UNESCO Expands its Presence throughout the Federation.

St. Kitts and Nevis experienced a surge of UNESCO activity during Holy Week 2025, marked by the annual visit of H.E. David Doyle, the Federation’s Ambassador to UNESCO. Collaborating with H.E. Nerys Dockery, Secretary-General of the St. Kitts and Nevis National Commission for UNESCO, Ambassador Doyle engaged in a series of meetings and briefings with government ministers and stakeholders. The discussions centered around the expanding role of UNESCO’s technical expertise in supporting the Federation’s development across diverse sectors, including education, cultural heritage, and biodiversity. These efforts encompass policy development and institutional capacity building, with eight concurrent UNESCO projects already underway in the twin-island nation.

A key highlight of the activities was a National Commission session on April 17, 2025, which saw robust participation from government officials, representatives of various sectors, and members of the Nevis Island Administration. The session addressed the significant progress made in ongoing UNESCO projects, ranging from enhancing teacher professionalization through collaboration with an African university to bolstering biodiversity conservation within the St. Mary’s Biosphere Reserve. Other initiatives discussed included the restructuring of the National Accreditation System for higher qualifications and the implementation of safeguards to protect St. Kitts and Nevis’ intangible cultural heritage. Ambassador Doyle emphasized the substantial professional guidance and funding provided by UNESCO for these projects.

Secretary-General Dockery introduced potential new areas of UNESCO engagement, including integrating African ancestral history into the national curriculum and establishing a “City-Twinning” initiative linking seaports along the transatlantic slave route. This initiative, connecting Ghana, Europe, and St. Kitts and Nevis, aims to foster dialogue and understanding about the history of enslavement. The project aligns with UNESCO’s broader efforts to combat racism and discrimination, with planned events and activities designed to promote a national conversation about Kittitian cultural identity and values.

The session also highlighted several flagship UNESCO projects, including the culmination of a three-year biodiversity project funded by the Italian government. This initiative focuses on enhancing the sustainability and biodiversity of the St. Mary’s Biosphere Reserve, involving improvements in agricultural practices, water management, and the cultivation of indigenous crops. Furthermore, the project explores the introduction of drought-resistant seed varieties and innovative approaches like greenhouses and a community seed bank to strengthen agricultural resilience.

Another notable achievement was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Education and the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). This agreement facilitates the enrollment of twenty teachers from St. Kitts and Nevis in OUT’s Bachelor’s Degree Education programs, contributing to the professionalization of the teaching force, particularly in areas like education management, research, special needs, and evaluation. Minister Hanley lauded this UNESCO-endorsed collaboration as a first-of-its-kind initiative in the Caribbean, setting a precedent for other countries in the region.

The meetings also emphasized the potential for UNESCO’s involvement in developing the Federation’s cultural and creative industries. Both Ambassador Doyle and Secretary-General Dockery stressed the importance of leveraging UNESCO’s expertise in capacity building and training to establish more structured and professionalized cultural sectors, ultimately attracting private investment based on international best practices. Several other UNESCO projects currently in progress were also reviewed, including the restructuring of the National Qualifications Accreditation System, efforts to ensure compliance with anti-doping standards in sport, the development of a National Intangible Cultural Heritage Policy, and the identification of potential sites for inclusion on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Finally, Ambassador Doyle’s visit included a briefing with Senator Dr. Joyelle Clarke, Minister of Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment. Discussions focused on transforming the St. Mary’s Biosphere Reserve into a Center of Excellence for the elimination of single-use plastics, aligning with the government’s ongoing phased ban on these materials. A multi-stakeholder consultation is planned for July 2025 to discuss the most effective implementation strategies for the single-use plastic ban. This initiative further demonstrates the breadth and depth of UNESCO’s engagement in supporting St. Kitts and Nevis’ sustainable development goals.