Risk and Resilience in the coastal Caribbean

Lead Research Organisation: University of York
Department Name: History

Abstract

Resilience is central to the current development agenda and underpins approaches to disaster risk reduction. Fundamentally, resilience is about the ability of communities to predict, resist and absorb the impact of environmental hazards, so that they can continue to function as successful societies. The frequency and severity of environmental hazards, such as floods and droughts, are increasing in many LMICs, where environmental degradation (like water and soil pollution) can make recovery from such impacts more prolonged, and affect particularly the most vulnerable in society, such as the poor, the old or marginalised ethnic groups, who lack the social, economic and political capital that underpins resilience. It is particularly important, therefore, to understand how to build resilience in and for poorer communities to ensure that they are less vulnerable to environmental risks in the future. One important factor that influences a community's response to environmental risk is the way it has developed over time. Equally, a community's cultural traditions shape how they understand and frame resilience and any strategies they adopt to become more resilient.
However, most research on resilience focusses on the now and the future and fails to take account of the importance of past events and responses and a community's cultural traditions and resources. For this reason, this network will bring together arts and humanities scholars with environmental, physical and social scientists, who work on the resilience of socio-ecological systems (SESs). It builds on two NERC/AHRC/ESRC (GCRF)-funded 'Building Resilience' projects, which have pioneered innovative, cross-disciplinary approaches to explore how environmental histories, governance and culture have interacted in making Caribbean coastal environments and their communities more or less resilient in the face of man-made and natural disasters. The network will focus on the coastal Caribbean, an area experiencing numerous and increasing environmental risks, including rising sea levels and more and fiercer tropical storms that affect especially the most vulnerable in society.
The first event hosted by the network will bring together a multi-disciplinary group of UK and locally-based scholars, who work on the coastal Caribbean and/or environmental resilience, with external stakeholders from within the region to debate the concept resilience from different disciplinary angles; discuss the key challenges in developing environmental resilience in coastal Caribbean communities; and assess cross-disciplinary approaches that will allow for a comprehensive study of these challenges. They will single out three main challenges, which small interdisciplinary teams led by an external stakeholder will develop into proposals for either further study or specific development initiatives that will be discussed at a second event hosted in the region and attended not just by the teams but also interested local and regional agencies and organisations and researchers. Following feedback received at this event, the proposals will be written up and posted on the network's website and a policy brief highlighting the insights that arts and humanities can bring to an understanding of resilience will be made freely-accessible on the website of the Overseas Development Institute(ODI), the UK's leading think tank on international development. In addition, the experiences of working in a cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral network to develop effective proposals to enhance environmental resilience will be shared with other academics and external stakeholders through panels and roundtables at academic conferences and a freely-accessible paper on the History&Policy website.

