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The Integrated Development Plan (IDP) of Dominica is a unique and challenging task for two reasons: First, it seeks to engage the people of the country in an organized or systematic way in the process of development planning and management of the economy. Secondly, it seeks to provide guidance to policies and programmes at the Sector level in a way that would integrate them into a holistic national development plan.     An Integrated Development Plan is, by definition a very comprehensive document. The IDP Final Report, which was presented to the Government of Dominica on January 12, 2003, comprises four (4) Volumes with some 350 pages of text. Within this text are seven (7) Chapters and seven (7) Annexes.     Such a voluminous document poses a “navigational” challenge for the reader and/or researcher. This electronic “Companion Guide” is designed to help the reader and researcher to find relevant material with ease.

    The IDP sees the Diaspora as playing five very critical roles in the development of Dominica:

1. A very willing source of income flow to relatives to help improve their individual living conditions;
2. A highly skilled human resource pool which can be utilized under varying conditions of residency and resettlement;
3. A source of investment capital which may be foreign in its source but indigenous in its orientation;
4. A source of ambassadorship to the world, mobilizing resources, technology and ideas to be applied in a process of integrated development;
5. A source of wide ranging support to local community/area development plans as they seek to strengthen ties not only with the country’s efforts but also the efforts of the home villages and communities.

    The IDP addresses the question of "a new process" through the definition and establishment of fifteen (15) specific measures/mechanisms that (speak to) the issues of policy, structure and administration as they relate to the "Guiding Principles of an IDP including the central elements: participation and partnership; cross-cutting and cross-sector planning; decentralization of function and, the new structures needed for effective implementation of IDP. These measures/mechanisms include:

