1. Julie Nurse, Specialist Department of Social and Employment PUENTE IN THE CARIBBEAN: OPERATIONS MANUAL Caribbean Conference on Horizontal Cooperation in Social Protection Barbados, January 19-20, 2011

2. Operations Manual Operations

3. What is the Operations Manual The manual is an instructional guide emanating from the Organization of American States’ (OAS) horizontal cooperation program, Puente in the Caribbean. It provides an in-depth review and guideline of the processes and issues involved in transferring a social protection program such as the Chilean Puente Program, and offers suggestions on operational strategies for adapting and implementing relevant components of the program to the English-speaking Caribbean.

4. What does the manual do? It systematizes the processes and strategies involved in the Puente in the Caribbean Program It serves as a guide to assist countries in, not merely understanding what does the Chile Puente Program involve, but perhaps more importantly, how can it be implemented in their specific contexts. It provides countries and institutions with the basic components and issues involved in the process so that they adopt what is relevant and create new mechanisms as needed.

5. What is the Operations Manual Background and framework – Puente in the Caribbean Program OAS Horizontal Cooperation History Methodology and Strategies Transference Considerations – Social Protection Framework Assumptions of the Social Protection System General Social Policy Environment in the Caribbean Strategies – Establishing Stakeholder Support Communication Strategy Political Support – Strategic Program Development Setting up Objectives Institutional Mapping and Infrastructure – Recognizing the Critical Role of Social Workers Selection and recruitment of Social Workers – Monitoring and Evaluation – Conclusion Adapting the Model to the Local Context Structure of the Manual

6. Purpose

7. Reflection Questions In designing a social protection program, policy makers might consider the following key questions: 1.What is unique about my country? What are some of the distinctive features of the country which should shape the design of the program? 2.What are the guiding principles behind our social protection initiative? What is our vision for the participants; what is their vision for themselves? 3.Should the program focus exclusively on health and education? Are these sufficient components for improving the quality of life of persons? What might be the consequences of not including other components? What other components may be relevant? 4.What are some of the minimum conditions associated with each component? To what extent are the necessary support services available? 5.Who are the target groups that we should focus on: poor, indigent, vulnerable? How will we identify them? What are the eligibility criteria for inclusion? In designing a social protection program, policy makers might consider the following key questions: 1.What is unique about my country? What are some of the distinctive features of the country which should shape the design of the program? 2.What are the guiding principles behind our social protection initiative? What is our vision for the participants; what is their vision for themselves? 3.Should the program focus exclusively on health and education? Are these sufficient components for improving the quality of life of persons? What might be the consequences of not including other components? What other components may be relevant? 4.What are some of the minimum conditions associated with each component? To what extent are the necessary support services available? 5.Who are the target groups that we should focus on: poor, indigent, vulnerable? How will we identify them? What are the eligibility criteria for inclusion?

8. Thank You!