Dominica is one of eight Caribbean territories to benefit from the implementation of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) Caribbean Organizations for a Resilient Environment (CORE) project. In partnership with the Government of Canada, the CORE Project aims to increase vulnerable groups’ resilience to climate change across the Caribbean over the next four years ending in July 2027.
Climate change impacts women and men differently, and gender inequality continues to be of concern in the Caribbean. Caribbean countries are up to seven times more likely to experience a natural disaster than other states, and when one occurs, it can incur as much as six times more damage. Closing gender gaps can lead to increased economic growth, as well as increased climate resilience.
In support of the CORE Project, GAC Head of Cooperation and lead for Canada’s Caribbean Regional Development Program, Christian DaSilva visited the Dominica National Conservation Trust Fund (DNCTF) on Monday, January 22 to learn more about the work of the DNCTF and the potential pipeline for conservation and climate change projects in Dominica.
The DNCTF is one of the CBF’s 11 partner national conservation trust funds which are key beneficiaries of the CORE project that will receive capacity building to enhance gender equality in their operations and facilitate the delivery of grant funding via the Gender Smart Facility financing mechanism.
Local stakeholders including the Forestry Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Blue and Green Economy, Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Rural Modernization and Kalinago Upliftment, Fisheries Division, Ministry of Tourism, Dominica National Council of Women, One Good Deed, GEMS Foundation, WUSC Caribbean – World University Service of Canada, NDFD – National Development Foundation of Dominica Ltd and local entrepreneurs, Jaydee’s Naturals, Bees Natural participated in the meeting. An open forum provided insight into the stakeholder ideas for relevant climate change interventions in Dominica with contributions from participants interested in reforestation, climate-smart agriculture, marine conservation, and building on natural resources to provide livelihood opportunities.
Following robust discussions led by the CEO Taletha Laudat and the extension team of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries Blue, and Green Economy, the team visited farms primarily managed by women in Morne Prosper. The visit allowed the attendees to identify challenges impacting biodiversity from climatic and non-climatic stressors, and possible opportunities for gender-responsive climate action solutions.
The CORE Project valued at CAD 13.4M will be implemented in Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. CAD 8M in funding was provided by Global Affairs Canada (GAC with co-financing from the CBF valued at CAD 5.4M. ABOUT CORE The Caribbean Organizations for a Resilient Environment (CORE) Project that is aiming to increase resilience to climate change of vulnerable groups in 8 beneficiary countries across the Caribbean: Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.
More specifically, project beneficiaries include Caribbean organizations: Conservation Trust Funds, Women’s Rights Organizations, Environmental Organizations, and Youth Organizations. Learn more about how the CBF is working to preserve and protect the natural resources of the Caribbean region at caribbeanbiodiversityfund.org.
ABOUT DOMINICA NATIONAL CONSERVATION TRUST FUND, The Dominica National Conservation Trust Fund (DNCTF) was designed for the enhancement of sustainable financing to support governmental agencies, NGOs, and community-based and civil society groups of the Dominican economy.
The DNCTF aims to catalyze growth capital for nature-based companies, State/ Local Governments, and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the form of grants to augment the preservation, conservation, and management of Dominica’s Biodiversity within prudent levels of risk.
In the first instance, donor funding supports DNCTF operations and projects earmarked for sustainable development. The Fund seeks to realize the goal of building viable, sustainable systems that contribute to Dominica’s development impact for years to come.