Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands, 16 February 2026 — The Department of Gender Affairs and the Turks and Caicos Islands Statistics Authority, in collaboration with the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) Subregional Headquarters for the Caribbean, will host Phase III of the National Workshop on Gender Statistics and Analysis from February 16 to 19, 2026, in Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.
This four-day technical workshop represents the third phase of a structured ongoing capacity-building initiative aimed at strengthening national expertise in the collection, analysis, utilisation, and dissemination of sex-disaggregated data for gender-responsive policymaking.
As the national machinery for gender equality, the Department of Gender Affairs relies heavily on quality data to inform policies and programmes that promote equity, social justice, and the elimination of discrimination. Similarly, the Statistics Authority, as the custodian of official statistics in the Turks and Caicos Islands, provides technical leadership to ensure that data produced across government adheres to international standards and supports sustainable development.
This initiative aims to advance the goals of the Turks and Caicos Islands Vision 2040 National Development Strategy, particularly its pillars on inclusive social development, good governance, institutional strengthening, and evidence-based decision-making. By enhancing national capacity in gender data analysis, the Government reinforces its commitment to building a resilient, equitable, and data-driven society where policies are guided by measurable outcomes and aligned with long-term national priorities.
This workshop will engage staff from government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies as well as representatives from the private sector. Participants will assess Turks and Caicos Islands–specific datasets to identify gender disparities, analyse trends, and interpret findings to strengthen their ability to translate data into actionable insights for policy formulation, programme planning, and monitoring.
Minister of Home Affairs, Religious Affairs and Transportation, under whose portfolio the Department of Gender Affairs falls, the Honourable Shaun Malcolm, stated:
“The advancement of gender statistics is not merely a technical exercise; it is fundamental to good governance. As we work toward the realization of Vision 2040, we must ensure that our policies are grounded in reliable, high-quality data that reflects the lived realities of all our people. This workshop strengthens our national capacity to produce and utilize gender-responsive data, ensuring that no one is left behind in our development journey.”
Upon completion of this Phase III workshop, participants are expected to demonstrate enhanced capacity to apply gender statistics in evidence-based decision-making, in alignment with international best practices and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This Phase marks a critical step in the long-term institutional strengthening of gender data systems within the Turks and Caicos Islands.
