Following the launch of three pilot projects in February of this year, the United Nations Development Programme’s (UNDP) Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (J-CCCP) Project has approved two additional projects in St. Vincent and the Grenadines totalling USD $117, 000.
The projects will be implemented by the Ministry of National Mobilisation, Social Development, Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities and Youth.
One of the projects, titled “Building climate change resilience in the co-operative sector of St. Vincent and the Grenadines for sustainable livelihood, job creation, poverty reduction and food security”, aims to reduce the impact of droughts and increasing plant pests and diseases through applying irrigation and greenhouse technologies.
The project will target the three school cooperatives in North Central Windward, South Windward and Central Windward communities with an estimated 200 beneficiaries, including female-headed households, youth and elderly persons.
The second project, titled “Strengthening community resilience within selected vulnerable communities on mainland St. Vincent”, addresses climate vulnerabilities facing the communities, including increased water scarcity, landslides and flash floods.
These vulnerabilities affect housing, infrastructure and have adverse health effects. The project aims to reduce these impacts by installing water harvesting systems and improving footpaths and drainage systems. The project will benefit more than 500 persons in Barrouallie and 250 in Fair Hall. In both instances, The Ministry will match UNDP’s financial assistance with in-kind contributions.
As climate change is recognised as one of the most serious challenges compounding vulnerabilities inherent to the Caribbean, J-CCCP’s aim to ensure that barriers to the implementation of climate-resilient technologies are addressed and overcome in a participatory and efficient manner is of particular importance.
The project brings together policy makers, experts and representatives of affected communities to encourage policy innovation for climate technology incubation and diffusion.
By doing so, the initiative aims to ensure policy instruments such as Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) provide tailored frameworks to expand access to clean energy and to prioritise adaptation measures.
