GENDER RESPONSIVE DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RECOVERY IN THE CARIBBEAN Highlights from a desk review CONTEXT Caribbean countries share a number of characteristics that increase vulnerability to disasters, including small populations, limited economies of scale, and undiversified economies. The COVID-19 pandemic has heightened underlying challenges. Evidence from around the world1 and the region2 shows that disasters can be especially devastating for women, given underlying gender inequalities in economic opportunities, assets and voice. This underscores the importance of integrating gender into the disaster risk management (DRM) cycle, including preparedness and recovery. Under the Canada Caribbean Resilience Facility (CRF), a desk study in 2020 assessed the status of gender responsive disaster preparedness and recovery in in nine Caribbean countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname. The study focused on: Photo: FG Tarde n Gender gaps and other inequalities, including women’s participation and leadership in related programs and initiatives and n How gender has been integrated into disaster and climate change laws, plans and policies at the national and sectoral levels; and the extent of implementation. There is some good news. Action plans: Five CRF countries - Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Progress in gender integration to date has been – address gender-based violence in their strategic action plans. limited, although there are examples of good For example, the National Office for Disaster Service in Antigua practice. and Barbuda, in collaboration with the Directorate of Gender Figure 1 summarizes the CRF countries’ current state of gender Affairs, trained shelter managers, health care workers and integration in disaster preparedness and recovery policies and police officers on the risks and prevention of GBV in post- plans, compared against good practice principles (in green). disaster settings. The red boxes highlight the extensive problems and constraints associated with agenda setting, policy design and adoption, Women’s participation in DRM: In Jamaica’s Negril Climate implementation, and monitoring, evaluation and feedback. Risk Atlas Project (2015), for the community hazard mapping, more than ¾ of the participants were women. Women’s leadership: In Saint Lucia, the Ministry of Education, 1 Gender Dimensions of Disaster Risk and Resilience - Existing Evidence, Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable Development Alvina Erman, Sophie Anne De VrieRobbé, Stephan Fabian Thies, Kayenat and the Ministry for Health and Wellness are both currently Kabir and Mirai Maruo, 2021 https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/bit- headed by women, and the National Emergency Management stream/handle/10986/35202/Gender-Dimensions-of-Disaster-Risk-and-Re- silience-Existing-Evidence.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y organization partners with women’s organizations to integrate 2 https://www.cepal.org/sites/default/files/presentations/gender_cc_drr.pdf a gender perspective into DRM. RESULTS IN RESILIENCE SERIES Figure 1: Overview of the extent of gender integration in the Disaster Risk Management policy cycle in nine Caribbean countries Overall, however, the extent of gender integration in DRM 3. Create space for the meaningful engagement of women’s policies is currently limited. groups in all stages of the DRM cycle. 4. Raise public awareness of gendered risks and women’s A review of DRM policies in all nine countries revealed that critical roles in disaster and climate change resilience. the coverage of gender typically does not go beyond general statements about the importance of assessing the specific 5. Strengthen country level expertise and resources for needs of women and girls in DRM activities. sectoral-level analysis of gender roles and risks of disasters, in collaboration with CDEMA. A range of key recommendations aim to close gender gaps in 6. Strengthen gender responsive Early Warning Systems in the design and implementation of DRM activities, including: and post-disaster GBV and domestic violence prevention 1. Improve the collection and use of gender-disaggregated measures. data on disaster impacts, and track how many women are in 7. Integrate gender into the design and implementation of leadership and decision-making positions in DRM. shock-responsive social protection programs. 2. Ensure gender assessments and analysis are conducted for 8. Increase training and mentorship opportunities for women national and sectoral disaster and climate-related policies, and girls in the DRM cycle. with monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to track progress. For more information please contact Ronette Gwendolyn Jordan rjordan1@worldbank.org Disaster Risk Management Specialist