The Barbados Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Country Work Programme (CWP) 2019-2023.

The Barbados Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Country Work Programme (CWP) aims to increase the country’s resilience by strengthening national systems and processes for emergency and disaster risk management. The timeframe of the policy is 4 years covering the periof from 2019 to 2023.
The resilience to disasters will be increased through a strong enabling environment for CDM and more effective, efficient and sustainable governance mechanisms, as well as improved standards and systematic regulation for critical infrastructure. The legislative and regulatory frameworks, standards and business processes will be strengthened for disaster management. More financial resources will be channeled towards implementing disaster risk management (DRM) programmes and projects. Institutional capacity will be improved for monitoring, evaluation and reporting of programmes and projects. Risks will be mitigated by building more resilient structures and improving maintenance of critical infrastructure. The capacity of the National Emergency Management System (NEMS) will be strengthened to better prepare for, and respond to, emergencies/disasters, and to promote risk reduction through actions to mitigate risk. The National Multi-Hazard Disaster Management Plan will be reviewed and updated annually.
Risk-informed CDM Work Programme will be implemented for key sectors, with focus on the finance, blue economy and energy sectors, and the private sector. The NEMS will work with key strategic partners in each of these sectors to build their capacities for disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery and implement initiatives that build resilience in their respective sectors, using existing knowledge of hazards, vulnerability and risk.
Community resilience will be strengthened by establishing community based early warning system in vulnerable communities; sustaining community livelihoods through effective risk management. The capacity of communities and ordinary citizens will be improved to assess their risk and develop proactive plans to reduce vulnerability, as well as strengthen Early Warning Systems for these communities.
Research and knowledge management will be improved to ensure risk informed development planning regulations and decision making. Risk assessment will be enhanced through hazard monitoring, forecasting and mapping. National repository for hazard knowledge will be improved. DRM will be integrated into the curriculum of education institutions.
National recovery framework will be improved by increasing the availability of ex ante risk financing facilities and improving access to existing facilities, improving continuity of government planning, promoting business continuity planning with the private and public sectors, and improving mechanisms for providing post disaster support to the population.
The successful implementation of the CWP will be carried out through a multi-stakeholder and collaborative effort that focuses on the implementation of the projects and activities outlined in the Action Plans. The National Emergency Management System will need to actively seek out and pursue financing opportunities, leverage existing and emerging partnerships, and be innovative and creative in its approach to securing resources for implementation.