2 THE NEED FOR RESILIENCE S ince 1950 the Caribbean region has been hit on average by seven disasters per year that killed hundreds of thousands of people and affected millions more. Annual damage in the Caribbean accounts for 40% of global damage. Caribbean small states have suffered more damage at greater frequency than both other smaller and larger states. Climate Change is expected to exacerbate these effects. — Dr. Asha Cambon, Public Policy Expert designated. However, the vast majority of ublic sector leaders/managers do not receive the appropriate training for leading and managing in such an environment. They are forced to rely on their own initiative and experience in confronting those realities. CARICAD is convinced that our efforts at leadership development must include a greater focus on leading and managing in Devon Rowe, According to IMF research, of the 511 disasters worldwide to hit small states since 1950, around two -thirds (324) have been in the Caribbean The Caribbean is up to seven times more likely to experience a natural disaster than larger states, and when one occurs, incur as much as six times more damage. Climate change will only intensify these events. Vulnerability of the Caribbean is multi-dimensional and includes economic, social and environmental factors. — SOURCE: UN Barbados Office In 2017 as many as 10 Caribbean countries were affected by major hurricanes. In 2021 and 2022 while CARICAD member states were dealing with that reality they were also faced with the pernicious and protracted COVID-19 pandemic, the volcanic eruption in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, rainstorms and floods and the economic fallout of both the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Executive Director CARICAD ses. However, the focus must go beyond the challenge of dealing with the myriad natural hazards that threaten the Caribbean. An approach should be taken where emphasis is placed on creating a mindset of readiness for crises of all kinds, resilience in dealing with the consequences and the leadership capacity to transform organisations after such events. CARICAD intends to deliver an online capacity building programme to promote greater readiness for preparing for and managing crises to promote organisational and national Resilience. Resilience is required at individual, team, organisational and national levels to promote Regional Resilience. CARICAD embraces the concept of Resilience as: The ability to resist, absorb, accommodate to and recover from the effects of hazards, emergencies and crises in a timely, effective, efficient and sustainable manner with the preservation and restoration of essential structures, systems, functions and services to create capacity for transformation and future adaptation to new realities. (CARICAD, 2023) The Caribbean will face a new Felt-earthquakes have become commonplace. There is speculation of a recession looming in 2023 and if not, many countries will face fiscal challenges that could become crises. Additionally, the Caribbean Region will face a new hurricane season starting in June 2023. It is fair to say that dealing with emergencies, disasters and crises is a major part of the responsibilities of public sector supervisors, managers and leaders in whatever way such occurrences are defined, described or hurricane season starting in June which will test its ability to resist, absorb, accommodate to and recover from the effects of hazards, emergencies and crises. (Photo by Franklyn Michael) There is a need for a sustained capacity building effort in Leading in Crises. CARICAD is well placed to initiate such an effort because CARICAD has delivered one of the most sustained programmes in Leadership Development; viz the Caribbean Leadership Development Programme (CLDP) and prior to that CARICAD was a key strategic partner for a ground-breaking leadership project sponsored by the then Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). We hope that we can “entice” our strategic partners to join us in this initiative starting in 2023.
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