UNESCO is calling on young professionals from Caribbean Small Island Developing States to join a platform that will address climate change, disaster management and risk reduction in the region.
Over the last decades, the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) have suffered more frequent and severe natural disasters such as storms, hurricanes, earthquakes, tsunamis, floods and droughts. Climate change and global warming further increase the risks of natural disasters.
People in coastal communities are especially vulnerable as the rising sea level can flood their houses. Disasters severely affect the natural environment, the economy and livelihoods.
Responding to the special needs of the Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS), the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean has launched the Special Initiative for the Caribbean (SPIC) in 2018, paying special attention to Youth and Climate Change as its two thematic development priorities.
In December 2019, UNESCO supported the design and establishment of the Caribbean Youth Network on Climate Change to mobilize youth leaders across the Caribbean region to take climate resilience-related action.
In collaboration with regional and international partners, in 2021 UNESCO will launch a youth platform for disaster management and risk reduction to serve as a multidisciplinary hub for young professionals from diverse academic backgrounds, professional experience and expertise to share their knowledge, practices and experiences in disaster risk management (DRM), discuss their views and take relevant and coordinated action, in the form of physical (on the ground) or digital (online/offline) initiatives. Activities include:
• Discussions with national, regional and international stakeholders, such as national government authorities, regional inter-governmental bodies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), private companies, universities, research institutes.
• Organizing webinars with a focus on knowledge exchange.
• Designing of coordinated actions, projects, events and other initiatives, aimed at improving DRM in the Caribbean SIDS, with a focus on raising public awareness and developing the disaster preparedness and response capacities of key stakeholders.
• Connecting with other similar platforms worldwide to exchange best practices
Young professionals are invited to submit their expression of interest by 15 January 2021 via an online survey.
