The following is taken from the Nos Aruba 2025 project website (www.nosaruba2025.aw) and represents the perspective of Aruba rather than the consultant.
Nos Aruba
Aruba is an island where the homes are always open to let in the cool caress of the constant tradewind and to receive friends and family with a warm welcome. It is a community known for its authentic hospitality, a community that comes together to share in neighborhood domino games, and a community where children can freely and happily play outside.
Imagine an island with vast, open spaces marked by stunning, rugged landscapes, scenic beaches and an extensive array of flora and fauna.
Imagine a community that takes care of its seniors and each other.
Imagine a community that values its diversity; a diversity that has existed for centuries.
Imagine Aruba…. Your Aruba….
Welcome to Nos Aruba 2025!
Through the centuries, Aruba’s inhabitants have shown resilience, determination, creativity and a unique ability to press forward. Over the years, people from all over the world have made their way to Aruba, and have contributed their own talents and traditions to the island’s colorful culture.
In its recent history, Aruba has gone through many economic and political changes. The closing of the oil refinery (1985) signaled the start of a new era that came with economic hardship, but which also took the island into a positive, new direction. In 1986, Aruba obtained its Status Aparte as well as undertook greater efforts in seeking out economic success through tourism. Enormous economic growth was accompanied by increases in the Aruban population. The ability to transform these challenges into positive results speaks for the strength and unique nature of the Aruban character. Nowadays, Aruba’s tourism industry serves as an example to many other destinations in the Caribbean.
The size of the Aruban population now stands at more than 105,000 inhabitants. The rate at which the population has expanded, in a relatively short period of time, has put pressure on our educational system, public health care and the environment. Our community has become aware of imbalances and is now demanding improvements in education, public health and environmental protections in establishing a more harmonious situation. In order to reach a balance in the social, economic and environmental sector of Aruba, the work towards sustainable development must be increased. Therefore, the main goal of Nos Aruba 2025 is to develop a sustainable Aruba for the benefit of all people and stakeholders of Aruba and that has a future for our children and our grandchildren which will make them proud to be Arubans. In order to reach sustainable development a broad range of stakeholders are involved in Nos Aruba 2025. Presently, a broad range of stakeholders have their own vision on sustainable development, the way it should be planned and how this vision is articulated in the different strategic plans. Additionally, a consistent and coherent process, including guidelines for long term planning and cooperation, is lacking. This leads to uncoordinated initiatives of the concerned stakeholders.
Based on the above, it is important for the sustainable development of Aruba that guidelines are determined on the economic, environmental and social elements of development planning. Also there should be coordination and cohesion between all stakeholders involved in development planning. In addition, the process of integrated development planning must also be institutionalized. Furthermore a national long term strategy, focusing on an interdisciplinary and multi-sectoral approach leading to a National and Integrated Strategic Plan (NISP), is essential. This plan should describe long term strategies linked to national goals and the way these strategies will be implemented. Long term for this purpose means a period of fifteen years. Since this will be a national plan, it is advisable that stakeholders who have a lot of influence on the realization of sustainable development participate actively on the multi-dimensional process. This will lead to one national and integrated strategic plan. The influential stakeholders are the Aruban government, the non-governmental organizations, the Parliament and the private sector. The development of a broad support in the community enhances the expertise in this area and increases the possibility for a successful implementation of the plan. It is the intention that all stakeholders come together every three years to evaluate and update the plan. At the end the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) for Aruba should be defined.
The objective of Nos Aruba 2025 is the institutionalization of an integrated and strategic planning process where the coordination between the relevant stakeholders is encouraged taking into consideration guidelines for sustainable development. The most important outcome of Nos Aruba 2025 is the formulation of a national integrated strategic plan (NISP). The definition of this plan will stimulate the coordination between the concerned stakeholders. The Nos Aruba 2025 process is a multidimensional process that will aim as much as possible that the relevant stakeholders reach a consensus together about the final interpretation of the sustainable development concept and the strategy that should be implemented to guide the development in the preferred path.
