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Resilience Programme

Learning, advocating on and building capacity for approaches that holistically build resilience to climate change, natural disasters and other risks to Caribbean people, ecosystems and economies.

We are leveraging our experience to strengthen civil society organisations, local resource users, and community enterprises to withstand the impacts of climate change and disasters. Our focus is on ecosystem-based and community-based approaches (EBA/CBA) while ensuring that civil society plays a crucial role in climate and disaster decision-making through participatory policy development at both national and regional levels.

 

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Why it matters

The Caribbean islands are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and related disasters, which threaten economies, livelihoods, and the ability of natural ecosystems to provide essential goods and services. If greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, the region could face up to US$22 billion in damages by 2050, equivalent to 10% of the current regional economy. Addressing climate change and disasters is crucial for building resilience, conserving biodiversity, promoting sustainable livelihoods, and reducing poverty.

Our approach

We are working with civil society, local communities, resource managers, and users—including the most vulnerable—to build resilience and ensure fair, equitable, and sustainable outcomes in addressing climate change and related disasters. Leveraging over a decade of experience, tools, and partnerships, we focus on ecosystem-based and community-based approaches (EBA/CBA) and make sure that civil society has a voice in climate and disaster decision-making through participatory policy development at national and regional levels and mobilising finance and partnerships.

Our Resilience programme aligns with national priorities and the CARICOM Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change and Comprehensive Disaster Management Strategy. It also supports the ambitious targets of the Paris Agreement, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the SAMOA Pathway.

Our goal

To improve the resilience of communities, livelihoods, and ecosystems in the Caribbean to climate change and natural disasters using participatory approaches.

Key areas of focus

  • Ecosystem and community-based approaches: Implementing strategies for adaptation, mitigation (including REDD+), and disaster risk management.
  • Climate-proofing local green-blue enterprises (LGEs): Enhancing the resilience of LGEs and livelihoods.
  • Research and knowledge sharing: Focusing on climate change and disaster impacts, vulnerabilities, solutions, and leveraging local and traditional knowledge.
  • Capacity building: Strengthening technical and organisational capacities of CSOs, communities, and resource managers to scale up climate and disaster actions.
  • Mainstreaming considerations: Integrating climate change and disaster issues into participatory planning and policy development at local, national, and regional levels.
  • Participatory governance mechanisms: Enhancing civil society’s access to climate and disaster finance and strengthening decision-making processes through inclusive mechanisms.

Related publications

Latest News on Resilience

For more information on the Resilience Programme contact Dr. Ainka Granderson at ainka@canari.org

Top photo: Rising sea levels

Credit: CANARI

CANARI