OECS Commission Announces Project to Strengthen Disaster Resilience in Indigenous Schools in Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines

The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission is pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness and resilience in indigenous school communities in the Commonwealth of Dominica and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. This timely and impactful project, titled “Capacity Development for Disaster-Resilient Schools in Indigenous Communities of Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines,” is made possible through a generous grant of NZD $50,000/USD $29324.74 from the New Zealand High Commission/Embassy Fund for the Caribbean.

The initiative seeks to build the capacity of education officials, school leaders, infrastructure designers, and emergency management personnel to apply the recently developed OECS Guidelines for the Design of Resilient Schools. These efforts will be supported through a blended training programme combining virtual and in-person components. This will be complemented by the provision of essential disaster preparedness equipment to selected schools in both countries.

The project will directly benefit an estimated 200 individuals—comprising 100 women and 100 men, including 50 boys and 50 girls—from indigenous communities. Indirectly, entire school communities including teachers, parents, and local residents will gain from enhanced safety measures, better infrastructure resilience, and improved coordination with national emergency services.

Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS Commission, noted:

“This project reflects our unwavering commitment to inclusive and sustainable development. By focusing on indigenous communities and their educational institutions, we are investing in the protection and empowerment of some of the region’s most vulnerable populations."

"New Zealand is very pleased to partner with the OECS to support this initiative. Disaster preparedness and resilience is one of the key areas of our engagement with the Caribbean region and we are particularly mindful of the vulnerability of indigenous communities," added Linda Te Puni, New Zealand Ambassador to the OECS.

The OECS Commission will collaborate closely with the Ministries of Education, the National Emergency Management Organisations (NEMOs) and other relevant stakeholders in both Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to ensure the project’s success. Key activities include stakeholder consultations, development and delivery of training modules, procurement and installation of emergency equipment, and systematic monitoring and evaluation.

This initiative aligns with the New Zealand International Development Cooperation Programme’s broader mission to support sustainable development and improve community well-being in developing countries. It also reinforces regional priorities under the OECS Education Sector Strategy and climate resilience frameworks.