“Nos Aruba 2025” uses the Appreciative Inquiry method to manage change. The Appreciative Inquiry method offers the opportunity to inform, imagine and innovate instead of feeding into negative attitudes and criticism. The practice of Appreciative Inquiry is a participatory process that allows for positive input from all members of the community and from different organizations.
Let us imagine a better Aruba. Imagine the countless possibilities we could generate , imagine the passion and talents we could foster, but more importantly, imagine the future we could create for the next generation. Let us imagine Aruba based on its most positive aspects.
Our Role (Department of Economic Affairs)
Nos Aruba 2025 is being financed through Fondo Desaroyo Aruba (Aruba Development Fund). The Department of Economic Affairs functions as the project management team and has a coordinating role in this project. The Department of Economic Affairs, Commerce and Industry of Aruba (DEACI) is a government agency with the objective of advising the Minister of Finance and Economic Affairs on domestic macro- and microeconomic policy and on international trade issues, and to promote investments and exports.
The DEACI consists of five divisions: Investment Promotion, Foreign Economic Relations, Business License, Economic Policy Implementation, Economic Policy and Development Cooperation. The DEACI has broad experience in planning. The division of Economic Policy & Development Cooperation has been in charge of macroeconomic planning since 1986, with the preparation of National Development Plans. This division has also been in charge of the preparation of the development programs for the Dutch Development Cooperation (meerjarenprogramma’s ontwikkelingssamenwerking tussen Nederland en Aruba 2001-2005 en 2006-2009) and the National Investigative Programs for the European Development Funds since 1986.
The organization is made up of a mixture of young, highly-qualified individuals and experienced professionals, who share the goal of offering excellent services to the public. For more information regarding the Department of Economic Affairs please visit our website
The Aruba Tourism Authority plays a supporting role in the Project Management Team and actively contributes to the Nos Aruba 2025 project. For more information, please visit our website
The Project Management Team is assisted by Wikima Partners Aruba Limited. Wikima are organization and community change consultants.
Who (is involved)
Community
Due to the rapid economic developments since 1986 an imbalance was obtained between economic, social and environmental developments. This imbalance becomes more and more obvious daily. Due to this, the Aruban community concerns about working towards sustainable development has increased over time. Nos Aruba 2025 presents the opportunity to the Aruban community to participate in together determining a vision for Aruba in 2025. Through public involvement the Aruban community can identify its core values and a vision for Aruba until 2025. The vision encompass the changes the Aruban population wants to see in Aruba in a time period of fifteen years and how these changes can occur and who will implement the actions to realize these positive changes.
Everybody living in Aruba can give her/his input in determining the vision for Aruba. This can be done by keeping an eye on [our website] for news of activities. Or you can let us know what you would like to do via fax or via email.
Presently, twelve commissions of Nos Aruba 2025 together are working towards making actions plans in how to gain sustainable development in Aruba. For more details on these commissions Everybody who is interested to work in a commission can do so by contacting the chairperson of each commission.
Also Arubans abroad are very welcome in giving their input.
Arubans Abroad
Arubans, such as yourself, who are currently living abroad, share a commonality. At times you might sit down at night, in front of your TV, and remember your Aruba. In your hearts you will always remember where you came from and will cherish the beautiful memories you have of your island. Many of you, when meeting your fellow Arubans, start to reminisce about life on Aruba or may even discuss current events happening on the island. Many of you have great insights, new experiences and different perspectives. Despite where you are currently living, you most likely would still like to contribute to the well-being of Aruba. Nos Aruba 2025 provides the opportunity for Arubans living abroad to have a voice in the creation of a new vision for the island.
Youth
You are the future of tomorrow! It is a well-known expression and, particularly in this case, highly accurate. Nos Aruba 2025 provides the opportunity to network, work on group projects, exchange ideas, and support each other in an effort to better your neighborhood and community. You can serve an important role in the future success of Aruba by sharing your experiences and hopes for the island, and working towards the implementation of different proposals. The commission Lifelong Learning and Personal Development has a sub commission called Next Generation which is especially working on the youth. You can participate in this sub commission. Contact the chairperson of the commission Lifelong Learning and Personal Development Gwennan Boekhoudt.
