The Southern African Times is pleased to present an exclusive interview conducted on the sidelines of the ACSIS Summit with Dr Lavern McFarlane, Senior Economist at the CARICOM Development Fund and one of the Caribbean region’s leading voices on development finance.
In this conversation, Dr McFarlane offers a nuanced examination of how Africa and the Caribbean can construct a more coherent and strategic development finance architecture—one capable of mobilising capital at scale, deepening economic integration, and strengthening South–South cooperation at a time of profound global realignment. Drawing on her work within the CARICOM Development Fund and the region’s emerging policy frameworks, she charts practical pathways for interregional collaboration in investment, innovation, trade facilitation, and resilience building.
Her reflections come at a critical moment, as both regions explore mechanisms to leverage collective strengths and reposition themselves within a rapidly evolving global economy. This interview provides clear-eyed analysis for investors, policymakers, and institutions seeking to understand the next frontier of Africa–Caribbean economic partnership.
Watch the full interview here: https://youtu.be/ZPXGnk6TMKc?si=cLZZBcI69lOF-54n
