IWCAM BULLETIN
FROM THE PROJECT COORDINATION UNIT
JANUARY 2007 ISSUE NO. 1
MESSAGE FROM THE REGIONAL
PROJECT COORDINATOR
Vincent Sweeney, Regional Project Coordinator
It gives me great pleasure to welcome readers to
PCU members (L to R): Una McPherson, Donna Spencer,
Vincent Sweeney, Sasha Gottlieb, and Magnalia Goldson
our first IWCAM Bulletin. The Integrating Wa-
tershed and Coastal Area Management
the Regional Project Coordinator (RPC), a Tech-
(IWCAM) project, funded by the Global Environ-
nical Coordinator (TC), an Administrative Officer
ment Facility (GEF), is the culmination of over 7
(AO), a Communications, Networking and Infor-
years of effort by the Caribbean Environmental
mation Specialist (CNIS), and a Bi-lingual Admin-
Health Institute (CEHI), the United Nations Envi-
istrative Assistant (BAA), all supported by person-
ronment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations
nel at CEHI, the Caribbean Environment Pro-
Development Programme (UNDP) and partners,
gramme (CEP) of UNEP and the Implementing
and will receive a grant of US$14M from the GEF.
Agencies.
This bulletin is designed primarily to keep our
In 2006 the project website (www.iwcam.org),
stakeholders informed of the progress being
was established. It has been populated with
made with project implementation, from the
many project-related documents and serves as a
standpoints of both the region and the demon-
"one-stop shop" for information on the history
stration projects. It will be one of many forms of
and progress of the project. This website will re-
project outreach and will encourage the sharing
main a dynamic tool, serving to keep stake-
of information among participating countries as
holders continuously updated on project activities
well as with the wider community. A longer for-
and progress.
mat newsletter to be published quarterly will pro-
vide more detailed information and have wider
The First meeting of the Project Steering Commit-
reach.
tee took place just one month after the RPC as-
sumed duties. It was hosted by the Government
As we reflect upon 2006, we wish to update
of Antigua & Barbuda and included representa-
readers on its highlights in relation to implemen-
tives from 12 of the participating countries as
tation of the IWCAM Project in the region. These
well as the Executing Agencies and Implementing
include the establishment of the Project Co-
Agencies. Participating countries agreed on the
ordination Unit (PCU) and recruitment of all
project staff. This accomplishment now makes
available to participating countries, a cadre of
IWCAM--Promoting an integrated approach to the
dedicated staff to service the project and ensure
management of our watersheds and coastal
that the components move forward according to
areas!
www.iwcam.org
agreed schedules. Full-time project staff include
(Continued on page 2)
IWCAM PROJECT COORDINATION UNIT
overall budget for the First Year of operation (i.e. 2006/07)
PROJECT COORDINATION UNIT MEMBERS:
and Work Plan.
Vincent Sweeney - Regional Project Coordinator (RPC)
Major events for 2006 in which the IWCAM Project
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
was involved were:
Environmental Health Institute (CEHI). Vincent received his Bachelor's Degree in Civil
Engineering from the Technical University of Nova Scotia after receiving a Diploma in
Engineering from Dalhousie University. He then completed a Masters of Applied Science
·
The 3rd Caribbean Environmental Forum (CEF) &
program at the Centre for Water Resources Studies, TUNS.
Exhibition, hosted by the Government of Antigua &
Barbuda and which coincided with World Environment
Sasha Beth Gottlieb Technical Coordinator (TC)
Day celebrations. This event included a Partnership
Sasha joined the IWCAM Project Coordinating Unit in October 2006 after several years
Workshop on Integrating Watershed and Coastal
of working with the Caribbean region for the Organization of American States. She
holds two masters degrees, one in Latin American Studies from Stanford University,
Area Management and was highly successful, attract-
focusing on the impact of free trade agreements on the environment and the other
ing a number of partners, countries and agencies.
from the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins
University, with a focus on international economics and energy, environment, science
and technology.
