The International Organization for Migration (IOM), through funding made available by Habitat for Humanity Trinidad, is continuing to assist vulnerable households in Dominica with housing recovery. The project, which was launched mid-September, aims to contribute to Dominica’s resilience, supporting the construction and repair of at least 10 small homes while simultaneously providing jobs to skilled locals trained in basic carpentry, compliant with national building standards.
This project will provide trained workers to repair homes, while simultaneously supporting livelihoods. According to IOM Communications Officer, Maxine Alleyne-Esprit “IOM is using this project collaboration with Habitat for Humanity to assist vulnerable families who have been unable to fully recover on their own. At the same time, it provides employment for at least 50 Dominicans who were trained in construction skills using the revised national building codes but who are currently unemployed. For us, this ties in directly with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 8 ‘Decent Work and Economic Growth’.”
Esprit, who is also the Community Engagement focal point of the Dominica office, went on to explain how the home beneficiaries were chosen. “The project from Habitat for Humanity really has a livelihood focus. In the meantime, IOM continues to receive requests for assistance in housing repairs from affected people, and as such a decision was taken to utilize the livelihoods project to assist some of these who still require support. We were challenged because the project does not provide for materials, therefore we were limited to working with vulnerable households who had materials but were unable to mobilize labour.”
Labourers are paired with established contractors to complete the work.
“The construction workers are grouped in teams of five and are then placed with contractors based on their location and level of expertise. This is our way of ensuring quality control and safeguarding conditions that ensure decent work. Which is also in keeping with objective 6 of the Global Compact on Migration,” she noted.
In the two years since Hurricane Maria, IOM has assisted over 700 families with housing repairs and construction in about 16 communities islandwide. Then, with monetary and other support from several international donors including Habitat for Humanity, the Department for International Development (DFID), the Government of Australia and China-Aid through the United Nations, IOM trained dozens of Dominicans in basic carpentry and hosted numerous community sessions outlining the provisions of Dominica’s National Building Standards.
“As IOM transitions into its core function of building migration management capacities where it is most needed, we will continue to facilitate partnerships for the benefit of people who were displaced or who have not yet recovered safe housing since Hurricane Maria. We reaffirm our commitment to supporting the Government and people of Dominica with its development as the nation moves forward.” Officer-in-Charge, Natasha Greaves noted.
For more information on IOM and its work contact our Community Engagement & Communications Officer at [email protected] or call 1(767)285-0794.
