Enhancing Resilience to Reduce Vulnerability in the Caribbean
This initiative represents the joint efforts of the Crisis Prevention and Recovery, Poverty Reduction, and Energy and Environment programmes. It takes an integrated approach to vulnerability reduction and enhancing resilience to climate change, natural hazards and poverty through enhanced civil protection alongside targeted policy and institutional change in relation to poverty, gender and climate change.
The project’s work is directed in two main components over 3 years:
- Strengthening civil protection mechanisms through capacity development for early warning systems (EWS); information dissemination; and institutional coordination for disaster management and response in CARICOM Member States:
- Strengthening of a network of real-time decision support centres for early warning issuing in the sub-region
- Support to disaster management offices, especially as it relates to the involvement of youth in civil protection through volunteerism, contingency planning, and early warning systems
- Enhanced regional tsunami public awareness programme in support of the early warning system through the establishment of the Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC)
- Enhancing human development by integrating climate change risks and opportunities into poverty reduction policies and strategies:
- Enhancing predictive and response capacity to support risk reduction based on an understanding of the human development impacts of climate change on vulnerable groups
- Supporting and strengthening evidence-based policy frameworks for mainstreaming gender, poverty reduction and climate change adaptation into national development strategies
- Supporting the creation of an enabling environment for evidence-based decision making and investments in climate change adaptation
With initial support from the Italian Development Cooperation in the amount of €3.5m for the first component, the project will be implemented in collaboration with key partners and stakeholders including the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Response Agency (CDERA), and the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH). The Italian Civil Protection Agency and CIMA Research Foundation will provide technical support and coordination to the initiative.
The project will also fashion synergies with other initiatives including the UNDP "Youth INnovation" project under the Governance portfolio, which is also supported by the Italian Development Cooperation. Key linkages will be forged in the area of youth volunteerism with regards to civil protection.
Updates
Mar 2009
The first stakeholders' consultation was held in order to gain inputs from the beneficiaries and partners on matters relating to finalising the project document, the 2009 annual work plan, and implementation arrangements. Representatives attended from Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Agencies present included CARICOM Secretariat, CIMH, CDERA, Barbados' Coastal Zone Management Unite (CZMU), EU, the Italian Consulate, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), OECS Secretariat, UNDP, UNICEF, and UNESCO/IOC.
Agenda
Stakeholder consultation report
Speeches
Presentations
Dec 2008
Agreement has been reached amongst the project partners to commence the Initiation Plan for the period January-April 2009 in order to complete preliminary activities for commencement of the project.
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