The Process
Appreciating Nos Aruba
Nos Aruba 2025 uses the Appreciative Inquiry method to effectively manage change. For more than two decades, the Appreciative Inquiry model has been utilized in the USA. Today, it is one of the most revolutionary, positive models used by academics in organizational development and change management. The model was created by David Cooperrider, an academic affiliated with Case Western Reserve University.
The Appreciative Inquiry method is different than other more traditional methods. The Appreciative Inquiry model offers an opportunity to inform, imagine and innovate, instead of supporting a critical approach. According to Appreciative Inquiry theory, organizations and communities that have a negative culture focus too much on threats and weaknesses. This creates the perspective that identified problems are overwhelming, leading to a state of negativism and desperation. Appreciative Inquiry is a process that inspires change and involvement by the community. It enhances connectivity and seeks to enact positive change through relationships, networks and broad knowledge and action.
Appreciative Inquiry has 4 stages:
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DISCOVERY: What gives life? (Appreciating the best of Aruba)
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DREAM: What might be? (Envisioning impact: Shared images for a preferred future)
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DESIGN: What does innovation look like? (Co-constructing the ideal)
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DESTINY: How to empower? (Sustaining the vision through action)
For more information visit our Knowledge Center.
Commissions
Energy Management
In 2025 Aruba will be maximizing its use of locally available natural renewable energy resources and recycling its waste in a responsible and sustainable way…
Environment
In 2025 Aruba will be an island where we live happily and our people respect and protect each others space, behavior and environment. We aspire sustainable initiatives and development that maintains prosperity and contribute to a balanced quality of live. We strive for the maximum conservation of our social, cultural and natural heritage and resources as a basis of our existence..
International Financial Center
Aruba has the opportunity to become an important player in the financial world with an International Financial Center…
Community Based Initiatives
In comparison to the past seventeen years, where our biggest concerns were overpopulation, low level of education and unstable financial status, we achieved the following:…
Governance
In 2025 all citizens feel like subjects and not like objects, governed by an accountable, efficient, effective and transparent public sector. There is public and private partnership focused on a sustainable & diverse society that produces benefits in terms of wellbeing and the development of each citizens personal capacities…
Socio-Economic Structure
Aruba’s society has achieved a good balance between prosperity and social well being for individual citizens and enterprises. The economy is diversified to a broad extent with tourism providing 40% of GDP and transport, financial services and knowledge-based activities making up most of the remainder. Although the economy is closely interlinked to the regional and world economies, it is less dependent on foreign investment and labour and more driven by high-skilled labour and Aruban ingenuity, creativity and entrepreneurship. Sustainable initiatives are stimulated by fiscal incentives…
Nation of Innovation
In 2025 Aruba will be the place where innovative people will share innovative ideas in an innovation-friendly environment.
Sustainable Tourism
During the different events that have been organized in connection with “Nos Aruba 2025” the topic of sustainable of tourism has come up several times, therefore a specific commission has been established to work on this aspect of the National Integrated Strategic Plan for Aruba…
Sustainable Food Supplies
A sustainable Aruba that is developing for the benefit of all people and stakeholders of Aruba and that offers a healthy future for our children and our grandchildren which will make them proud to be Arubans.
Sport & Nutrition
Today, 1st of January, 2025, the Aruban community uses sport and nutrition as the most important tool to achieve a healthy way of living. The focal point on health care is on the preventive side more then on the curative side…
Culture
In the year 2025, Aruba is a nation with an optimally developed culture in all senses, in which a holistic synthesis of all cultural aspects has been achieved.
Lifelong Learning and Personal Development
‘Live to Learn, Learn to Live’
In the year 2025 the Aruban community is convinced that… Development, growth and learning are an essential and continuous process throughout your whole life.
TV Spot
Following Videos are available on YouTube (in Papiamento only)