Dominica Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan

Dominica Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan
Name	Dominica Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan
Country	Commonwealth of Dominica
Released	2017
Context	Hurricane Maria (2017)
Type	Recovery and resilience plan

Dominica Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan

The Dominica Climate Resilience and Recovery Plan was developed after Hurricane Maria (2017) to rebuild infrastructure and enhance resilience across the Commonwealth of Dominica; it aligned with international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the Paris Agreement. Led by the Government of Dominica with technical support from institutions including the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme, the plan sought integrated reconstruction across sectors. The initiative drew on expertise from agencies such as USAID, European Union, UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and regional bodies like the Caribbean Community.

Background and Rationale

The plan responded to the devastation caused by Hurricane Maria (2017), which followed regional impacts from Hurricane Irma (2017) and historical events like the 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane in the wider Caribbean Sea basin. Dominica’s socio-ecological vulnerability was framed by studies from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the Caribbean Development Bank, and the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction, which documented exposure of assets in coastal towns such as Roseau and Portsmouth. The rationale cited damages to transport corridors including the Dominica–Guadeloupe ferry routes, losses in agricultural sectors tied to crops like banana and citrus (fruit), and threats to built heritage such as structures near Botanical Gardens (Roseau). Policymakers referenced commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals and discussions at forums including the United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Objectives and Strategic Priorities

The plan articulated objectives to restore essential services, strengthen climate resilience of infrastructure, and support socioeconomic recovery for communities in parishes like Saint George Parish, Dominica and Saint John Parish, Dominica. Strategic priorities included resilient housing reconstruction in areas affected by landslides near Morne Trois Pitons National Park, climate-proofing of transport networks that link to ports such as Roseau Harbour, and ecosystem-based adaptation involving watersheds linked to the Morne Diablotins range. Cross-cutting priorities referenced partnerships with United Nations Environment Programme and Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility for risk financing and insurance mechanisms discussed at conferences like UNFCCC COP23.

Key Components and Projects

Major components encompassed resilient housing programs modeled after approaches in New Orleans, coastal protection works informed by projects in The Bahamas, and restoration of power systems drawing on lessons from Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority. Projects included reconstruction of schools comparable to efforts by the Ministry of Education (Dominica), rehabilitation of health facilities following standards from the Pan American Health Organization, and upgrades to the road network connecting districts such as Saint Paul Parish, Dominica. Natural infrastructure initiatives focused on mangrove restoration near Morne Prosper, reforestation in the Tropical rainforest of Morne Trois Pitons National Park, and sustainable agriculture programs that invoked techniques used in Jamaica and Barbados. Technical assistance engaged firms and agencies with experience from Asian Development Bank and African Development Bank projects.

Implementation and Institutional Framework

Implementation relied on coordination between the Prime Minister of Dominica’s office, sector ministries, and multilateral partners including the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank. Institutional arrangements established steering committees with representation from the Dominica Association of Industry and Commerce, civil society groups, and local councils in communities such as Pont Casse. Legal frameworks cited budget provisions analogous to mechanisms in Belize and procurement standards aligned with Multilateral Development Banks policies. Capacity-building drew on training delivered by teams from UNICEF for school recovery and ILO guidance for labor standards in reconstruction.

Financing and International Support

Financing combined domestic budget reallocations, concessional loans from entities like the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank, grants from the European Union, and pledges mobilized at donor meetings attended by representatives from Canada, United Kingdom, and China. Insurance instruments referenced the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility and catastrophe bonds modeled after instruments used in Mexico and Japan. Philanthropic and NGO support came from organizations such as Oxfam and Red Cross, while diaspora contributions mirrored remittance flows studied by the World Bank and International Organization for Migration.

Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

Monitoring frameworks used indicators aligned with Sustainable Development Goals and reporting mechanisms comparable to templates from the United Nations Development Programme. Evaluation cycles included independent reviews by firms experienced in post-disaster assessment like those used by FEMA and audit processes similar to standards of the Office of the Auditor General in Commonwealth jurisdictions. Public reporting incorporated stakeholder consultations modeled on participatory processes used in Trinidad and Tobago and transparency commitments discussed at Open Government Partnership fora.

Impacts, Challenges, and Lessons Learned

Impacts documented improvements in reconstructed infrastructure, reduced vulnerability of priority schools and clinics, and strengthened early warning capacities linked to systems developed with CARICOM partners. Challenges included fiscal constraints noted in analyses by the International Monetary Fund, logistical issues familiar from recovery work in Haiti, and environmental trade-offs highlighted by researchers from the Smithsonian Institution and University of the West Indies. Lessons learned emphasized integrated approaches drawing on regional cooperation exemplified by Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, diversified financing strategies similar to Green Climate Fund proposals, and community-led approaches informed by case studies from Saint Lucia and Grenada.

Category:Climate change adaptation Category:Disaster recovery