Child poverty is prevalent on small Caribbean islands like Saint Vincent and the Grenadines where support to help with this issue is not always available. Saint Vincent and Grenadines is a small island located in the Southern Caribbean. According to 2021 UNICEF data, around 38% of children between the ages of 0 and 17 are living in poverty in the area, alongside 37% of adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19. Child poverty in Saint Vincent and Grenadines also affects certain genders more than others. UNICEF also states that 41% of adolescents who live in women-run households live in poverty, compared to male-led households’ poverty rate which stands at 31%.

The island of Saint Vincent and Grenadines has few options for creating income causing a majority of children to fall into poverty. According to the U.N., Saint Vincent and Grenadines is a Small Island Developing State (SIDS) which means it faces certain unique social and economic challenges that other countries do not face. The country has limited economic resources and is also prone to natural disasters striking the area.

Economy and Child Labor

In an area that is already very vulnerable, the COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated the issues surrounding child poverty in Saint Vincent and Grenadines. The country went through lockdowns, which hugely affected tourism, one of the most important economic sectors in the Caribbean. In 2020, tourism’s contribution to the country’s GDP declined by 67%, leaving many women unemployed.

According to UNDP, another vulnerability that the country faces is very unstable informal employment, which represents around 38% “of the entire economy and includes family businesses and self-employed owners of the businesses.”

The high levels of child poverty in Saint Vincent and Grenadines have led to other issues within the nation, such as child labor. According to a 2021 United States Department of Labor report, children of very young ages often start to work street vending selling items like fruit and vegetables, with laws for hazardous work are not up to international standards.

Helping the Children

Despite the many hardships that child poverty in Saint Vincent and Grenadines causes, many initiatives and groups are working to solve the problem. In 2012, UNICEF launched the Child-Friendly Schools (CFS) concept in Saint Vincent and Grenadines, introducing 13 pilot schools in the area. Child-Friendly Initiative includes many facets to help children in Saint Vincent and Grenadines, like public education and shedding light on children’s rights.

The country also joined the School Meals Coalition in 2023. The Schools Meals Collation is a program that aims to improve school nutrition and bring healthy meals to children in impoverished areas. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was one of nine new countries to join in 2023 and is the first in the Eastern Caribbean. The coalition has reached 418 million children, as of 2023.

Global Gateway Strategy

The European Commission has had great success with the Global Gateway strategy. In July 2023, it announced a global investment of €45 million to implement this plan in Latin America and the Caribbean, alongside Asia and the Pacific.

Saint Vincent and Grenadines is also working to use more sustainable practices, such as the government’s decision to move toward more nature-based tourism, including a larger focus on fisheries and ocean development. In July 2023, the World Bank provided a $30 million policy credit through the International Development Association (IDA), that is going to be used to help finance policies supporting fisheries and provide relief for any pandemic like COVID-19.

– Madison McCray
Photo: Flickr