Supporting Governments in tackling the devastating impacts of climate change
It has been almost two years since I sat in a security plane flying over the once familiar, but then almost unrecognisable, terrain of Dominica – the country of my birth.
Our experts have also created a number of DIY resources in the form of implementation toolkits. Along with our training programmes, these help countries build the skillsets they need to create strong and effective programmes that satisfy donor requirements. One such tool is our Commonwealth Disaster Risk Finance Portal which is currently under development. The portal is designed to help member states navigate the complex and growing provision of disaster finance. As well as helping governments to find what disaster finance instruments are available, the portal will assist them with identifying those that are most suited to their particular needs and circumstances.
Our Commonwealth approach has always been to cooperate in exchanging among regions and at all levels of development experience gained through practical action. To assist in this, we issue technical papers to update small states on case studies and responses that have or have not proved to be effective in strengthening disaster preparedness, response and recovery.
In 2018, we undertook a comparative analysis of the experience of Dominica and Vanuatu with disaster risk reduction and management, particularly in the cases of Cyclone Pam and Hurricane Erika. Both countries embody similar geographical, social and economic characteristics and vulnerabilities.
- The main lessons from this analysis reinforced the importance of Strong macroeconomic foundations,
- Mainstreaming and implementation of disaster risk reduction and management strategies and,
- Having provisional financing arrangements in place.
Our experts presented these findings to 23 small states at the fifth Commonwealth Global Biennial Conference on Small States.
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