Small States Digest Issue 1 - 2012

In this issue, small states’ practices and experiences are shared in the following articles:

• A Communicative Approach to Technology and Capacity Building for Social Service Delivery in St. Kitts: Social Protection, Information Technology and Rhetoric by Deborah Dysart-Gale;
  
• Ageing in the Caribbean: Exploring Some Major Concerns for Family and Society by Joan Rawlins PhD; and
  
• Making Technology Fit: Designing an Information Management System for Monitoring Social Protection Programmes in St. Kitts by Kristina Pitula, Daniel Sinnig and T. Radhakrishnan

Deborah Dysart-Gale explores capacity building in information and communication technology (ICT) among paraprofessional social workers in the Department of Social and Community Development in St. Kitts during a transition period as the department migrates from paper to electronic records. The author proposes rhetoric, understood as the development and presentation of persuasive argument, as a link between local stakeholders and international donor groups, providing stakeholders with new tools for effecting change, especially as an essential complement to increased access to ICT.

In her article, Joan Rawlins examines aspects of the relationship between older persons and their relatives and recognition is given to the economic role of available support networks. The paper argues that older persons are an especially vulnerable economic group and makes mention of some of the provisions that are available to them.

Finally, Pitula, et al paper reports on the development of an Information Management System to monitor and plan social protection programmes for the St. Kitts’ Department of Social and Community Development. The paper reveals cultural differences between department workers and software developers and suggests new methodologies for assessing user needs; eliciting their preferences and building their capacity in electronic recordkeeping.

As usual, the Digest also contains selected economic indicators, a listing of recent publications on small states and an up-coming events section. For further information regarding the Small States Digest, please contact Wonderful Hope Khonje at w.khonje@commonwealth.int.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this issue are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the Commonwealth Secretariat or of Commonwealth Member Governments.