Recently, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in collaboration with the Government of St Kitts and Nevis, hosted a two-day workshop aimed at addressing climate-induced displacement and its implications for human security in the Caribbean. This event, titled “Mainstreaming Human Mobility and Human Security in Caribbean Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction Policies: Progress and Way Forward,” represented the culmination of a 15-month initiative that sought to promote a human security approach towards disaster displacement, environmental migration, and disaster risk reduction throughout the Caribbean region.
The event brought together Janelle Garraway-McPherson of Dominica Office of Disaster Management, Natasha Greaves, IOM Dominica Officer-In-Charge, Viola Pascal, IOM Dominica Project Coordinator, as well as representatives from Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Montserrat, the British Virgin Islands, and The Bahamas.
An IOM report described the workshop as highlighting the significance of integrating human mobility issues into national climate policies and disaster risk management plans. Patrice Quesada, the IOM Coordinator for the Caribbean, emphasized the need for this integration during his remarks, stating, “We are really trying to bring a bit of light on one dimension that tends to be overlooked, which is the mobility dimension of hazard impact including climate-related events especially here in the Caribbean from a human security standpoint.”
Honourable Dr Joyelle Clarke, the Minister for Sustainable Development, Environment, Climate Action, and Constituency Empowerment of St Kitts and Nevis, opened the workshop with a call for tailored approaches to climate action. She argued that for small island developing states, “responsiveness cannot be a monolith; our climate action efforts must mainstream human security and must relentlessly advocate for financing mechanisms and lending instruments that make space and sufficiently integrate human mobility into their frameworks.” Clarke emphasized the need for solutions that are specific to the unique challenges faced by Caribbean islands.
The workshop also featured discussions on innovative financial instruments to support climate mobility initiatives. An interactive training session was conducted to familiarize participants with the Environmental Migration, Disaster Displacement, and Human Security Policy Assessment Tool. This tool was designed to help assess national frameworks in addressing human mobility issues effectively.
According to the release, throughout this event, the importance of a collaborative approach to disaster management was underscored. Mr. Simon Alleyne from the Barbados Department of Emergency Management noted that “a multistakeholder approach that includes Government Ministries, Departments, NGOs and Civil Society Organizations is necessary to deal with the issues of migration and to ensure that the needs of vulnerable people are addressed.”
Furthermore, Kana Kudo from the UN Trust Fund for Human Security expressed pride in contributing to programs aimed at enhancing preparedness and promoting a people-centered approach to security
“…This programme is defining new strategies and partnerships to better address multifaceted insecurities, reduce vulnerability, and build resilience,” stated Kudo.
The Human Security Joint Programme’s implementation provides Caribbean countries with several resources to help manage human mobility during disasters. Among these resources are policy assessment tools, training manuals, national assessment reports, and best practices for effective responses to mass population movements.
Viola Pascal, the Coordinator for the Human Security Joint Programme, noted the project’s success in raising awareness of human mobility issues due to disasters and the commitment of National Disaster Offices to integrate these considerations into their disaster management policies:
“The project has succeeded in raising awareness in the Caribbean region of human mobility issues due to disasters and addressing them through the human security approach. National Disaster Offices have expressed their commitment to include measures to manage human mobility in their existing and upcoming disaster management policies and plans”.
For more resources from the workshop, visit IOM’s official website at IOM Dominica.
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