·
Workshops and/or meetings focusing on Inte-
grated Water Resources Management (IWRM)
Una McPherson - Administrative Officer (AO)
convened by the Organisation of American States, the
After 19 years at UNEP-CAR/RCU in Kingston, Una joined the IWCAM Project as its
Caribbean Water & Wastewater Association, the Global
Administrative Officer in August 2006. She holds a B.Sc. in Business Administration
from the University of the West Indies and a Masters in Business Administration from
Environment Facility, the Global Water Partnership, CAP-
the Institute of Financial Management, University of Wales and Manchester Business
NET, UNDP, UNEP and CEHI.
School. She also has a certificate in Project Management from the University of New
Orleans.
·
Promotion of the project and IWCAM at regional
Donna Spencer - Communications, Networking and Information Specialist
and international meetings such as the Intergovern-
(CNIS)
mental Review of the GPA, the Intergovernmental Meet-
Donna joined the IWCAM project in November 2006 after being the Chief Information
ing of the Caribbean Environment Programme of UNEP,
Officer at the Institute of Marine Affairs in Trinidad and Tobago for several years. She
has a B.A. Hons. in Environmental Studies and Sociology from the University of Lon-
regional workshops on the LBS Protocol, and workshops
don, and a M.Sc. in Environmental Science from George Washington University as well
on Sustainable Land Management in the Caribbean.
as a Certificate in Management Management Information Systems, from ROYTEC.
Magnalia Goldson - Bi-Lingual Administrative Assistant (BAA)
In 2007, the IWCAM Project will be conducting a number of
Magnalia joined IWCAM in November 2006 from the Mexican Embassy in Kingston,
regional activities and assessments. These include the fol-
Jamaica where she was the Personal Assistant to the Ambassador. She has a Bachelor
lowing assessments: of Geographic Information Systems
of Arts degree in Modern Languages and Literatures with a minor in Government from
(GIS) capabilities; of legislation and policies related to inte-
The University of the West Indies(UWI), Mona. She also pursued graduate studies at
the School of Hotel and Tourism in Varadero, Cuba.
grated watershed and coastal area management; of indica-
tors of IWCAM; of on-going and relevant projects and; of
capacities in the region for monitoring for IWCAM.
Nine IWCAM Demonstration projects were approved
and are in the early stages of execution:
The work planned for 2007 also includes implementation of
the 9 demonstration projects and integration of IWCAM ac-
SUB-COMPONENT
COUNTRY
TITLE OF DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
tivities with those of other partners, particularly focusing on
St. Kitts and Nevis Rehabilitation and Management of the Basseterre Valley as a Protection
those countries without demonstration projects. Also
Measure for the Underlying Aquifer
A: Water Resource Conservation and
planned are training activities and exchanges, development
Management
St. Lucia
Protecting and Valuing Watershed Services and Developing Management
Incentives in the Fond D'or Watershed Area of St. Lucia
of appropriate information management systems, conduct of
Antigua and
Mitigation of Groundwater and Coastal Impacts from Sewage Discharges
additional Hot Spot Diagnostic Assessments, and support for
Barbuda
from St. John
the preparation of National IWRM Plans.
B: Wastewater Treatment and
Bahamas - Exuma Marina Waste Management at Elizabeth Harbour in Exuma, Bahamas
Management
Dominican
Mitigation of Impacts of Industrial Wastes on the Lower Haina River
Republic
Basin and its Coast
We look forward in 2007 to building on the work already
Bahamas - Andros Land and Sea Use Planning for Water Recharge Protection and
started. The emphasis will continue to be on adding value to
Management in Andros, Bahamas
C: Land-use Planning, Zoning and
Alternative practices
Trinidad and
Land-Use Planning and Watershed Restoration as part of a Focused
other regional initiatives, building sustainable partnerships,
Tobago
IWCAM Demonstration in the Courland Watershed and Buccoo Reef Area
and integrating IWCAM into on-going programmes at the
Cuba
Application of IWCAM Concepts at Cienfuegos Bay and Watershed
national and regional level.
D: Targeted Model IWCAM
Jamaica
An Integrated Approach to Managing the Marine, Coastal and Watershed
Resources of east-central Portland
For more information, contact:
IWCAM Project Coordination Unit
C/O Caribbean Environmental Health Institute
The Morne, P.O. Box 1111
Castries, St. Lucia
Phone: 1 (758) 452 2501; Fax: 1 (758) 453 2721
E-mail: dspencer@cehi.org.lc
http:// www.iwcam.org