ST. GEORGE’S GRENADA, 9 OCTOBER 2025- Executive Director for the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM), Dr. Ronen C.A Francis, paid a courtesy visit to several governmental departments and agricultural agencies in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, exploring the establishment of strategic partnerships aimed at restoring degraded lands and improving the livelihoods of the people who depend on the land.
During the visits on September 29, 2025, Dr. Francis met with:
- Mr. Richardo Fredericks – The Green Climate Fund Focal Point,
- The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in St. Vincent and the Grenadines,
- Donawa Jackson-Caribbean Agricultural Research & Development Institute (CARDI) Representative St. Vincent and the Grenadines
During the discussions, Dr. Francis emphasized the inclusion of six new countries in the second phase of the SOILCARE Project, bringing the total number of participating countries to fourteen. He further noted that the technologies piloted in the earlier phase align closely with the proposed Caribbean Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN) Transformative Project, which is designed to outscale and expand upon these earlier efforts.
Dr. Francis also explored the leveraging of PISLM’s RACNAT facility to support the various agricultural and environmental initiatives and activities, such as the national soil sampling, soil laboratory development, and intervention site activities in St. Vincent.
During the meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, discussions were held on the advancement of the Host Country Agreement and the Letter of Accession, both critical steps toward St. Vincent and the Grenadines’ formal ratification of PISLM as an Intergovernmental Organization (IGO). These measures, once approved by the Cabinet and deposited with Grenada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will pave the way for PISLM to operate with full diplomatic recognition and privileges within the country.
PISLM extends its gratitude to the government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines and reaffirms its commitment to working closely with partners, governments, and civil society across the Caribbean to advance land restoration, strengthen climate resilience, and promote sustainable agricultural practices aimed at reducing land degradation.
