For small island states like Saint Lucia, development isn’t just about funding—it’s about navigating a system designed for much larger economies. With limited staff, these nations must meet the same procurement, financial, environmental, and reporting standards as large countries -- but without the same capacity.
Every development initiative brings layers of requirements—procurement rules, financial reporting, safeguards—designed for countries with large bureaucracies and specialized departments. For Saint Lucia, with a population of just under 180,000, meeting those same expectations can stretch resources thin and make an already complex process even harder to navigate.
That’s why the World Bank and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)—two partners supporting Saint Lucia’s development goals — joined forces in a portfolio review exercise to strengthen collaboration and coordination. The aim is to streamline processes and tackle shared challenges more effectively. This collaboration was also aimed at easing the complexities of doing business with these two major development partners and reducing the burdens placed on the government. In a small island state like Saint Lucia, where resources are limited, even the smallest efficiency gains can translate into faster project delivery and greater impact for communities.
From Compliance to Collaboration
A key realization emerged from the discussions: the development landscape is often built on standardized approaches that don’t always fit the realities of small countries.
“We’re putting similar procurement procedures on the shoulders of countries whether they’re small or large,” said Gail Richardson, World Bank Operations Manager for the Caribbean. “That’s not practical or agile. So, we took a hard look at what we could simplify.”
One immediate step was a review of procurement documentation. The World Bank worked closely with CDB counterparts to simplify procurement requirements for national competitive bidding, ensuring that processes are more accessible and efficient. The revised framework, now under government review, is designed to speed up project approvals and improve access to funding.
Breaking Down Silos
Beyond technical improvements, the portfolio review also fostered a shift in mindset—from seeing development agencies as separate entities to recognizing them as partners working toward a shared goal.
“We are in the same boat,” said Lennox O’Reilly-Lewis, then Acting Director of Projects at CDB. “We are not competitors, we are partners. And there are benefits to us working together, understanding each other’s challenges, and working together to come up with solutions.”
That philosophy shaped the structure of the review. Rather than isolated project assessments, teams engaged in open dialogue and problem-solving sessions. Senior stakeholders—including Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister, Hon. Philip J. Pierre, the Minister of Finance – Hon. Wayne Girard, Director of Finance, Imran Williams, and Permanent Secretary in the Department of Economic Development, Paul Hilaire —joined discussions to ensure that decision-making aligned with national priorities.
“You'll be surprised that the first project is presenting and highlighting certain issues that all the other projects may have,” said Imran Williams, Director of Finance at the Ministry of Finance, Economic Development and Youth. “This gives an opportunity to come up with a more focused solution that can benefit all.”
Project teams discovered that many of their challenges—contractor performance, supply chain disruptions, rising costs—were shared across multiple initiatives. What began as individual problem-solving quickly evolved into a collaborative effort to identify cross-cutting solutions.
Following the joint portfolio review, it was agreed that the World Bank and the CDB would develop project readiness filters to help streamline project start-up activities and enhance overall implementation progress.
It was also agreed that the Government of Saint Lucia would explore the possibility of re-establishing a Central Implementation Unit (CIU), staffed with a pool of qualified fiduciary and safeguards experts, to provide dedicated support to the various project implementation units.
To address procurement challenges, both development partners have encouraged the government to consider adopting a simplified national bidding and procurement process to help accelerate currently lengthy procedures.
The workshop also inspired deeper collaboration beyond Saint Lucia. One recent example is Dominica, where the World Bank’s new Development Policy Credit is based on a joint policy matrix developed in close coordination with the CDB. The aligned reform agenda reflects a shared approach to supporting government priorities. This kind of coordination helps reduce duplication, streamline policy dialogue, and lower transaction costs for the government—providing a clear signal that collaboration is becoming the new standard in development support.
A Model for the Future
Saint Lucia’s experience is a testament to the power of partnership in development. The challenges are real, but so are the solutions—when institutions work with countries, rather than applying a one-size-fits-all approach.
The lessons from this review will shape not just how the World Bank and CDB engage with Saint Lucia, but how development agencies across the Caribbean and beyond can work together to drive faster, more effective change and better development results for institutions, communities, and Saint Lucian citizens.
