Eighteen Disaster Management professionals from across the Caribbean came together for CDEMA’s CDM Blueprint Regional Capacity-Building Workshop hosted in Kingston Jamaica, to chart a resilient path forward for the region.
As CDEMA works to advance the implementation of the CDM Blueprint, the workshop provided participants with a forum for knowledge-sharing, collaboration, and engagement to strengthen the mechanism.
At the official opening ceremony of the two-day workshop on November 21, Minister of Local Government and Community Development for Jamaica, Desmond McKenzie, underscored the importance of funding from international partners to advance CDM, alongside the need to prioritize continuity of the work being done to address disaster risks.
“As trailblazers, we must create that environment that will allow our work to continue after some of us have left the stage. We must join forces and become more determined to succeed in any way we can, and to do everything to avoid our developmental goals from being eroded. We don’t want to create a void where generations that come after us will find difficulty in understanding accepting their role when it comes to disasters,” the Minister said.
Executive Director of CDEMA, Elizabeth Riley explained the importance of the CDM Blueprint as the region’s vulnerability continues to be compounded by evolving natural and biological hazards. “Hurricanes, floods, landslides, and earthquakes have, time and again, wreaked havoc on our economies and, most importantly, our people. Moreover, our nations’ public health and safety face significant threats, not to mention the environmental damage that jeopardizes livelihoods. CDM is not merely an option but a critical necessity for protecting the lives and livelihoods of our people.”
Riley charged the participants with their roles in championing CDM saying, “As key decision-makers within the CDM arena, we are responsible for driving change to move the needle towards reducing risks for the populations we serve. Our collective efforts must focus on proactive measures, investing in preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation. Through a comprehensive strategy, we can make a difference and secure a safer, more resilient future for our Caribbean nations.”
The CDM Blueprint is the guiding framework for CDEMA’s Participating States to effectively integrate CDM at the national level; incorporating an enabling legislative environment, a strategic plan of implementation, and a monitoring and evaluation audit tool to advance CDM. The participants shared successes, challenges and recommendations as they were each at different stages of implementation. Participants left the workshop reinvigorated as they embarked to enhance their CDM frameworks and build resilience at the national level.
Funding for the CDM Blueprint Regional Capacity Building Workshop was provided through the CDEMA CU’s initiative, Building Resilience in the CARIFORUM States (BRICS) Project under the 11th European Development Fund Natural Disaster Facility funded by the European Union.
