Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (CROP)
Caribbean Regional Ocean Scape Project (CROP) is a funded project by the Global Environment Facility through the World Bank which aims to move the Caribbean towards a blue economy. Although the term “blue economy” has been used in different ways, it is understood here as comprising the range of economic sectors and related policies that together determine whether the use of oceanic resources is sustainable. Interestingly, the concept of the Blue Economy focuses on the use of the ocean’s resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods and jobs, as well as maintenance of ocean ecosystem health to ensure continued benefits.
Products of the Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (CROP)
As one of the key Blue Economy frontrunners in the region, the OECS has taken the first step to enable the transition to a Blue Economy. The CROP includes a number of products which include:
1 - Social Safeguards
A Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) was conducted for the CROP to provide an overarching, high-level visionary decision-making tool that will inform the project leadership of all the environmental and social opportunities and constraints at the regional level. The data and knowledge gained through the process of implementing the CROP will complement the SESA and as such, the SESA is considered a living document that will guide across all the activities under the CROP. Many of the conflicts and compatibilities visualized during the preparation of the planned coastal and marine spatial plans (MSPs) for example, will need to be analysed against the evolving conclusions of the SESA to ensure that these outputs mitigate the overall long-term risks.
2 - CROP Process Framework
As part of the CROP, a Process Framework has been prepared and this expresses aspects of the World Bank’s Social Safeguard Operational Policy 4. This policy offers detailed guidance on how to anticipate and lessen adverse impacts on persons and livelihoods caused by project-related activities. Why does this matter? While the coastal and marine spatial plans being produced under the CROP will promote the Blue Economy, in implementing these plans post-CROP, there is the potential that some persons and/or livelihoods may be affected.
3 - Indigenous People’s Planning Framework (IPPF)
As a precursor to the development of Marine and Coastal Spatial Plans to improve ocean governance, a Regional Strategic Environmental and Social Assessment (SESA) is required. The SESA will facilitate the incorporation of priority environmental and social considerations into CROP outputs and outcomes particularly as related to indigenous Kalinago community in Dominica, and to concerns associated with natural habitats, especially mangroves, coral reefs and seagrass beds and their associated biodiversity at a regional level. It is, therefore, a requirement that an Indigenous People’s Planning Framework (IPPF) is embedded in the SESA.
4 - Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM)
A Grievance Redress Mechanism (GRM) is a complaint mechanism through which people and communities affected by projects and other activities may raise their concerns. A GRM allows for receipt of concerns, facilitates address of the concerns and informs on the status of redress. A (GRM) for the CROP is established. Any person may access the GRM to file a complaint as needed. Moreover, if a person having submitted grievances, is not satisfied with the redress, then an Appeals Proces by emailing grievanceappeal@oecs.int
5 - CROP EBOOKS
The CROP E-Book Series can be read as standalone documents or together as a complete series. The Series provides a briefing on five key topics essential for the delivery of integrated ocean governance within the OECS region:
6 - Document: “We Are Large Ocean States”: Blue economy and ocean governance in the Eastern Caribbean.
Riding the wave of success from its inaugural Blue Economy Investors Roundtable at the OECS Sustainable Development Movement – SDM 2020 – the Easteran Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (ECROP) has published a landmark document on Blue Economy and Ocean Governance in the Eastern Caribbean.
7 - CROP End of Project Review and Evaluation
As concluded by its mid-term review and as confirmed by this evaluation, the Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project (CROP) represents a major step in the important, innovative, long-term process aimed at developing a sustainable blue economy in the OECS region. It is a process that began a decade ago, when the OECS Commission and its Member States committed themselves to setting up adequate ocean governance as a requirement for the development of a blue economy in the region, within the framework of the Eastern Caribbean Regional Ocean Policy (ECROP).
8 - CROP Jingle
9 - CROP Videos
10 - CROP Webinars
Resources
Access more resources on Ocean Governance and Blue Economy in the Eastern Caribbean via the OECS Library.
Our Partners
The OECS has been partnering for multiple years with international agencies supporting the strategic priorities defined above to transform agriculture in the Eastern Caribbean while reducing poverty and promoting food and nutrition security.



Contact
Susanna DeBeauville-Scott
Project Manager
Tel: +1 (758) 455-6342
Partners
The OECS has been partnering for multiple years with international agencies who support projects developed in the area of Ocean governance and Blue Economy in the Eastern Caribbean.








