The National Development Unit serves as the coordinating unit for all donor agencies that embark on a range of capital initiatives with the Government of St. Lucia such as the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Organization of American States(OAS).  The unit facilitates the coordination of requests for technical assistance, grant funding and loan funding between various government ministries and non-governmental institutions and the external donor agencies, in an effort to augment the existing resource base available for project implementation.

Secretariat to the National Consultative Council

The National Consultative Council (NCC) forms part of the framework for national consultation for the coordination of the national development agenda.  The principal role of the Council is to serve as a forum for informed discussion among social partners with the aim of identifying key economic challenges facing Saint Lucia in the short, medium and long-term, and to recommend measures that will enhance the country's ability to anticipate, respond to, and benefit from emerging opportunities.  The Council is expected to make periodic recommendations to Cabinet.

Secretariat to the National Consultative Council

The National Consultative Council (NCC) forms part of the framework for national consultation for the coordination of the national development agenda.  The principal role of the Council is to serve as a forum for informed discussion among social partners with the aim of identifying key economic challenges facing Saint Lucia in the short, medium and long-term, and to recommend measures that will enhance the country's ability to anticipate, respond to, and benefit from emerging opportunities.  The Council is expected to make periodic recommendations to Cabinet.

Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP)

The section prepares and implements the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP) through close collaboration with ministries and statutory corporations. The PSIP is a ministry-wide project management database which captures of all relevant project information on a timely and consistent basis to aid in decision making.  The PSIP also informs the budgeting process and assists in ensuring integration and complementarily in inter-ministerial and inter-departmental programming so as to reduce duplication and maximize resources.  An integrated and coordinated PSIP focuses on achieving predetermined goals as set out by government policy decisions, usually captured in the form of national development plans and strategies.

Functions & Responsibilities

• Responsible for forward planning, identification, appraisal, formulation, monitoring and evaluation of public sector projects and programmes within the context of achieving specific sectoral and national development goals and objectives;

• Coordinate the preparation, monitoring and periodic review and update of the National Development Strategy/Plan;

• Coordinate the preparation and review of the Public Sector Investment Programme (PSIP);
• Assist in the preparation of Government of St Lucia Annual Capital and Expenditure Budget;
• Liaise with, and assist Ministries and departments of Government in preparation of projects requiring external assistance;

• Monitor and evaluate projects under implementation to ensure that annual plans and programme targets are met, and to ensure the efficient implementation of Government Projects;
• Coordinate the Financial Aid and Technical Assistance Programmes to supplement shortfalls in financial and human resources required to implement the National Development Strategy, and the PSIP;
• Assist in the negotiation of the terms and conditions of all financial aid received by Government;
• Seek to increase the national absorptive capacity for speedy and efficient project/programme implementation in the use of capital and manpower;
• Seek to identify new sources of aid and non-traditional finance as a means of increasing the availability of capital and expertise required to support development programmes;
• Initiate research in matters related to economic planning, policy review and formulation, and national development in general, to ensure the development of a broad base of socio-economic data and information for national development planning;
• Undertake specific micro-economic research and analysis in support of project development, public sector policy and strategy formulation;
• Continuously undertake macro analysis of projects and programmes to ensure consistency with sectoral development goals and objectives.
• Prepare quarterly reports on the performance of the Capital Programme for every Ministry as well as assist in the preparation of the quarterly fiscal reports.

Preparation of the Annual Capital budget/Estimates

The Unit prepares in collaboration with the Budget Office the Annual Capital and Expenditure Budget.  This process involves intensive deliberations with ministries and agencies to ensure that projects with significant capital economic returns to the country are selected for implementation in any given financial year, in accordance with national priorities and fiscal and macro-economic objectives and targets.