Policy Formulation and Research

The Executive Council of the CSA, with the aid of a Ford Foundation grant, is now in the process of developing capabilities and implementing mechanisms that would allow the organization to provide the region, its countries, its diasporas, and their various sectors with advice and assistance, with practical support, and with the ability to develop policy proposals in areas that are critical at all these levels. We are also developing capabilities for supporting and conducting research on the region and on its Diaspora. We intend to draw upon scholars and practitioners (both members and non-members of CSA) and to develop a consortium of Universities with significant Caribbean Studies components (programs, departments, institutes) with these proposed interventions in mind. We are developing a Caribbean Policy Institute to undertake research and policy oriented activities.

We see the Caribbean Diaspora as an essential component in the efforts of the Association aimed at regional, national, and community development. The Caribbean overseas population is well placed to use its human capital for the deepening and widening of bilateral relations between their home and host countries in areas that bring considerable benefits to the former.

To accomplish these capabilities, we are engaged in a process of organizational restructuring and capacity building while pursuing qualitative and quantitative increases in our membership. These are aimed at making the CSA more efficient and effective as well as more relevant to the needs of the Caribbean region.