Planned Impact

Strengthening resilience to climate-related hazards is a key objective of the SDGs and national environmental action plans of Caribbean countries, especially with regards to coastal areas which are affected by numerous and increasing natural and man-made hazards. This cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral project is well-placed to inform policies and practices aimed to strengthen resilience in the face of environmental risk and can thus significantly benefit local communities in the Circum-Caribbean. It has two key impact objectives: 1) to produce a set of proposals for either specific development initiatives or novel interdisciplinary studies that address three major challenges in enhancing resilience in the coastal Caribbean. 2) to write a policy brief setting out the new information and perspectives that arts and humanities researchers can bring to the study of resilience and the development of initiatives to enhance it. The three challenges underpinning the proposals will be defined by members of the network at a first meeting in the UK in January 2018. The proposals will be presented at a second local meeting in August 2018. By making them freely accessible on the network's website in English and Spanish, the proposals can be used by regional and national organisations concerned with implementing environmental resilience agendas.
The policy brief will be uploaded onto the website of the ODI. By sharing a link to this brief with their professional contacts, members of the network will ensure that the insights about the benefits of cross-disciplinary and cross-sectoral work on environmental risk and resilience will be shared widely and can inform work on other geographical contexts.
The CI has worked extensively on resilience in the coastal Caribbean and collaborated with many international, regional and national stakeholders, including the organisations listed below. These organisation have agreed for one of their staff to attend the first workshop and lead interdisciplinary teams that will draw up the proposals and also to share the project's findings through their professional networks. The CI will also use her contacts to invite high-level policy makers and key agencies and institutions within the region to the second event, where the proposals will be presented. This event will convey to relevant organisations the benefits of working with a wider range of academics and may generate new collaborative projects between (UK-based and regional) researchers and (I)NGOs, including the implementation of the set of specific proposals and development of other, new resilience-building initiatives.
Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (Barbados): CDEMA is the regional inter-governmental agency for disaster management in the Caribbean Community. In addition to active disaster management, it is concerned with developing adaptation and resilience strategies to reduce the risk associated with natural hazards and effects of climate change.
Grupo Laera (Colombia): It provides advisory services on vulnerability and climate change. A member of the Global Climate Adaptation Partnership, it has links with various environmental and development organisations, including the World Bank, which gives the project a broader global outreach.
Regional branch International Federation Red Cross and Red Cress Societies (Trinidad): The IFRC works actively with civil society organizations, local government, regional organizations, the private sector and academic institutions to develop adaptation strategies to deal with the impact of climate change in vulnerable communities.
Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (Jamaica): The DRRC works with numerous local, regional and international partners. Especially its partnerships with regional agencies, such as the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency, will ensure that the project's outputs reach those responsible for developing and implementing resilience projects in the region.

Publications

10 25 50
 
Description The major finding of the network is that effective resilience building in the face of natural hazards and climate change requires active engagement with local communities. Our external partners (particularly CDEMA and IFRC) and external stakeholders who attended our second workshop stressed how often donor projects fail to take into account the needs (and abilities) of local communities. The fact that many resilience projects are donor rather than community driven also means that there is not much buy in so that when funding dries up the project is not taken forward. CDEMA and the IFRC are using a so-called Vulnerability and Capacity Assessment Tool which enables local governments to undertake work not only in communities that are most vulnerable as opposed to communities selected by donors but also work that meets their specific needs.
Exploitation Route Community-driven development is not new but is perhaps not fully taken on board in the area of climate resilience work. Our findings then can be taken forward by those working in the field of building resilience in communities that face the risk of natural hazards and climate change.
Sectors Environment

 
Description Adapt'Action
Amount € 213,216 (EUR)
Funding ID CLI-2017-060-01-MS03 
Organisation Agence Française de Développement 
Sector Public
Country France
Start 03/2020 
End 02/2021
 
Description Caribbean Frontiers of Science Follow-on Grant
Amount £11,764 (GBP)
Funding ID FOS\R1\191012 
Organisation The Royal Society 
Sector Charity/Non Profit
Country United Kingdom
Start 12/2019 
End 12/2020
 
Description GCRF Caribbean Resilience and Recovery Knowledge Network
Amount £146,729 (GBP)
Funding ID EP/T00357X/1 
Organisation Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2019 
End 09/2022
 
Description NERC Knowledge Exchange Fellow
Amount £144,579 (GBP)
Funding ID NE/S0006443/1 
Organisation Natural Environment Research Council 
Sector Public
Country United Kingdom
Start 08/2018 
End 08/2021
 
Description YOrk's ESRC IAA
Amount £30,000 (GBP)
Organisation University of York 
Sector Academic/University
Country United Kingdom
Start 03/2018 
End 03/2019
 
