Background
Caribbean islands are particularly vulnerable to disasters due to a combination of geographical, environmental, and socio-economic factors. The Caribbean islands are situated in a region prone to various natural hazards, including hurricanes, tropical storms, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions as well as flooding and landslides due to the climatic conditions. Their proximity to tectonic plate boundaries and hurricane tracks makes them susceptible to frequent and intense disasters.
Disaster mitigation and preparedness are fundamental aspects of effective disaster management. Preparedness measures are instrumental in ensuring a swift and coordinated response. In this regard, Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) play a crucial role by providing essential platforms and tools for communication and collaboration among various stakeholders, including government agencies, emergency responders, humanitarian organizations, and affected communities. Clearly defined roles and responsibilities among these stakeholders facilitate efficient decision-making processes, expediting the implementation of response measures to assist affected communities.
This event is a follow up from the
GSMA-ITU-ETC workshop on the use of ICTs for disaster preparedness, response and recovery that took place in November 2023.
Purpose
The Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) of the World Food Programme (WFP) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) are developing a Caribbean Regional Workshop on Emergency Telecommunications Preparedness: Strengthening Collaboration for Resilient Connectivity, which will take place on 29 and 20 October 2024, in Bridgetown, Barbados.
This workshop is intended primarily for all stakeholders involved in the disaster risk management ecosystem in the Caribbean, but is a useful resource for any person or organization generally involved in disaster risk management or in the administration of telecommunication/ICTs during emergencies. This includes governments, the private sector, non-governmental entities, humanitarian aid agencies, and private citizens.
The key objectives of this workshop are to:
- Collaboratively address specific gaps identified in previous assessments, workshops, NETPs, and ICT checklists. Develop tailored solutions and a roadmap while emphasizing the importance of early warning systems in emergency preparedness.
- Clarify roles, responsibilities, and communication channels among stakeholders to ensure seamless coordination before, during, and after emergencies, maximizing the effectiveness of response efforts.
- Enable participating countries in the NETP process to facilitate knowledge exchange by sharing experiences, challenges, solutions, and implementation strategies. This will promote mutual learning and enhance preparedness across the region.
- Develop initiatives and mechanisms to build capacity and retain knowledge among regional stakeholders, equipping them with the skills and information needed to deal effectively with telecommunications emergencies.
