CASTRIES, SAINT LUCIA; - Participants continued discussions and strategy formulation at the Regional Workshop for the Development of National Anti-Drug Strategies and Plans.
These strategies are aimed not just at reducing he demand and supply of illicit substances like crack cocaine and marijuana, but also pharmaceuticals, alcohol and stimulants.
The participants agreed that there must be a detailed description of strategies and steps used to implement a strategic plan, actions taken or work performed through which inputs such as funds, technical assistance and other types of resources are mobilized to produced specific outputs.
The systematic and objective assessment of an on-going or completed project, programme or policy, its design, implementation and results must form part of the evaluation of the programmes and strategies.
The aim therefore is to determine the relevance and fulfillment of objectives, development efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability.
It was noted that an evaluation should provide information that is credible and useful, enabling the incorporation of lessons learned into the decision making process of both recipients and donors.
Participants examine the goals and objectives of the various programmes and strategies in support of the goals in focusing on specific programmes in targeting the most vulnerable groups.
These vulnerable groups also included the users and abusers of illicit and licit substances, traffickers, and the various age groups. These target groups it was recognized are in many instances, part of a larger vulnerable group which impacts on the Caribbean region's socio-economic environment.
The discussions of the many strategies and programmes which took place during the morning session were very lively, and the various issues were examined.
