The Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI) held its third annual Stakeholder Forum on October 30 at the Guyana Marriott Hotel, bringing Implementing Entities, stakeholders and media representatives together to discuss how partnerships can strengthen community initiatives across Guyana.
The theme, “Building Partnerships, Delivering Impact, Strengthening Communities”, framed discussions about community development and the experiences of partners delivering GGI-supported initiatives. Participants included representatives from Mount Sinai, Recover Guyana and Food for the Poor (Guyana) Inc.
The programme opened with the Impact and Insights Dialogue, themed “From Impact to Insight: Lessons Shaping Guyana’s Future”. International development expert Zaki Raheem addressed how social investments can be designed to generate lasting impact.
On sustaining the impact of community investments beyond one-off funding, he underscored, “It’s about getting the Implementing Entities here to think about your longer-term impact and how you continue to stay sustainable beyond the life of what might be a one-off CSI grant or a one-off piece of development funding.” He also discussed new forms of partnership and governance, including the use of AI: “It’s about thinking through the idea of setting up new types of partnerships, setting up possibly new types of governing structures, appreciating that there might be new types of collaboration that might be needed and to leverage AI in really smart ways.”
The session also addressed questions submitted by local stakeholders about how Guyana’s development can contribute to lasting improvements in quality of life, including potential avenues for supporting local startups.
At the Implementing Entities Meeting, themed “Collaborating for Greater Impact Across Guyana”, partners shared implementation experiences, discussed common challenges and considered opportunities for collaboration.
GGI’s work spans Education and Training, Community Health and Economic Development. Through its Implementing Entities, the initiative supports workforce capacity, business competitiveness and opportunities for communities, contributing to Guyana’s long-term socioeconomic development beyond the oil and gas sector.
During this session, Implementing Entity, the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association (GRPA), shared that with GGI’s support they were able to screen for the human papillomavirus (HPV), providing access to free healthcare for approximately 2000 women and girls across Regions 1, 4, 7, 8, and 9.
Added to that, Guyana Marine Conservation Society (GMCS) highlighted that scores of women in Region One are now entrepreneurs, selling leafy vegetables from the shade houses which was supported by the GGI.
The evening’s Media Mixer & Advocacy Networking session, themed “Discovering the Stories & Celebrating Successes”, featured beneficiary testimonials about the ways GGI-supported programmes have impacted participants and their communities.
Lorna Carlson, Socioeconomic Manager at ExxonMobil Guyana, delivered the welcome remarks.
“This celebration is about more than projects and programmes, its about people, its about individuals whose lives have been touched and that’s the incredible part. Its about the communities that have benefitted, the organisations that continue to invest in time, expertise and energy in creating a meaningful change.”
The Honourable Susan Rodrigues, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, delivered the featured address.
She said, “I want to say very clearly that the Government of Guyana’s objectives and the oil and gas industry, the tourism industry, and any industry here in Guyana are all the same: creating economic opportunity that leads to human development. Ultimately, the measure of our success will be what remains when a project ends. Stronger communities, viable local enterprises, and greater opportunities for Guyanese to shape their own economic future. That is the impact we must keep building.”
