Continued from previous page With the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, this became a definite asset, as the CLDP was able to seamlessly pivot to delivering fully virtual LDPs. Virtual delivery helped to not only increase learning access, but also reduced delivery costs, in terms of travel and conference/catering for LDPs, which were eliminated. Lastly, the programme offerings were expanded to offer a range of programmes, based on market needs, and at different price points, including free of cost programmes, such as the Introduction to Leadership Workshop series. Strategic Implementation – To build momentum, and to have a seamless transition to CARICAD, leadership programming under the CARICAD umbrella commenced simultaneously with the CLP. This commenced in 2018 with the customised Senior Leadership Development Programme for the Government of Saint Lucia, as well as the customised Leadership Development Programme for senior leaders in Caribbean Statistics Offices between 2018 and 2019. With the CLP ending in July 2019, there was a deliberate effort to continue the delivery of LDPs during the transition period. This was achieved successfully with the delivery of the Leading Change and Transition Workshops and the Building the Confident and Courageous Mindset for School Transformation Leadership Development Programme for Secondary School Principals and Vice-Principals in Barbados between June and July 2019. The transition to CARICAD took effect in August 2019, and by September 2019, the CLDP was rolling out its virtual Mid-Level Leadership Development Programme, its Emerging Leaders’ Development Programme in partnership with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, and the customised Leadership Capacity Building Workshops for the Caribbean Court of Justice. CLDP has continued apace, and in September 2021, it boasts the commencement of the delivery of three LDPS – the third Cohort of the Emerging Leaders’ Development Programme in partnership with the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank with 24 participants, its third intake for its virtual Mid-Level Leadership Development Programme with 18 participants from six members states, and a customised Senior Leaders’ Development Programme for the Government of Montserrat, with 30 participants. Since commencement in 2018, the CLDP has had 803 participants (inclusive of participants in current programmes), who have engaged in a range of LDPs — scheduled, customised and inclusive of half-day workshops. For many of the programmes from June 2019 to September 2021, CARICAD has been able to provide scholarships or programmes free of cost to member states, at an estimated market value of USD$39,000. (Photo from Freepik.com) The success of the CLDP is not to be measured only in terms of number of participants or financial viability. The CLDP’s true success is seen in the positive evaluations received consistently for all its programmes. Of even greater import has been the successful transfer of learning, through the implementation by participants of their learning to transforming their organisations. Some of these successes include the Digitisation of leave application processes under the Ministry of the Public Service, Barbados, implementation of the workflow manual for the TV Department of the Jamaica Information Service (a key contributor to the organisation achieving ISO certification), and restructuring of the Guyana Revenue Authority (to name a few). The CLDP will continue to be a major contributor to the CARICAD mandate, and leadership capacity building in the Caribbean region, by consistently scanning the leadership needs of our stakeholders, forging new partnerships, and always seeking to improve and build on its successes. 22
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