Description CDEMA 
Organisation Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
Country Barbados 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution CDEMA is keen to learn from interdisciplinary research that can inform its practices, particularly in the field of mainstreaming the environment in disaster risk reduction. Our two network meetings exposed CDEMA to some of the up-to-date research carried out in different field, ranging from political science and history to environmental science and geography. CDEMA is particularly interested in (post) recovery and are involved therefore in a bid that is submitted to the GCRF global engagement network (CI; Emily Wilkison). This network will include members of this GCRF/AHRC network on risk and resilience
Collaborator Contribution The executive director of CDEMA participated in both network events. They were an active contributor to the discussion around the concept 'resilience' sharing invaluable insights of practitioners. Not only the director but also other members of his team were involved in drafting the research proposal that was shared with external stakeholders at this second network event.
Impact _ GCRF Global Engagement Network bid (submitted February 2019) led by Dr Donovan Campbell (UWI, Mona, Jamaica) who attended the second workshop, and Dr Emily Wilkinson (ODI), who was the CI on this AHRC/GCRF network. This bid was successful see https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FT00357X%2F1 CDEMA were involved in the planning for an ESRC secondary data bid which the PI and two colleagues and members of the network submitted in summer 2019 but which was not successful.
Start Year 2018
 
Description Creation of ODI Resilient Islands (RESI) 
Organisation University of Sheffield
Country United Kingdom 
Sector Academic/University 
PI Contribution Working with Matt Bishop from the University of Southampton and other experts in sustainable development in small island developing states (SIDS), ODI is in the process of setting up a new global advisory network dedicated to working with SIDS and their partners to frame policy problems, influence reform of the international governance architecture, and find solutions to growing sustainability challenges. RESI focuses on the shared interests of small islands with the aim of improving the conditions under which SIDS can achieve financial stability, environmental justice, international alliances and equitable societies.
Collaborator Contribution Intellectual contribution and time to setting up the initiative, engaging with potential donors, producing a working paper and policy brief, and running an academic roundtable.
Impact Two roundtables on SIDS access to concessional finance and debt reduction A working paper and policy brief
Start Year 2021
 
Description International federation of the Red Cross (Caribbean) 
Organisation International Federation of Red Cross and Crescents
Country Switzerland 
Sector Charity/Non Profit 
PI Contribution we have reviewed their Knowledge, Attitude and Perspectives (KAP) survey which they use for their Vulnerabilities Assessments. This survey has been updated to pay more attention to the environment and also pay more attention to gender inclusivity. Since March 2019 we've commented on further drafts of this survey. And in the spring and summer of 2019, some members of the network (Prof Piran White, Prof Jean Grugel and the PI Prof Henrice Altink) worked them on a grant to the ESRC's secondary date scheme. They were listed as the main external partner. Unfortunately our applicant was unsuccessful.
Collaborator Contribution The Red Cross has participated in two network events: 1) an interdisciplinary discussion around the concept resilience 2) the presentation of a research project to external stakeholders. They have played an active part in devising this project and in the workshop. In addition, they have also participated in a secondary data project that has resulted from this project, taking part in an oral interview and following up conference calls. As mentioned in summer 2019 they worked with the PI and two members of the network on a grant submission.
Impact * Myself and Prof. Piran White (member of the network) are currently in the process of drafting a bid to the ESRC's secondary data project which will centre around the Caribbean vulnerabilities assessments of the federation. This will be submitted by July 2019. The Federation will be our main partner in this bid. As mentioned above this bid was submitted but unfortunately was not successful. we are however working exploring other funding opportunities to continue work on the use f this database.
Start Year 2018
 
Company Name Overseas Development Institute 
Description GAGE is a global study on adolescents, focusing on understanding how to enhance their capabilities and empowerment. They follow 20,000 girls and boys in developing countries, exploring various capability domains such as education, health, and economic empowerment. 
Year Established 1960 
Impact In 2022, ODI established the Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI), a global advisory network based at ODI, working with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and their partners to frame policy problems, influence international institutions and find solutions to growing sustainability challenges in small islands. RESI aims to improve the conditions under which SIDS can achieve financial sustainability, environmental justice, international alliances and equitable societies. To-date, RESI has run two high -level events, including one on Climate Justice and the Role of International Law, which highlighted the Vanuatu-led initiative to call for an International Justice Court advisory opinion to clarify state responsibility for climate change. The event brought together 100 climate policymakers, development professionals and legal specialists. Following the event, several developed countries and Latin American countries joined the coalition.
Website http://www.odi.net
 
