CDEMA European Union have launched the 11th EDF Natural Disaster Facility in the CARIFORUM Programme
Saint Maarten, 4 December 2019.
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) along with the European Union have launched the 11th EDF Natural Disaster Facility in the CARIFORUM Programme. This initiative aims to contribute to the reduction of the vulnerability to disaster risks, and to promote the sustainable development from the countries of this region.
The launching of this initiative was held on 3rd December 2019, in the framework of the 11th Caribbean Conference on Comprehensive Disaster Management, an event hosted by CDEMA in collaboration with the Government of Sint Maarten. This conference, under the theme “The Road to Resilience Checkpoint 2019 – Safeguarding Our Communities, Livelihoods and Economies”, gathered the most relevant decision makers and disaster management professionals, contributing to improve capacities and partnerships to fight climate change and strengthen disaster management strategies.
The launching ceremony of the 11th EDF Natural Disaster Facility in the CARIFORUM was presided by Honourable Prime Minister of Sint Maarten Ms. Silveria Jacobsand by His Excellency Fernando Ponz Cantó, Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the European Union (EU) to the Cooperative Republic of Guyana. Mr. Ponz Cantó emphasized the EU commitment to reduce vulnerability in the Caribbean Region, including the potential impacts of climate varability and change. He also referred to the importance of the participation of the Dominican Republic Government in this mechanism, as it increases the cooperation and share lessons learned among all the countries and territories of this region.
Representatives of humanitarian organizations from different countries of the region participated in this event. Outstanding was the intervention of Mr. Ronald Jackson, Executive Director of CDEMA, who highlighted the impact and result of the actions and projects financially supported under the 10th EDF Natural Disaster Risk Management (NDRM) Project, as well as the frutiful cooperation between the implementing partners of this programme along the period 2014-2019.
About NDRM
The Natural Disaster Risk Management Programme is an initiative of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, funded by the European Union to support DDR and CCA activities in the Caribbean Region.
The Programme’s main goal is to help reduce vulnerability to the long-term impacts of natural hazards and the potential impacts of variability in climate change.
The new phase of this Programme took place this December 2019 for a period of five years and with a funding of 14 million euros. Its executive partners are the European Union, the Emergency Management Agency, the Caribbean Development Bank and the Government of Dominican Republic.
About the CDEMA
The Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) is a regional inter-governmental agency for disaster management in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
The Agency was established in 1991 as CDERA (Caribbean Disaster Emergency Response Agency) with primary responsibility for the coordination of emergency response and relief efforts to Participating States that require such assistance. It transitioned to CDEMA in 2009 to fully embrace the principles and practice of Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM).
(CDM) is an integrated and proactive approach to disaster management and seeks to reduce the risk associated with natural and technological hazards and the effects of climate change to enhance regional sustainable development.
