Advancing Community Climate Resilience Planning in the Caribbean Region

Project Background

In collaboration with the University of the West Indies (UWI) and University of Hawai‘i at Mona, GRI is working with two communities in Barbados and one in Dominica to prepare community resilience baseline assessments that can identify gaps and inform interventions that will bolster community and climate resilience.  The project team will bolster the capacity for the CIHERC higher education partners to play a key supporting role in assisting Caribbean Island Nations in undertaking similar efforts to mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change. The creation and role of CIHERC stems from recognizing a unique feature of higher education institutions. Research indicates that resilience is advanced by empowering communities and their leaders. As institutions of higher education are deeply rooted in communities, they can act as neutral parties, fostering trust among diverse stakeholder groups.

This is a two-year federally funded project via USAID beggining Summer 2023-Summer 2025.

Project Goals

1. Collaborate with two communities in Barbados and one in Dominica to identify community-supported climate adaptation efforts that mitigate the risks associated with climate change and advance the development of blue and green economies.
2. Bring together international funders, philanthropic organization, and private sector (ESG) investors to identify potential pathways for financing community resilience and climate adaptation projects.

3.  Help advance the capacity across the Caribbean region and other Small Island States to undertake community resilience and climate adaptation work by positioning CIHERC members to be able to support similar efforts in their own island communities.

Anticipated Results

1. Integrate faculty and students from CIHERC members and representatives from relevant public sector and non-profit organizations into the design and implementation of the overall project.
2. In partnership with two pilot communities in Barbados and one in Dominica, produce community resilience baseline assessments.
3. Organize and facilitate community resilience and climate-adaptation planning collaborative sessions in the pilot communities to develop community-identified actions that potentially may align with climate resilience funding opportunities.
4. Organize and host an Implementation Clinic that brings together international funders, philanthropic, and private sector (ESG) investors to identify potential pathways for financing community resilience and climate adaptation actions identified by the pilot communities.
5. Document, assess, and incorporate lessons learned from the three communities into Best Practice Templates that can inform and catalyze community-led, CIHERC-supported efforts to strengthen climate resilience across the Caribbean region and other Small Island States. The templates will also be incorporated into higher education curriculum and support workforce development efforts at Caribbean colleges and universities.