The Caribbean Experience in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR)

Regional peer learning in LAC for disaster risk reduction

Towards a Solution

The collaboration started with a regional workshop held in December 2014 for the exchange of experiences in DRR and food security between Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. The workshop was facilitated by WFP Regional Bureau in Panama, together with respective WFP Country Offices, and participation from national authorities from Cuba, Haiti and the Dominican Republic. With WFP support, the countries identified a set of activities to be pursued through SSTC in order to continue peer learning in DRR in the Caribbean.

As a follow-up, in 2015 WFP organized the first cycle of field visits with representatives from Cuba to both Haiti and the Dominican Republic to map the available capacities and identify the gaps in each country in relation to risk management of disasters. In 2016, the second cycle of exchanges focused on identifying the specific actions to be implemented to strengthen DRR and management systems in Haiti with the technical expertise of Cuba and the coordination of WFP. The following actions were identified:

• The need to strengthen the surveillance and forecasting of extreme events through the installation of numerical models and training of technical personnel;
• The sharing of expertise to assess the risk associated with the impact of strong winds, heavy rains and coastal flooding;
• The development of info-communication flows to ensure the dissemination of monitoring information and forecasts.

In parallel to these initiatives, to complement efforts in DRR, since 2015, WFP has been facilitating Regional Dialogue Platforms on Forecast based Financing (FbF), funded by Germany, which has provided a space to exchange their experiences and lessons learned from FbF within their region.

Between 2016 and 2019, WFP facilitated visits of Cuban experts to Haiti to set up a short-term meteorological forecasting system for hurricanes. Haitian meteorologists also participated in several field visits to Cuba and received training on tropical cyclone forecasting methodologies.

This successful SSTC initiative facilitated by WFP achieved the following objectives:

• National Meteorological Centre of Haiti adopted a numerical model that allows forecasting of the possible hurricane trajectory, within 48-72 hours building on the model learned from Cuba;
• Haitian personnel trained to carry out Hazard, Vulnerabilities and Risk assessments at the community level;
• The government of Haiti developed its National Contingency Plan for hurricanes, taking advantage of the experience of Cuban Civil Defense.

As part of the FbF component, WFP and the German Red Cross organized a regional meeting in Peru, in June 2018, to exchange experiences among countries of the region where FbF is promoted. Presentations took place among government delegations of the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guatemala, Haiti, and Peru.

In November 2018, Cuba and the Dominican Republic continued to work together on SSTC in the area of DRR. Cuban professionals from the Instituto de Meterología came to the Dominican Republic to train staff from the Oficina Nacional de Meterología (ONAMET). This model helps to understand the impact of rains at a precise level, facilitating prepared response actions as part of the FbF project.

Building on these successful SSTC exchanges, peer learning in DRR has expanded to other countries in the region. In 2019, Honduras, Nicaragua and the Caribbean Disaster Management Administration shared their experiences in early warning systems and DRR in a sub-regional disaster risk management forum.

In March 2019, in Santo Domingo, the First Sub-regional Forum on Early Warning and Risk Management in the Caribbean was held with the participation of Cuba, the Dominican Republic and Haiti, as part of WFP’s FbF initiative. The objective was to share experiences and best practices to increase community resilience and strengthen national and regional capacities for DRR, mainly linked to SDG 13. A set of principles and actions for resilience building were adopted for the coming 12 months, highlighted in the “The Santo Domingo Consensus”.

In February 2020, a specialist from WFP Cuba led a workshop for institutions of the Dominican Republic to transfer tools developed by Cuban institutions jointly with WFP Cuba. This strengthens integrated drought management and reduces its impact on food and nutritional security.

In order to give continuity to this joint effort, and taking into consideration COVID-19, the Second Sub-regional Forum on Early Warning and Risk Management in the Caribbean is planned to take place, virtually, during 2021.