United Nations Development Programme - Barbados and the OECS
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Enhanced capacity of national, sub-regional and regional institutions and stakeholders to: effectively manage natural resources; build resilience to the adverse impacts of climate change and natural and anthropogenic hazards; improved energy efficiency and use of renewable energy; improved policy, legal, regulatory and institutional frameworks for environmental and energy governance.
Disaster risk reduction better integrated into development planning and disaster response and recovery improved
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Recognizing that the original legislation was limited in its treatment of volunteerism the ERC project in collaboration with the Comprehensive Disaster Management Harmonised Implementation Programme (CDMHIP) sought to refine the legislative framework to bring it in line with the goals of the Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Strategy. As such these projects are reframing the legislative framework relating to volunteers in DRR throughout the region
Through the EU funding Regional Risk Reduction Inititiave (R3I) alerting systems have been put in place in four (4) countries: Sint. Marteen, Montserrat, Aruba, and Anguilla. The system includes forecasts, alerting systems, coordination of response and communication to the public. The system is based on the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) which is set up as a network capable of activating multiple alerting tools (sirens, email, SMS, radio broadcast, etc) in each country and from each country. These countries can issue timely alerts within a few seconds, even in case of tsunami.
The following activities have also occured through the R3I project:
- Modelling of coastal and inland flood hazards completed for two countries and structural vulnerability assessment completed in six countries
- Storm surge and tsunami models developed in BVI and Sint Maarten
Through the Government of Italy funding Enhancing Resilience to Reduce Vulnerability in the Caribbean (ERC) Project, a network of real-time decision support centers for early warning systems (Dewetra Platform) has been created. This platform acts as a real-time information system for risk forecasting, environmental monitoring and disaster risk reduction. Numerous training sections in the use of the platform have been undertaken
The process to establish the Caribbean Tsunami Information Centre (CTIC) has provided a strategy to improve preparedness to tsunami and coastal hazards for all Caribbean countries. Included as part of this process has been the development of a regional Tsunami Public Awareness and Education (PAE) Strategy. This PAE Strategy focuses on building long-term education and awareness on how to prepare and respond to tsunamis for countries in the Caribbean and adjacent regions. Additionally Tsunami PAE materials are currently being adapted under the ERC project
Our office has supported the general PAE activities for several countries to address the multiple natural hazards faced, including a focus on national and community level awareness and education.
Our office has supported Damage and Loss Assessment for Saint Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines following the passage of Hurricane Thomas in 2010. Additionally capacity built in St Vincent and the Grenadines with training in the Damage and Loss Assessment (DaLA) and review and amendment to systems to more closely integrate the various stages of the damage and needs assessment process with the recovery strategy. In addition, UNDP finalized the OECS Disaster Risk Reduction Program with the DaLA review workshop to examine the implementation of the DaLA methodology in the Caribbean and identify lessons learned and recommend a way forward. UNDP is also seeking to link the DALA capacity development initiative with the poverty reduction initiatives including developing strategies for evidence based approaches. Additionally UNDP is seeking to move beyond the DaLA to building awareness of and capacity in the implementation of Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA).
Office has also suppoted the following:
- Urban Search and Rescue training completed in four territories (Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos, Arbua, Cuaracao). This training was directly attributable to saving 2 lives
- Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training occurred in Montserrat, Grenada and Barbados, in association with the ACP EU project. This training allows individuals to help themselves, their families and communities in an emergency situation and as a result become more resilient.
- Updating country national disaster plans in four countries (ongoing)
- Upgrading of Emergency telecommunications system infrastructure and training in operation and maintenance completed in four countries
- Telecommunications equipment procured and installed for select communities within the region (Rose Hill - Grenada, Choiseul - Saint Lucia, Island Harbour - Anguilla)
- Shelter management training in 6 countries for more than 60 persons and oil spill management training conducted.
- Business Continuity Management training provided for participants from 10 countries and for more than fifty persons.
Finally, our office has been central to a UN Resident Coordinator and Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency led structure to improve development partner coordination for disaster assessment and response in affected countries in the eastern Caribbean titled the Eastern Caribbean Development Partner group for Disaster Management (ECDPG/DM).
allows stakeholders to inform the public about their work on DRR. The SFVC online platform is a useful toolto know who is doing what and where for the implementation of the Sendai Framework, which could foster potential collaboration among stakeholders. All stakeholders (private sector, civil society organizations, academia, media, local governments, etc.) working on DRR can submit their commitments and report on their progress and deliverables.