CRM in Trinidad and Tobago: Strengthening Resilience by Linking Climate Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction

UNDRR delivers technical assistance to Trinidad and Tobago on CRM

UNDRR has supported Trinidad and Tobago in advancing a comprehensive risk management (CRM) approach through technical assistance and capacity development activities in collaboration with the Office of Disaster Prevention and Management (ODPM) and the Ministry of Planning. The effort centred on updating and retrofitting the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) to deepen the integration of climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR).

The process identified key gaps and opportunities—clarifying the linkages between CCA and DRR, incorporating DRR indicators to monitor adaptation, enhancing civil society engagement, and developing common financing strategies—while a thorough gap analysis and needs assessment highlighted actions for stronger alignment, including improving risk data, public education and awareness, capacity building, and financing. 

Activities

In 2023, the Caribbean regional workshop on integrated disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation planning | UNDRR was co-organized with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) and the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs), hosted by the government of Trinidad and Tobago.

UNDRR's engagement with the Office of Disaster Prevention and Management (ODPM) and the Ministry of Planning started in 2023. The aim was to identify key gaps and opportunities, clarify the linkages between CCA and DRR, incorporate DRR indicators into adaptation monitoring, enhance civil society engagement, and develop common financing strategies. In 2024, two national stakeholder workshops brought together 35 high-level representatives from different government sectors, the private sector, and civil society. The sessions helped to build capacity for integrating DRR and climate agendas while fostering stronger cross-sector collaboration. The workshop further strengthened institutional coordination among the Ministry of Planning and ODPM, enhanced the ability to monitor adaptation through DRR indicators, and to communicate DRR‑CCA linkages. 

List of activities:

• Collaborated with the Office of Disaster Prevention and Management (ODPM) and the Ministry of Planning, aiming to strengthen their institutional capacities for comprehensive climate and disaster risk management.
• Identified gaps and opportunities through a comprehensive Gaps and Needs Assessment, including clearer linkages between CCA and DRR, the use of DRR indicators to monitor adaptation, civil society engagement, and the development of common financing strategies.
• Defined four key actions for greater alignment and collaboration: Risk data and risk assessments, public education and awareness, capacity building, and financing.
• Drafted a revised NAP to strengthen alignment with DRR policies and plans
• Conducted two high-level stakeholder workshops to present the findings of the Gaps and Need Assessment, and to validate the draft of the updated and retrofitted NAP. The workshop had 35 attendees from the national and local government, the private sector, and civil society.
• Developed capacity for integrating DRR and climate agendas, promoting cross-sector collaboration and shared understanding.

Outcomes

• Draft and updated NAP developed with the government (submission to the UNFCCC pending)
• Strengthened institutional engagement and coordination among key national actors (Ministry of Planning and ODPM).
• Enhanced capability to monitor adaptation through DRR indicators and improved communication of DRR-CCA linkages.
• Establishment of priority actions for improving risk data, public awareness, capacity building, and financing alignment.
• Ongoing momentum for integrating DRR and climate agendas into the NAP update, with continued collaboration among government, private sector, and civil society.
• Conducted policy analysis at the regional (2023) and national levels