1. Mechanisms for Involvement: Formal and informal opportunities for planning and decision-making through consultation, dialogue, conflict resolution, and consensus building utilizing the present or modified organizational structures among different stakeholders; (Sustainable Development Council, a Private Sector Organization, Trade Union Movement, National Youth Council, National Council of Women, R.E.A.C.H., DADP, DALA, and others. [Refer to Annex A1]
2. Community Awareness: The IDP proposes a programme of public awareness utilizing both traditional and non-traditional communication methodologies and being integrated into all national and local awareness programmes. The objective is to increase the understanding within communities of:
   • The mechanisms for participation of individuals and organized groups in the IDP planning process;
   • The opportunities for active participation in social and economic programmes to be undertaken under the IDP
   • The opportunities for mobilizing resources to support local area plans
3. Information Sharing (Refer to Annex A-2): A Policy of Information Sharing is proposed for adoption by the Ministry of Finance and Planning and is aimed at ensuring that all stakeholders are on "the same page" when participating in consultations at decision points. The IDP proposes the sharing of descriptive information packages on:
   • a) National Debt Situation
   • b) Potential Impact of Stabilization Measures
   • c) Policy support structures for Private Sector Expansion
   • d) Social Sector Spending Levels
   The IDP further proposes the following measures as part of its information-sharing functions:
   • a) Sharing of analysis done by the external institutions. (IMF, World Bank and EU Reports)
   • b) Implementation of a pilot project utilizing "Kiosk" Technology in selected communities, where individuals can obtain information through the touch-screen system.
   • c) Freedom of Information legislation in which enquiries to the Public Sector are required to be answered.
4. The Comprehensive IDP Framework (CIDP) (Refer to Annex A-18): This is a Matrix tool that can be utilized by all stakeholders (Ministries, Village Councils, Private companies) when seeking to involve others in collective action. It structures the information and commitments of all the players, in a way that ensures openness, clarifies the basis for coordination of effort and for judging the effectiveness of programs and strategies routinely applied at every level in planning activities and projects
5. The Medium-Term Public Expenditure Framework (MTPEF) (Refer to Annex A-19): This is a framework that builds on the Medium Term Economic Strategy Paper for 2000. It allows the Ministry of Finance and Planning to engage the other stakeholders in a constructive dialogue of determining the medium term public expenditures that would address the development goals and objectives. The Ministry can then draw from this Framework in formulating its annual budget.
6. Code of Financial Management Practices in the Public Sector (Refer to Annex A 25 and 16): As part of its confidence building measures, the IDP proposes the establishment of a code of financial management designed to provide a management tool that would enhance the capacity of the Ministry of Finance and related agencies for more effective management and report on public finances. This activity would consolidate the many recommendation, plans and policy manuals dealing with financial reporting, accounting, budgetary decentralization and control, auditing and consolidation. The Government would involve representatives of private sector (in particular the financial sector) and civil society in the design and implementation of the Code. The preparation of this Code is the subject of one of the accompanying project briefs (Refer to Chapter 7, and Annex A-6]
7. Commission for Agriculture (Refer Annex A-15): To restore Agriculture to its primary purpose of involving the ingenuity and innovation of its operators in producing healthy food for domestic consumption as well as for export, the IDP proposes the establishment of a multi-sectoral advisory body to the Government on Policy that impacts on activities in the agricultural sector. IDP Final Report submitted by The Development Institute: Page 6 of 10 Volume 1 Chapter 5 - The IDP Planning Process
8. Arrangements for cost sharing (see Annex A-20): The Social Sector Ministries have already been involved in the active participation of local government, CBOs and NGOs in the assessment of local conditions and the targeted delivery of social services. The IDP allows these efforts to be supported by non-budgetary funds which effectively shares some of the costs of delivering social services and reduces Government's financial obligations. Important among these are community involvement in curriculum development and in the maintenance of educational and health facilities.
9. The Social Investment Fund (Refer to Annex A12): In addition to the ten (10) extra-budgetary resources currently present, the IDP requests the establishment of a Social Investment Fund to provide access of those groups suffering from economic exclusion to basic social and economic infrastructure and services, by supporting small scale projects, identified and implemented through community participation. It proposes that the Government allocates the equivalence of 10% of its "Social Expenditures" to this SIF and invite the active participation of donors in the SIF and/or in its programmes. The Government can shift some of its expenditure obligations to the SIF (and by definition to local control)
10. Co-management of Natural Resources (Refer to Annex A-2, A-9, A-10: The IDP sees a major challenge to the growth and development of the Tourism industry and that is, to achieve as broad a base of local participation similar to the Banana Industry. As such, it proposes the introduction of systems of co-management of natural trails, eco-tourism sites at the local level which will increase the awareness of environmental management in communities and promote local initiative in rural-based tourism
11. Local Area Development Committees (Refer to Annexes A-1, A-2, A-12, A-24): These have already began to appear as witnessed in the South-East Tourism Development Committee (SETDC). The IDP seeks to draw the attention of Local Government, Civil Society, the Private Sector, Professional Associations and individuals at the local level to the potential of this mechanism to affect social and economic change. The IDP also proposes to mobilize financial resources for these groups through the SIF.
12. Management of Policy (Refer Annexes A-12, A-15, A-16, A-18): The IDP stresses new initiatives in the management of policies by Ministries, which will include managing the constructive involvement of stakeholders in the implementation of Policy as well as managing inter-ministerial cooperation to address cross-cutting issues. The IDP consultancy examined the Mission Statements and Corporate Plans in this respect. It finds the Ministries of Agriculture, Communication and Works, Foreign Affairs, Trade, Finance and Planning and Tourism would need to involve the stakeholders in a constructive review of their Mission Statements to meet the criteria for interfacing with private sector and civil society. The Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Health have already organized extensive sessions with the civil society and to some extent with the private sector and can provide guidance in these matters. The Ministry of Community Development has extensive experience in creating strong partnerships with civil society although this is not reflected in its Mission Statement or Corporate Plan.
13. The Codification of a Common Approach (Refer to Annexes A-2, A-10, A-12, A-20, A-24): IDP seeks to move Dominica beyond the short-term "Fix and Repair" approach to disaster response. It seeks to make a comprehensive disaster mitigation approach as proposed by CEDERA, to be part of the national development plan. The IDP suggests that the Ministry of Finance and Planning, the Ministry of Communications and Works and other relevant divisions (Local Government, Women's Bureau, Youth, Physical Planning) come together in a joint format with professional organizations, private sector and community based organizations to develop a Code of Common Approach to Land use, Location of facilities, Maintenance of infrastructure and the creation of new professional options in the design, materials, construction, maintenance and management of facilities to reduce risk to the local population.
14. An Integrated Development Planning Commission (IDPC) for IDP Implementation. To secure this very important pre-requisite for central direction for the nation, an integration of the new policy prescriptions of the IDP, it is proposed that an inter-Sectoral agency be established. Cabinet and the Prime Minister in particular as Head of the Government will have to spearhead and give directions on the essential steps required for implementing the IDP. Government should call on a network of public sector agencies to adopt certain processes, strategies, programmes, projects and action plans in line with an IDP approach. [Refer to Annex A-24, 18, 16, 13]
15. National Public Education Programme: A National Public Education Programme for sustainable development should be implemented as soon as possible, targeting schools, youth, the general population, the public service and with the full engagement of established community organizations, the private media and the Government Information Service. The objective of this campaign would be the continuous sensitization of the various publics and the motivation for sustained participation in developing and implementing the IDP. [Refer to Annex A-24]