South-South Cooperation between Pacific and Caribbean SIDS on Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Management (DRM)

Submitted by katharina on 27 October 2011 - 9:04am

The rational of this initiative is to enable the exchange of ideas, experiences and best practices between SIDS in the Pacific and the Caribbean, in order to find suitable solutions and replicate best practices for addressing the various threats posed by climate change and natural disasters.

The expected outcome is to strengthen safety and resilience of Pacific and Caribbean SIDS’ communities to a range of natural hazards by facilitating and supporting a South-South cooperation program targeted at strengthening climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction capacity in SIDS, based on the transfer of appropriate ‘southern’ expertise and technologies.

Key Information
27 October 2011
Timeframe: 
2010-2012
Case Study
Background: 

The initiatives was established with a view to enabling information exchange visits by Pacific and Asia SIDS’ delegations to the Caribbean and vice versa, in order for experts to meet each other, visit sites to see climate change adaptation mechanisms and DRM methods in practise, and share expertise through face to face meetings, online collaboration and platform meetings.

Results Achieved: 

Expected results:

1. Identification, documentation and dissemination of best practices on integrated climate change adaptation and disaster management specific to the SIDS context. Sample activities: case studies, presentations at conferences, contributions to on-line networks.

2. Transfer and exchange of technologies currently being used by SIDS for effective, equitable and appropriate disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, between the Pacific and the Caribbean regions. Sample activities: training in storm surge modeling, assessment of climate change impacts in the agricultural sector, manual for climate observers.

3. Disaster risk management and climate change adaptation included in the broader development agenda through support for national action planning, mainstreaming and advocacy work in the Pacific and Caribbean regions and countries. Sample activities: guidelines, checklists, position papers.

Main Activities: 

(a) Awareness raising, relationship development and peer learning between the Pacific and the Caribbean.

(b) Documentation and dissemination of lessons learnt via publications and multimedia.

Future Replicability
Lessons Learned: 

Drawing key representatives from Caribbean, Pacific and Asia SIDS into regional platform meetings provided an opportunity to develop relationships between the two regions, which is a first step in creating opportunities for inter-regional co-operation and collaboration. Allowing delegations to directly participate in the exchange was critical to identifying the appropriate projects that could be adapted within the two regions.

Key to Success for Future Replicability: 

(a)Documentation of lessons learnt.

(b)Key players included in the project from inception and regular knowledge and information sharing amongst the core group.

Contacts: 

Karen Bernard, UNDP Pacific Centre;

Jacinda Fairholm, UNDP Cuba