Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C):

Regional and Transboundary Cooperation

Under the

Water and Climate Change Programme

Presented by Avril Alexander – Regional Coordinator

The Caribbean

• GWP-Caribbean partners from approx. 20

Caribbean states

• Caribbean region made up mostly of Small Island

Developing States (SIDS) and coastal countries

• Small size geographically

• Population and economic centres located in coastal

areas

• Limited natural resources base

Projected Climate Change Impacts

• Water is medium through which many CC impacts

will be felt

• Sea level rise/ saline intrusion, extreme weather events

(tropical storms, floods, droughts)

• Change in total amount and variability of rainfall patterns

and streamflow; increased aridity

• Competition among sectors for water (agric.,

tourism, domestic etc)

• Increasing cost to provide water (esp. energy-

related)

GWP-C Water Climate and Development Programme

Overall Objective:

To support adaptation to Caribbean states to climate

variability and change through the implementation of

better water policies, strategies, programmes and

water related adaptation actions defined in the

CARICOM Regional Implementation Plan for

Achieving Development Resilient to Climate

Change.

Regional Climate Change Context

July 2009 in Guyana: Approval of the “Regional

Framework for Achieving Development Resilient

to Climate Change”

March 2012 in Suriname: Approval the

“Implementation Plan for the Regional

Framework for Achieving Development Resilient

to Climate Change”

Strategic approach for coping with climate

change for the period 2011-2021

Key Sectors Identified in the Regional Framework

Water

Coastal and

marine

Energy

Forest

Agriculture and food security

Health

Tourism

The Implementation Plan for the Regional Framework

Element 2, Goal 1: Promote the Adoption of

Measures and Disseminate Information

that would make Water Supply Systems

Resilient to Climate-Induced Damage

Actions Identified IP Strategic Element 2, Goal 1

Assess, quantify and map surface and ground

water resources in CARICOM States (2012-

2017)

Undertake vulnerability and capacity assessment

of the impacts of climate change on water (2011-

2017)

Assess, quantify and evaluate water demand and

consumption patterns (2011-2015)

Actions identified in the IP

Implement water sector adaptation strategies for all

CARICOM countries (2013-2021)

Develop climate resilient IWRM strategies in all

CARICOM countries (2011-2016)

Establish water resources management agencies

where necessary and provide additional support

where agencies exist (2012-2017)

Objective of Work Package 1

To support CARICOM, the CCCCC and

other regional entities such as the

Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States

(OECS) to advance regional cooperation

in climate change adaptation and water

security in the context of regional and

economic development.

Key output

Enhanced regional cooperation in water

management for regional and national

economic development resilient to climate

change.

Indicators

Agreements & commitments on enhanced

water security (CARICOM / OECS MOU’s)

High Level Forum endorsement

Setting up of a CARICOM Standing

Committee on Water and Water Security;

Funding and Capacity Support (eg CDB,

IDB)

Highlights thus far

• Introduction of WACDEP to the network

• Regional Consultation workshop November

2012 with government agencies/

technicians (climate change, water

resources, planning) and regional

development partners

Outcomes of Regional Consultation Workshop

• Stakeholder input into programme

development

• Stakeholder support and commitment

• Input into WACDEP Implementation Plan

Highlights thus far

Political level advocacy through High Level

Session (HLS) Ministerial Forum since

2005

- Focus on key water resources issues in

the region

- Aim of political support at national and

regional level

Political Endorsement of WACDEP by Ministers of Water

July 2013 - MoU singed with CARICOM

Secretariat for technical cooperation in

water resources management

GWP-Caribbean to support follow-up on

regional water mandate of the CARICOM

COTED and the HLS

Regional Frameworks for Water Security and Climate

Resilience

Support leveraged from CDKN through HR

Wallingford (£400,000 Asia & C’bean)

Application of the CCCCC Caribbean Climate

Online Risk and Adaptation Tool (CCORAL) to

the Water sector (CCORAL-Water)

CCORAL – online support system for climate

resilient decision making

Objectives of CCORAL-Water

To develop and disseminate practical and user

friendly tools for climate resilient decision

making focused on the water sector.

CCORAL-Water tool focus on considering and

addressing risks which threaten the provision of

services to the sector.

Regional consultations in September 2013

Recommendations

Continued engagement with organisations

with Regional mandate through CARICOM

Establishment of alliances for project

activities

Utilise and build upon existing mechanisms

and initiatives

For more information on GWP-C, please visit our website at:

www.gwp-caribbean.org