世界发展银行-Gender-Responsive-Disaster-Preparedness-and-Recovery-in-the-Caribbean---Desk-Review_114页_4mb

CRF Canada Caribbean Resilience Facility Desk Review Summary

Core Content

The Canada Caribbean Resilience Facility (CRF) is a single-donor trust fund aimed at enhancing gender-informed and disability-inclusive climate-resilient preparedness and recovery in the Caribbean region. This desk review evaluates the integration of gender equality and women's empowerment into disaster risk management (DRM) and climate change policies across nine CRF countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Suriname.

The review is based on the World Bank's 2016–2023 Gender Strategy, which emphasizes the need for gender mainstreaming in DRM and climate change initiatives. It uses a three-stage evaluation process to analyze:

1. National policies on gender equality, women and girls' empowerment, and gender-based violence (GBV).
2. Gender-specific content in DRM and climate change laws, policies, and plans.
3. Implementation practices, knowledge generation, advocacy efforts, and women's participation and leadership in DRM and climate change programs.

Main Findings

1. Gender Gaps and Disaster Impacts

• Women and vulnerable populations (e.g., the elderly, people with disabilities, youth, and minorities) are disproportionately affected by disasters due to pre-existing gender inequalities.
• Key disparities include:
  • Higher unemployment rates and lower wages for women.
  • Fewer economic opportunities and vulnerable employment.
  • Limited access to social support systems and insufficient safety nets.
  • Inadequate representation in decision-making and lack of voice and agency.

These inequalities result in more severe disaster impacts on women and other disadvantaged groups, including:

• Disrupted health services and limited access to shelters due to social distancing challenges.
• Increased exposure to GBV and domestic violence in post-disaster settings.
• Insufficient psychosocial support for victims of GBV and DV.
• Limited attention to gender in early warning systems (EWS) and disaster preparedness.

2. Integration of Gender into DRM and Climate Change Policies

• Most DRM and climate change policies in the region are gender-neutral, failing to address the specific needs of men, women, girls, and boys, as well as other vulnerable groups.
• Common gaps include:
  • Lack of systematic gender assessments in DRM and climate change policies.
  • Insufficient sex-disaggregated data and gender-specific research.
  • Limited inclusion of vulnerable groups in DRM programs and decision-making.
  • Weak institutional capacity for gender mainstreaming.
  • Insufficient monitoring and evaluation mechanisms for gender-responsive initiatives.
  • Limited awareness of gender-sensitive budgeting.
  • Underrepresentation of women in leadership roles in DRM and climate change programs.
  • Inadequate partnerships with women's organizations and civil society groups.
  • Insufficient attention to the link between gender, environment, and health in DRM and climate change planning.

3. Women's Roles and Challenges in DRM

• Women play critical roles in disaster response and recovery, including:
  • Volunteer work.
  • Caregiving for children, the elderly, and the disabled.
  • Providing safe spaces for victims of violence.
  • Supporting community needs as nurses and local leaders.
• However, these roles are often invisible in official reports and not recognized in policy development and decision-making processes.

Key Recommendations

The desk review proposes targeted recommendations to address identified gender gaps in DRM and climate change resilience, organized into the following eight critical areas:

1. Legislation, policies, and plans: Develop and implement comprehensive gender policies and action plans.
2. Sex-disaggregated data and gender-specific research: Collect and analyze data by gender and other relevant variables.
3. Gender-based violence (GBV): Integrate GBV prevention and response into DRM frameworks and provide psychosocial support services.
4. Institutional strengthening: Enhance institutional capacity for gender mainstreaming in DRM and climate change sectors.
5. Advocacy and education: Promote awareness of gender-sensitive budgeting and increase education on gender issues in DRM.
6. Partnerships in DRM: Strengthen collaboration with women's organizations and civil society groups.
7. Social inclusion: Ensure the inclusion of vulnerable groups in DRM planning and implementation.
8. Women's participation and leadership: Encourage greater involvement of women in decision-making and leadership roles within DRM and climate change initiatives.

Conclusion

The desk review highlights the urgent need for more inclusive and gender-responsive DRM and climate change policies in the Caribbean. It emphasizes that gender mainstreaming is essential for building resilient communities and addressing systemic vulnerabilities. The report also underscores the importance of evidence-based approaches, participatory processes, and stakeholder engagement in achieving effective DRM and climate resilience strategies.

Target Audience

• National policymakers and government agencies.
• Development practitioners and international organizations.
• Women's organizations, civil society organizations (CSOs), and non-governmental organizations (NGOs).
• Stakeholders in DRM and climate change resilience.

Methodology and Scope

• Scope: Analysis of gender gaps and disaster impacts in nine Caribbean countries.
• Methodology: Three-stage process involving:
  • Policy review.
  • Analysis of implementation and practice.
  • Evaluation of advocacy and knowledge generation.
• Limitations: The desk review is based on existing documents and country reports, and does not include field data or qualitative interviews.

Appendices Overview

The report includes country profiles for each of the nine CRF countries, detailing:

• National policies on gender equality and GBV.
• DRM and climate change laws, policies, and plans.
• