Ten Dominicans from the Kalinago Territory five men, and five women, are today better poised to embark on entrepreneurial ventures in wood working after completing a seven-week woodwork training course made possible by the United Nations Development Programme’s Enabling Gender-Responsive Disaster Recovery Climate and Environmental Resilience in the Caribbean (EnGenDER) Project.

The Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernization and Kalinago Upliftment launched the programme, which was supported by “The Offer of Complementary Funding” (OCF) – a UNDP EnGenDER Project initiative, funded by the Governments of Canada and the United Kingdom.

The OCF is designed to help Caribbean states adapt to the reality of new climate extremes.  In Dominica, activities taking place under this initiative are primarily focused on the Kalinago Community, who are among the island’s most vulnerable.  However, the proposed measures are part of an overall national strategy aimed at achieving climate resilience.

EnGenDER’s OCF is directly aligned with Dominica’s vision of becoming climate resilient, specifically as it relates to diversifying the economy to enable it to withstand climate impacts, said Project Manager, Massimilliano Tozzi.

“Interventions will contribute to the overall sustainable development priorities of the Government of Dominica by supporting progress with achieving 12 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, more specifically, goal number one which seeks to eradicate poverty; goal five, which speaks to gender equality; and goal 13, which implores nation states to take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts,” he said.

Graduates of the recently-concluded workshop will receive their certificates on Friday, July 8, during an official closing ceremony for the OCF at the Kalinago Barana Aute.  The ceremony is scheduled to commence at 3:00 PM.

The Honourable Dr. Irving McIntyre, Minister for Health, Wellness and New Health Investment, will deliver the Feature Address, and The Honourable Cozier Frederick, Minister of Environment, Rural Modernisation and Kalinago Upliftment will deliver remarks.

The workshop facilitator and participants will share testimonials and representatives from Global Affairs Canada and the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office of the United Kingdom will also deliver remarks via video. In addition to woodwork training, the EnGenDER OCF recently supported the Government of Dominica with developing assessments required when applying for climate financing.

Dominica will be applying to the Green Climate Fund to access grants for the “Dominica Kalinago Territory Climate Resilience Project”, which seeks to build and enhance the capacity of vulnerable persons on the island, and to manage existing risk and the future uncertainties of a changing climate.

The week-long assessments included discussions on agriculture and fisheries development while focusing on mechanisms that will enable the Kalinago people to better cope with climate change and its impact on their livelihoods.

EnGenDER’s OCF is directly aligned with Dominica’s vision of becoming climate resilient, specifically as it relates to diversifying the economy to enable it to withstand climate impacts, social protection and poverty reduction, environmental management, cultural preservation, and overall sustained growth that is inclusive, ensuring no one is left behind.

Speaking about the wood working course, the Honourable Cozier Frederick, Minister of Environment Rural Modernisation and Kalinago Upliftment, says the activities funded by the OCF have helped to inform and address the priority needs of the Kalinago, and will therefore provide tremendous benefits to the Kalinago people.

 “This particular project didn’t come by chance, we had a proper assessment done at the beginning and based on the assessment, we were able to come up with a number of recommendations that were key, because the project in its entirety has taken up a bottoms up a approach, a sort of grassroots movement, having information from the people themselves, rather than having one that deals with pure policy and a top down approach,” he said.  “So we expect that the livelihoods of folks who have been affected by Hurricane Maria, especially people who are depending heavily on the arts and craft, and tourism product, to be able to sustain their livelihoods, and the community by extension.  So I really want to thank the UNDP for their intervention.”

An exhibition showcasing the work of the newly skilled artisans will follow immediately after the July 8, 2022 closing ceremony.

Under the EnGenDER Project, nine Caribbean states are receiving specialized support, including finance, technology and capacity-building, to increase their capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management, including focusing on women, youth, persons living with disabilities and other vulnerable community members.

As the United Nations’ lead agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. They help countries to develop policies, leadership skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities, and to build resilience to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. UNDP’s work is concentrated in three focus areas: sustainable development, democratic governance and peace building, and climate and disaster resilience.