PROSE POST March 2024
As the first PROSE Post for the new year, I take this opportunity to wish our partners and
stakeholders a successful and productive 2024.
I am happy to share with our partners and stakeholders the exciting and transformational work
that is being undertaken by PROSE in 2024.
As we successfully engage with the public & private sectors and civil society, we will continue
engagement to strengthen their legal and regulatory frameworks centered around
comprehensive disaster management (CDM) and climate change adaptation (CCA). Furthermore, our work with other development organizations will be enhanced as we work collaboratively to
contribute to CDM and CCA sustainable initiatives in the region.
This second edition of the PROSE POST provides highlights of technical assistance activities to
date and outlines upcoming activities. PROSE team members attended a number of key
workshops and we have highlighted two in the events section. Capacity building activities are a
key component of the PROSE Activity. We are pleased to share highlights and some feedback
from Civil Society Organizations on the Policy Development Write Shop.
Activities are currently in progress involving key economic sectors, business continuity planning,
and gender and youth. This work centers on the enhancement of CDM/CCA policy, regulations,
and planning, with the end goal of strengthened regional, national, sectoral, business, and civic
resilience.
We look forward to further engaging with you in 2024.
Sincerely,
Marianela Guzman
PROSE Chief of Party
PROSE ACTIVITY HIGHLIGHTS
Public Sector Engagement:
Select on-going collaborations with the National Disaster Offices
include:
- Saint Lucia: Review of the Disaster Management Act 2006
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Update of the National CDM Strategy and
Implementation Plan - Dominica: Review of CDM Legislation (Draft 2016)
- St. Kitts & Nevis: Development of a New Country Work Program (CWP)
Event: Working group session with USAID, PROSE and CDEMA
Private Sector Engagement:
Strengthening Private Sector Digital Resilience to Disasters and Climate Change: Towards a Global Vision, Regional Collaboration, and Accelerated Action (Connected Caribbean Summit 2023)
Event: Barbados EW4ALL National Consultative Workshop
Civil Society Engagement
Select on-going collaborations with civil society organizations include:
- Fundamental Principles for Writing Policies and Procedures Professional Development
Workshop - Incorporating youth perspectives, concerns, and priorities, into CDM and CCA policies
and actions with CYEN
PUBLIC SECTOR HIGHLIGHTS
The USAID PROSE Activity has been actively engaged with National Disaster Offices (NDOs) in providing technical support in Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) policies, legislations, and regulations. Through the help desk service, six (6) NDOs have commenced activities with PROSE’s support.
These strategic partnerships have played a crucial role in advancing PROSE objectives, particularly under Objective 1: Enhanced incorporation and implementation of CDM approaches within policy, legal, or regulatory frameworks for CDM. By collaborating closely with disaster offices, we have been able to make significant strides in strengthening CDM and CCA policies. Select on going collaborations with the NDOs include:
- Saint Lucia: Review of the Disaster Management Act 2006
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Update of the National CDM Strategy and Implementation Plan
- Dominica: Review and Update of CDM Legislation (Draft 2016)
- St Kitts & Nevis: Development of a New Country Work Program (CWP)
PRIVATE SECTOR ENGAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTS
Collaborative efforts by PROSE and the Executive Board of CARICHAM have been focused on analyzing potential opportunities to bolster CDM/CCA initiatives. A pivotal outcome of the collaboration was the successful engagement and facilitation at the Connected Caribbean Summit.
In December 2023, PROSE provided technical assistance to the CARICHAM Network during the Connected Caribbean Summit 2023. Ms. Darlene Irby, Vice President, International Development Division and Cadmus Digital expert, delivered the opening remarks at the commencement of the summit, and addressed the audience on the pivotal role of policy, shedding light on the work of the PROSE Activity. She participated in the panel discussion “Deconstructing Digital Business” during the first-day plenary session at the kick-off of the Summit. Ms. Natasha Yeeloy Labad, PROSE Private Sector Advisor, moderated key sessions, including “Partners in Action,” emphasizing regional collaboration for climate, disaster, and digital resilience. A key output of the summit for PROSE is a draft action plan on business resilience specifically tailored for CARICHAM.
