The Ministry Of Planning, Economic Development, Climate Resilience, Sustainable Development And Renewable Energy is premised on the desire to provide central focus to the Sustainable Development needs of the country, manifested through sustained and inclusive Growth, Environment Protection and Management, and Social Development, Social Protection and Poverty Reduction.

Resilience and Sustainable Development
Sustainable Development has become an international imperative resulting from the devastating effects of natural disasters occurring in the context of low and negative growth. Globally economic growth has been very subdued over the past five (5) years. There was growing optimism that a recovery to higher growth was emerging, however that optimism has all been destroyed by the current global epidemic of coronavirus. The virus (2019-n-cov) which originated from China is now spreading globally affecting production and distribution supply chains, international transportation (sea/ air), manufacturing and service output and employment with implications for global economic growth.

Dominica is in the middle of a recovery program after the destruction of Hurricane Maria. While much has been achieved, there is still much more to be done to enhance the resilience of the country. To guide its efforts, Dominica prepared the National Resilience Development Strategy (NRDS) which outlines a road map to resiliency by 2030. The country also prepared the Dominica Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan (CRRP) 2020-2030 which serves as an accompanying document to the NRDS. The CRRP will also serve as a guide for the preparation of Sector Strategic Plans.

Planning
These laudable planning efforts are being undertaken to guide the country to full recovery and to build climate resilient systems, undertake prudent disaster risk management and put in place an effective disaster risk response mechanism. At the end of it all it is expected that future negative effects of disasters will be reduced and recovery will be quick.

Economic Affairs
This road to recovery however is being paved in an environment of uncertainty some of which were elucidated previously. The long quest for higher sustained economic growth and dynamic development has been a troubling one. From a mono crop economy, largely dominated by the banana industry the country has transitioned to a service economy driven by whole sale and retail, government services and tourism. Agriculture still plays an important role in matters of food security and rural employment. It contributes approximately 16 percent to the country’s GDP. The frequency of natural disasters and the constant need to frequently rebuild negates opportunities for new investments contributing to the fragility of the core pillars of the economy. Consequently, Dominica has been in a long transition to a dynamic diversified service economy.

Climate change remains the single most potent threat to national development and prosperity. While Dominica has done well in terms of marine protection and forest cover preservation that effort is constantly being eroded by natural disasters. The country’s eco-tourism brand depends on the forest and rivers. Many of the farmers who were forced to leave farming due to the fallout from bananas are now involved in the fishing industry. Adverse climatic conditions have damaging effects on coral reefs and near shore species as well as investments in the sector. While the state operates a very generous broad social protection system, exogenous shocks reduces available of funding and increases demand.

The Ministry has emerged at a critical point in the nation’s history of charting a course for sustainable and resilient development. It must embrace that opportunity with vision and determination enveloped in fortifications of sound leadership, partnership and team spirit, and institution strengthening to achieve a collective consciousness and a desire for higher achievements and meritocracy, while we aim to build the world’s first climate resilient country.

STRUCTURE AND PROGRAMMES OF THE MINISTRY

Policy Formulation And Administration Division

The Division holds the responsibility for formulation and enforcement of policies for the effective and efficient administration of the Ministry. Governance of the Ministry is executed through prudent fiscal management, effective personnel administration, resilient and development planning and the provision of oversight, coordination and collaboration for high performance of all units and divisions, towards the attainment of the national resilient, transformative and sustainable agenda.

Office Of The Chief Development Planner

This Office focuses on designing the national management development framework through the roll-out of the Sustainable Development Goals, National Resilience Development Strategy (NRDS) 2018-2030, the Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan (CRRP) 2020-2030, and the Compendium of policies derived from the Development of Dynamic Dominica: Building Resilience.  Moreover, the OCDP has the responsibility to advise on policy formulation and implementation to ensure conformity with national plans and national development priorities.

The Office also leads the mobilization and management of technical, financial and development support for the successful implementation of Government’s priority plans and programmes. With the Support of the three units that fall under its ambit, the Office of the CDB will coordinate the planning, mainstreaming and implementation processes; measure national performance, and report on the sustainable and resilience development agenda.

For effective delivery on the national Resilience Agenda, the Office will be enabled with a sustainability or resilience officer whose role will be to localize and integrate sectoral plans, policies and strategies to be aligned to the overall national development management framework and the specific resilience planning and sustainable development agenda.

Economic Planning Unit

This Unit of the Ministry, functioning under the supervision of the Chief Development Planner, is responsible for carrying out macro-economic analysis and advise on the economic performance of the country.  In so doing, a critical function of the EPU is to conduct macro-economic forecasts to guide the allocation of the budget based on resource availability and the impact on the economy, and related policy research to inform national and sectoral plans, policies, programmes and projects.  The Office also provides support to the CDP in the development of national reports and the formulation and/or revision of national development plans.

Officers of this unit are expected to liaise closely with the PSIP Unit in the monitoring and evaluation of capital investments and in undertaking project sites visits.

Public Sector Investment Programme Unit

The PSIP Unit is responsible for the formulation of the annual and medium term Public Sector Investment Programme of the Government. The Unit also monitors the technical and financial implementation of the capital budget in collaboration with line ministries, and through online dashboards; weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual progress reports; supervisory and technical meetings; and project site visits.

The PSIP Unit also collaborates with line ministries in the preparation and submission of project proposals seeking allocation of resources.  In so doing, the Unit advises the policy makers on the effective allocation of resources for competing projects.  Furthermore, the PSIP staff effectively administer, co-ordinate and monitor grants, both financial and technical assistance within the budget.

A critical role of the PSIP Unit is to collate and analyze public expenditure to inform the budget allocation process.

Social Planning Unit

Under the supervision of the Social Development Planner, the Unit conducts social research, policy analysis and development, social development planning, and stakeholder mobilization.  The unit also helps provide direction on social innovation to improve the quality of life of all Dominicans.  The work of the Unit focuses on social issues that affects families, communities and the general society, such as social exclusion, social inequality, social cohesion, and social determinants of poverty such as health, standard of living, living wage, and housing and settlement. 

The Unit supports the EPU in the development and monitoring national plans of the country.  

Physical Planning And Town And Country Planning

This portfolio allocation will cater to regulated development of the land in accordance with the established legislative and regulatory framework and will include the following:

• Guiding development on land, over the land and in water in accordance with the Physical Planning Act
• Engaging in geo-spatial planning which will involve use of land, area zonal plans
• Approving applications for development in accordance with the Revised Building Code and Building Guidelines;
• Leading the Resilient Dominica Physical Plan initiative as outline in the Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan;
• Educating, informing and enforcing compliance with regulations;
• Settling disputes arising over land use;
• Contributing to modernization and urbanization thrusts, with particular attention to the Roseau and Portsmouth Enhancement Projects.