Description Blog post 
Form Of Engagement Activity Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact blog post about water scarcity and inequality and lessons that can be learned
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2022
URL https://www.york.ac.uk/igdc/news/news/2022/drought-and-water-inequity/
 
Description Blog post 
Form Of Engagement Activity A magazine, newsletter or online publication
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact blog post reflecting on the ability of Caribbean small island developing states to tackle climate change ahead of COP26
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.york.ac.uk/yesi/cop26/blog/tackling-climate-change-caribbean/
 
Description Video for general audience as part ofYorkTalks 2021 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Public/other audiences
Results and Impact presentation ' Unequal risk: how vulnerability to climate change is determined by social systems, not natural forces' of 15 minutes as part of panel on environmental sustainability followed by 30 min discussion. Video of both on Youtube. Live event attended by >200 and video attracted many more. Questions generated further ideas for impact activities and research.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.york.ac.uk/research/events/yorktalks/
 
Description Workshop - CDM conference 2019 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach Regional
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact A forensic workshop on disaster recovery, held on Sunday 1 December 2019 as foreground to the 11th Caribbean Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) conference in Sint Maarten. The event brought together policymakers, practitioners, community members and academics to present evidence on recovery after disasters in Montserrat and Dominica. the afternoon discussions were live streamed with an online audience of over 1,000 people.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://www.facebook.com/cdemacu1/videos/437898993557889/
 
Description expert panel 
Form Of Engagement Activity A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The PI Altink and CI Wilkinson and others keynote speakers and experts from the think tank iDERA (International Development Empowerment and Representation Agency) and the York Environmental Sustainability Institute (YESI) joined representatives from the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and other guest experts, to discuss the key priorities for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) ahead of the November 2021 global climate negotiations
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2021
URL https://www.york.ac.uk/yesi/news/2021/yesi-co-host-sids-at-cop26-webianr/
 
Description external stakeholder workshop 
Form Of Engagement Activity Participation in an activity, workshop or similar
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Professional Practitioners
Results and Impact The network culminated in an external stakeholder engagement event in Kingston, Jamaica, in October 2018. At this event, the network members presented a research proposal around risk, response and recovery in the coastal Caribbean. This was shared with the participants prior to the event. The participants included members of third sector organisations, including the Jamaica environment trust, the Red Cross, as well as government agencies, such as the office of disaster preparedness and the planning institute of Jamaica, and also had a representatives of international organisations including the world bank. The event first of all tried to assess the aims of these various organisations and agencies regarding disaster risk and the struggles they face to meet them. It then solicited views on the research proposals and ways forward.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2018
URL https://www.york.ac.uk/igdc/news/news/jamaica-visit-article/
 
Description talk at event with international development parliamentary committee 
Form Of Engagement Activity A talk or presentation
Part Of Official Scheme? No
Geographic Reach International
Primary Audience Policymakers/politicians
Results and Impact The PI and CI of the AHRC funded network 'risk and resilience in the coastal Caribbean' delivered a presentation entitled 'using local knowledge and practices to build resilience in the Caribbean' at the GCRF-AHRC 'Mobilising global voices: perspectives from the Global South event' held on 28 February. This involved participation of the external partner the international federation of the Red Cross and red crescent societies. We shared findings from our external engagement workshop in Kingston and our involvement in two other GCRF-funded projects including 'Building resilience along the Colombian caribbean coast' to an audience consisting of members of the international development parliamentary committee, representatives of NGOs and MPs from the Global South and other researchers. The aim of the presentation was to illustrate what arts&humanities methodologies can bring to research on enhancing Caribbean resilience, particular their ability to bring to the fore the voices of local people, especially the most vulnerable in society.
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity 2019
URL https://ahrc.ukri.org/newsevents/events/calendar/mobilising-global-voices-2019-perspectives-from-the...