The Caribbean is a region of small island nations whose histories have largely been shaped by external forces, including the powerful winds of international politics. For the most part, the islands have weathered these forces, emerging as mostly stable, democratic, and mid-income countries.

Now the world is beginning a dramatic new transformation. Reduction of trade barriers and rapid growth in global commerce is fundamentally altering the competitive landscape—rewarding countries for scale, innovation, and efficiency. This new economic order has dramatically impacted the region. It has become largely dependent on the rather volatile tourism industry while export industries (especially agricultural goods) are on the decline. Resultant increases in unemployment and poverty have fueled growing problems with crime, drugs, and HIV/AIDS, threatening the very tourism on which they hope. Residents with opportunity are leaving the region, taking their valuable human resources to the United States, Canada, and Europe.

To succeed in the global economy, the Caribbean must be more innovative and efficient, while “creating scale” among very small nations. Government and business alone may not be able to cause the necessary shift in how the region functions. Citizens themselves must be directly invested and empowered in advancing their region’s future—working alongside the government and business sectors to address social problems which threaten long-term economic and cultural prosperity. E.One.Caribbean seeks to reduce poverty in the Caribbean region and improve the economic and social conditions of its people by developing an active and engaged citizenry through the revitalization of the NGO sector. By doing so, we believe E.One.Caribbean will have a catalytic impact on the region's overall re-development.

In 2000, over 40% of people born in the Caribbean who undertook tertiary education were living outside the region.** This provides an immense base of talent and resources that could be utilized by the NGO sector. E.One.Caribbean contributes to the “virtual repatriation” of this diaspora. By providing the capacity-building, financial, and volunteer resources that NGOs most need, the diaspora will be able to re-engage with the region.

Through diaspora youth exchanges and online engagement E.One.Caribbean will help second and third generation diaspora become connected to their Caribbean heritage.

E.One.Caribbean will increase effectiveness, innovation, and scale within the NGO and diaspora sector through: (a) management consulting and other training led virtually by members of the diaspora using distance learning centers at universities in the Caribbean and abroad; (b) encouraging collaboration and consolidation of similar NGOs and diaspora organizations; and (c) exposing the sector to effective models and leading change agents in poverty reduction and economic development through in-country workshops and online resources.

Through our website, members of the diaspora and those within the region can donate to the E.One.Caribbean project. The project will engage in venture philanthropy, awarding grants based on innovation, proof of concept, regional impact, and replicability. An independent advisory board with substantial knowledge and experience in the region will determine how funds and other resources will be allocated. Grants will be awarded to those NGOs most able to make an impact on development and social conditions, and extensive monitoring and impact evaluation will be in place to strengthen accountability of grant recipients to those who fund E.One.Caribbean.

The E.One.Caribbean website will allow Caribbean citizens living in the region or abroad to create volunteer profiles, search existing volunteer opportunities on their own, and read NGO profiles. Those with relevant skills and experience who are interested in volunteering can work directly with E.One.Caribbean staff, who will regularly engage them with NGOs both through “distance-volunteering” via the Internet and volunteering in person.

E.One.Caribbean is committed to building partnerships with the Caribbean tourism sector, CARICOM, Caribbean and international business, academia, youth and student organizations, and existing diaspora organizations.

By providing an accessible means for the diaspora to re-engage and by offering them a positive experience in assisting Caribbean development, E.One.Caribbean will encourage their broader investment in the region, including business, technology, social, and infrastructure investments.

Tourism is the mainstay of the region’s economy, yet social problems such as crime, drugs, and HIV/AIDS pose a direct and substantial threat to the sustainability of a tourism economy. By investing in the most effective strategies to address these problems across the region, E.One.Caribbean will help reduce them, strengthening the tourism sector.

NGOs can be forums for citizens to organize themselves and articulate their goals and priorities for development. By strengthening those NGOs that fundamentally support and engage citizens, E.One.Caribbean helps ensure that business and government development efforts benefit average citizens.

* Defined as people from the Caribbean who have left the region and are living abroad.
** Kapur/McHale. Give Us Your Best and Brightest. Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press, 2005.