Additional information can be viewed at the Connect Caribbean Summit 2023 website.
CIVIL SOCIETY ENGAGEMENT HIGHLIGHTS
PROSE recognizes the valuable contribution of civil society organizations in the region and is collaborating with organizations representing vulnerable groups such as women, youth, and indigenous peoples on CDM/CCA efforts and capacity building initiatives. Our work with the civil society organizations focuses on strengthening their participation in the development and enhancement of DRM/CCA policy and regulations, as well as their own operational resiliency.
In October, PROSE facilitated the attendance of a second cohort of participants at The UWI School of Graduate Studies and Research (The UWI SGSR) online Fundamental Principles for Writing Policies and Procedures Professional Development Workshop. The workshop provided a foundation that advanced participants’ knowledge and skills regarding the necessary structural and textual components of a policy document and guided them through the policy writing process. A total of 18 participants attended the training representing civil society organizations, the public, and private sectors. Civil society organization participants shared the following feedback on their experiences in the workshop.
“Firstly, thank you again for the opportunity to do the workshop! I thought that it was really informative and helpful! I feel like the workshop really helped to not only clarify things but also helped me to better understand what exactly a policy, its purpose is, how to write one and how to understand one. I especially like the Assessment tool we were given which would allow us to not only dissect existing policies in order to make future revisions but to also critique our own policies. I would definitely recommend this workshop to people!”
Learn more about The Cropper Foundation here.
“The online workshop “Fundamental Principles for Writing Policies and Procedures” was a positive learning experience. The course was very well structured and rich in information that was presented clearly and concisely. I also enjoyed the professionalism of the other workshop participants, there was a lot of expertise that was shared openly. The workshop made policy writing a less intimidating endeavor, and helped me assist the GHFS director, in finalizing a policy brief that she and a colleague drafted for a Climate Democracy project. We plan to, where relevant, include drafting of a policy brief in our upcoming projects.”
Learn more about the Green Heritage Fund Suriname here.
“I write to thank you for your professional engagement with the Caribbean organization of Indigenous Peoples (COIP). It is true to say that the organization has had a quantum leap as a result of the intervention. My participation in the Workshop on Fundamental Principles for Writing Policies and Procedures is particularly relevant for COIP. The skills gained will benefit the indigenous Peoples of the Caribbean, as it opens the way for writing new Policies, sub-Policies, or amending existing Policies and procedures. I look forward to further training as opportunities arise, and to working with PROSE to build COIP to the benefit of the Indigenous Peoples of the Region.”
“The policy writing course was informative and well structured, and I am glad I was able to take part. The example documents were helpful and at the right level for participants – especially those new to this topic like I was. The group work exercises, particularly the final assignment of creating a policy really helped me understand the lecture topics.”
Learn more about CYEN here.
Moving into early 2024, the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) and PROSE are collaborating on work focused on incorporating youth perspectives, concerns, and priorities, into CDM and CCA policies and actions, utilizing a three-phased approach:
- A Regional Youth Survey (for youth aged 18 –35 years)
- A CDM/CCA Training; and
- A Policy Brief
As we begin Phase 1, we encourage you to monitor social media and the PROSE website for the launch of the regional survey to share among your youth network
UPCOMING ACTIVITIES
Caribbean Disaster Management Agency’s (CDEMA) Technical Advisory Committee
Meeting:
The PROSE team is excited to participate as observers at the upcoming Technical Advisory Committee Meeting (TAC) hosted by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) from April 15th to 19th, 2024, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Through knowledge sharing and collaboration, we aim to support CDEMA’s mission of building a resilient Caribbean, working towards a safer and more resilient future for all in the face of disasters and climate challenges. We look forward to seeing
many of you there! Additional information on CDEMA can be found here.