Caribbean nations need to begin contemplating what their development trajectory with the coronavirus looks like. It is well known that the poor suffer the most in times of disaster due to fewer — if any — safety nets. Building multidimensional resilience should be a priority at this time. This challenge should not be left solely to governments, though they have a pivotal role in ensuring the availability of and access to public goods and services.

English

The Caribbean Atlantic hurricane season starts today, amidst the unprecedented COVID-19 response. At the launch of CaLP’s “Winds of Change” briefing note on the use of CVA in the Caribbean, Ms.

English

The United Nation’s World Food Programme (WFP) has described Latin America and the Caribbean as “a laboratory for climate action,” as world leaders gather in Madrid, Spain for the 25th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 25). 

But it is not just about problems, according to Kathryn Milliken, WFP’s climate change advisor. “The Latin American and Caribbean region offers exciting opportunities to test and scale up a wide range of solutions to address climate-related issues,” she said.

English

Globally, the number, duration, and size of disasters and crises are on the rise. At the same time, the cost of emergency responses has been increasing, thus exerting further pressure on already limited resources. Concurrently, there is growing global recognition of the need to leverage existing resources to respond to shocks – as reflected in Grand Bargain commitments.

English

The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and the government of the Turks and Caicos Islands, are holding a high-level symposium on 27 June, to discuss how national social protection programmes and systems can play a greater role in disaster risk management and in emergency response. This month marks the start of this year’s Atlantic hurricane season which brings with it six months of uncertainty for Caribbean countries and overseas territories.

English

The Commonwealth of Dominica is a small island country in the eastern Caribbean, with a population of around 71,000 people according to the census 2011, although estimates following Hurricane Maria suggest out-migration has reduced this figure considerably. It is highly exposed to natural disasters, primarily tropical storms and hurricanes, but also floods, volcanoes and landslides, among other shocks (Government of Dominica, 2014 and ACAPS, 2017).

English