It’s not a simple matter to prepare for the impacts of climate change, at the community level. It is even harder to “bounce back” after a flood, a hurricane, or a period of persistent drought.
A proposal writing workshop for non-governmental and civil society organisations on the topic of climate and disaster preparedness in the Caribbean closed with a flourish at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel on August 11. There were many speakers, questions and answers, and the indefatigable Indi McLymont-Lafayette patiently guided the lengthy agenda along to its conclusion.
The final meeting was remarkably rich, although “proposal writing” may sound like a dull topic. Far from it – this is an essential skill for regional non-profits and civil society organisations, many of whom have to compete very hard for funds for their projects and longer term programmes.
Ms. McLymont-Lafayette is Knowledge Management and Communications Consultant for the Caribbean Development Bank’s Basic Needs Trust Fund (BNTF), which is involved with funding education, water and sanitation, and community projects and was a major funder of this project (At this point, I must pause to congratulate Ms. Therese Turner-Jones, who took up the role of Director of Projects at CDB in Barbados just last month).
Other partners were the European Union, the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the Regional Training Centre, the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP), and the humanitarian organisation Global Support and Development (GSD). PLUS the CDB’s Caribbean Action For Resilience Enhancement Programme as well as the UN’s Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Small Grants Program; CCRIF SPC (formerly the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility); the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute; 11th European Development Fund – they were all involved too, providing their technical expertise.
Senior Operations Officer in CDB’s Social Sector Division Mr. Elbert Ellis noted that the project took “over 30 months of planning and numerous meetings” to bring it to fruition. The BNTF, he pointed out, is seen as the CDB’s poverty reduction programme, focusing on Sustainable Development Goal #1 – the critical one – “No Poverty.” The Fund’s methods are community-based and focus on improving basic economic and social infrastructure and services, and skills training that can offer job opportunities. Now, there is another layer to the support needed among these communities, in the face of “myriad vulnerabilities to disaster risks and ever increasing climate- related impacts,” added Mr. Ellis.
Rather worryingly, in a survey conducted with 32 community groups in Jamaica, Guyana, and Saint Lucia that benefit from BNTF support, “92% of respondents indicated having limited or no capacity to write project proposals,” Mr. Ellis noted. Clearly, the need is great for these groups to be able to write a really strong project proposal that clearly expresses both their goals and their ability to achieve what they say they will do with the money – but the capacity to do so was greatly lacking. When the planned project is climate-related, additional research and detail must also be included in any proposal seeking funds – a deeper understanding of what, where and how the impacts are felt. It becomes more technical; it requires special expertise. I should add also, that this kind of expertise needs to be continually updated and refreshed; what was happening on the ground five or ten years ago may not be applicable to today’s situation.
Climate change is moving fast. Many of the social media hashtags are now #climatedisaster #climatecatastrophe and the like. Because it is now. As singer and climate activist Aaron Silk pointed out, “Global warming is here.” Aaron rocked the landmark Climate Change Conference in Paris with his song “One Point Five to Stay Alive.” He sang it again at the meeting, just to remind us. The World Meteorological Organisation recently reported that there is a high (66%) probability that we will reach that one point five degree level in the next few years, if we continue this way.
Now, what of the Three Little Pigs? It’s a fairy tale that many in the audience did not seem familiar with, but as with many such tales, it is more of a moral tale – a fable if you will. Guest speaker Mr. Evan Thompson, who is Director of Jamaica’s Meteorological Services, while predicting a busier than normal hurricane season, told the story eloquently, and with footnotes – in case we missed the critical points. Mr. Thompson has a seat at the table at the WMO, by the way, representing the region. I hold him in high regard, and his speech was passionate, without notes – and hard-hitting.
So: the mother pig sends her three little young ones out in the world, to fend for themselves. They are now independent and free, and they think they know it all. Two of the three pigs spend their days playing and having fun. But then, they hear about the Big Bad Wolf. No worries, says the first pig, hurriedly building a house of straw to protect himself. When the BBW comes along, he easily blows it down and eats Piggie Number One. (I will omit the more gruesome parts of the story – fairy tales can quickly become rather violent). Then, the second pig builds a house of sticks; it lasts a bit longer than the first one, but I am afraid the outcome is the same. Second pig is no more.
The third pig had already decided to build his house in a more labour-intensive way – using bricks. His siblings had laughed at him for making such hard work of it; surely it was quicker and easier with the straw and sticks? He ignores them as they plays around, and plods on with his construction work. When the BBW arrives outside, he blows and blows – but the house stands firm, with Piggie Number Three safe and sound inside. He has put some thought and some work into it. He survives.
Are we playing, like the first two of the Three Little Pigs? asked Evan Thompson. I think we are. The third pig epitomises resilience. Planning, thought, choosing the right materials, thinking long term. However…
There are two words that Mr. Thompson emphasised. He is concerned that the slow progress in climate change awareness (and action) in the region is due to 1) Ignorance and 2) Apathy. We don’t know, we don’t learn, we don’t care, I would add. We are lazy thinkers and lazy doers.
So, now that the training is complete, an online version will be in preparation. Community leaders will be supported in finalising the draft proposal concepts they worked on during the training, with a view to getting at least some of them funded. Further regional civil society consultations will take place, and the Caribbean’s first Community Engagement Online Course is in the works, in collaboration with the University of Wolverhampton. Looking long term, the overall goal is empowerment of communities.
There is another Sustainable Development Goal that the CDB’s Mr. Ellis referred to in his address: Number 17, Partnerships for the Goals. Without partnerships like this brilliant Caribbean example, the most well-meaning efforts will falter. We are all connected.
In the words of the CDB’s Mr. Ellis:
As community development professionals and community leaders, you hold the power to transform aspirations into reality. By mastering the art of proposal writing, you are equipping yourselves with a valuable tool that can help drive sustainable development, create lasting partnerships, and amplify the voices of those you serve.
Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Friday, August 11, 2023
P.S. Something strange happened at this meeting. I fainted for a minute or two, and caused a bit of a stir at the back of the room – so I missed some of Mr. Thompson’s speech! Let’s put it down to the heat. As Aaron Silk says, “Cool down, Jamaica!”
