Over the past three decades non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and more broadly, civil society organizations (CSOs) have been at the forefront of efforts to mainstream the participation of ordinary people across the Caribbean in the economic, social and cultural development of the region.
CPDC itself has led and participated in a number of relevant initiatives which challenge and monitor the actions of government, especially drawing on and highlighting actions and policies which have negatively impacted Caribbean people and their development.
One important action has been that of the Caribbean (Civil Society) Consultative Working Group (CCWG). The CCWG is a CSO policy advocacy coordination process and consultative mechanism that provides NGOs and CSOs with an opportunity to have input into regional policy making. The working group constitutes a network of vast sectoral and national organisations. The CCWG began in 2014 and has since expanded its reach and initiatives. Coming out of its Workshop in January of 2016, came the execution of seven (7) National Policy Dialogues. One of the outcomes of the dialogues was the finalization of a Policy Advocacy Paper on Sustainable Energy which was circulated regionally to Caribbean Governments and other relevant Ministries, NGOs and CARICOM. The CCWG was funded and supported by the Commonwealth Foundation.
