CCRIF launches 2023 scholarship and internship programmes for Caribbean nationals

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, May 30, 2023. CCRIF invites Caribbean nationals to apply for its scholarship and internship programmes for 2023 (https://www.ccrif.org/scholarship and https://www.ccrif.org/ccrif-uwi-scholarships for scholarships and https://www.ccrif.org/regional-internship-programme for internships). Since 2010, CCRIF has been providing undergraduate and

postgraduate scholarships to Caribbean nationals in areas related to disaster risk management, climate change adaptation, meteorology, environmental management, and civil engineering among others. In 2015, the Facility launched its flagship internship programme for Caribbean nationals by partnering with regional organizations and governments to host these interns and provide them with the opportunity to integrate their academic knowledge with the work environment.

In addition to being the world’s first risk pool providing parametric insurance to its 24 members, (19 Caribbean Governments, 3 Central American Governments and 2 Caribbean public utilities), CCRIF is also committed to building capacity and resilience in disaster risk management among its members. This is done through the CCRIF Technical Assistance Programme, whereby support is provided to member countries and regional organizations in the development and implementation of disaster risk management and climate change adaptation projects and programmes. The CCRIF Scholarship and Internship Programmes are also part of the TA Programme. The CCRIF TA Programme operates as the Facility’s corporate social responsibility programme and consists of four components.

At the launch of this year’s scholarship and internship programmes, CCRIF CEO Mr. Isaac Anthony said “As a development insurance company, CCRIF is committed to creating a more sustainable future for the region we call home. The scholarship and internship programmes were designed to build a cadre of professionals who can effectively contribute to comprehensive disaster risk management and reduce the vulnerabilities in the region, build resilience and fulfill the ambition of making the Caribbean the world’s first climate-resilient region in the world”. Since
the first scholarships and first internships were offered in 2010 and 2015 respectively, CCRIF has provided 165 scholarships for postgraduate and undergraduate study totalling US$1.7 million and 152 internships totalling US$409,000.

For 2023, CCRIF will continue to provide 4 scholarships of US$8,000 each to UWI students for their second and final years of their undergraduate degree. At the postgraduate level, CCRIF will provide 6 scholarships of US$11,000 each to students at Caribbean universities including The UWI (Cave Hill, Mona and St. Augustine campuses), University of Technology Jamaica, University of Guyana, and University of Trinidad and Tobago among others. Eligible areas of study include but are not limited to Geography/Geology, Disaster Risk Management, Natural Resources
Management, Climate Change, Civil Engineering, Meteorology and Land Management.

The deadline for 2023 applications to both scholarship programmes is: July 3, 2023. CCRIF’s Regional Internship Programme is designed to provide opportunities for recent university graduates who have degrees in the areas of disaster risk management, environmental management, actuarial science, geography, climate studies and other similar areas to be assigned to national and regional organizations in the Caribbean where their educational experience can be enhanced through practical work assignments.

Host organizations have included national disaster management and meteorology agencies as well as regional entities including the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and
Hydrology (CIMH), Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Association of Caribbean States (ACS), Caribbean Centre for Development Administration (CARICAD), Office of Disaster and Emergency Management (ODPEM) – Jamaica, and departments and centres within The UWI – among many other organizations. CCRIF provides stipends to all its interns and accommodation allowances when interns are assigned to organizations outside of their home country.

The deadline for 2023 applications to the regional internship programme is June 9, 2023. The CCRIF Internship Programme is one of the largest in the Caribbean Region for areas related to disaster risk management and is welcomed by both young graduates and host organizations. Mr. Kenneth Kerr, a former Climate Specialist at the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service had this to say after hosting interns for a few years, “The programme continues to grow the local scientific community footprint/talent in many ways and provides opportunities to foster
relationships through mentorship and training. It allows for building a stream of young and qualified talents and offers them scope to try out different avenues along their career paths.”

Some of the benefits of the internship programme are:

Application of studies from degree in a work setting

Knowledge of new cultures

Experience with technical software and models

Increased accountability

Exposure to experts and specialists in the DRM field

Learning how to be modern diplomatic

Learning how to prioritize tasks and meet deadlines in a high stress environment

Improved ability to work in a team setting

Exposure to diverse stakeholders (e.g. farmers, government officials)

Positive feeling of having contributed to the work of host organizations and to the region

Encouragement to “think outside the box” and at a higher level than previously required, leading to increased confidence

Improved skills in GIS, mapping, database design, research, data collection and analysis

Access to new and cutting-edge information and policy direction and ability to provide host organization with new and innovative ideas