Over 150 Kalinago residents to participate in high-level ‘climate resilience’ talks under UNDP’s EnGenDER OCF Project

Building resilience to climate impacts and improving livelihoods will be the focus of discussions between Dominica’s Kalinago community, Government and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) during a series of high-level talks scheduled for February 7^th to 11^th, 2022.

The Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernization and Kalinago Upliftment will spearhead the event, which is 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, and Head of the UNDP Dominica Project Office, Mr. Luis Francisco Thais Santa Cruz, says while the consultations taking place under this initiative are focused on the Kalinago community, who are among Dominica’s vulnerable, the proposed measures being advanced are part of an overall national strategy to achieve climate resilience.

“This initiative complements several other engagements being spearheaded by UNDP, that include the “Strengthening Sustainable Livelihoods and Resilience in the Kalinago Territory”, and the “Strengthening Disaster Management Capacity of Women” projects.

In this context, the EnGenDER Offer of Complementary Funding (OCF) will support the Government of Dominica with developing the 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 here on the island, and to manage existing risk and the future uncertainties of a changing climate. Climate Change impacts now threaten the way of life in Kalinago communities here in Dominica, which is unfortunate, since their centuries-old society, practices and habits have always respected the environment, and are sustainable and in balance with Caribbean ecosystems” – Luis Francisco Thais Santa Cruz.

The week of consultations will highlight 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.

OCF 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.

“To assist with achieving these goals, the Offer of Complementary Funding supported an assessment of the current and projected impacts of climate change on the livelihoods of members of the Kalinago community. This will help to inform the priority needs of the Kalinago and provide guidance on how these needs can best be met, and provide access to funding to help support these needs.” – Luis Francisco Thais Santa Cruz.

Mr. Donalson Frederick of the Division of Kalinago Affairs, which falls under the Ministry of Environment Rural Modernization and Kalinago Upliftment, says the project, will provide tremendous benefits to the Kalinago people.

Under the Enabling Gender-Responsive Disaster Recovery Climate and Environmental Resilience in the Caribbean (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.