Basseterre, St. Kitts – 4 February 2025
The Green Climate Fund (GCF) Readiness 4 Project, executed by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Center, hosted its final workshops during the week of January 27–31, 2025. This three-year initiative was designed to “Strengthen St. Kitts and Nevis’s National Emergency and Disaster Management” by enhancing the country’s capacity to manage disaster risks and build resilience to climate change impacts.
The project concentrated on strengthening legislative, regulatory, and operational frameworks while improving the capacity of key agencies, including the St. Kitts and Nevis Meteorological Services (SKNMS), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Nevis Disaster Management Department (NDMD), and private sector stakeholders. By addressing existing gaps that hinder effective responses to climate-related threats, the initiative has positioned St. Kitts and Nevis to better mitigate and adapt to climate change impacts.
In addition to institutional capacity building, the project emphasized raising awareness and expanding knowledge among public and private sector stakeholders about climate financing mechanisms, such as the Green Climate Fund, as well as equipping them with data-driven tools to support informed decision-making.
Final Workshops: Key Objectives
The final workshops were conducted over four days, with two consultancies leading two-day sessions each. These sessions were designed to:
- Present results and recommendations derived from stakeholder consultations, institutional assessments, and collaborative workshops.
- Ensure stakeholder alignment on next steps to sustain the project’s outcomes.
- Facilitate the handover process, assigning responsibilities for continued progress.
- Validate island-specific recommendations for both St. Kitts and Nevis.
- Strengthen long-term stakeholder ownership and commitment to disaster resilience initiatives.
Highlights of the Workshops
The Insight Decision consultancy team facilitated a two-day session that showcased key project outputs, including:
- Updated and climate-resilient National Emergency Management Plans.
- A formalized Operational Framework and Training Plan for NEMA and NDMD.
- Implementation of an Integrated Impact-Based Multi-Hazard Early Warning System Framework.
Meanwhile, HR Wallingford led another two-day session to launch critical tools developed under the project.
These included a Storm Surge Model and Atlas and a Climate Data Repository System, complemented by a comprehensive communications strategy. Stakeholders also received hands-on training to effectively utilize these tools, which are designed to enhance the efficiency of meteorological offices and disaster management agencies.
Project Conclusion
The GCF Readiness 4 Project, implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, is scheduled to conclude on February 28, 2025. The Ministry has played a key role in overseeing the project’s execution, ensuring its success and the sustainability of its outcomes.
