UNDP in Trinidad and Tobago. 

Partners include

Line Ministries and policy makers - to promote policies and strategies

Donors - a rich information sharing forum to mobilize support in addressing the countries' development challenges.

NGOs - to ensure popular participation in projets at the grass root.

Private Sector - to promote corporate social responsibility and encourage responsible redistribution of wealth/ surplus.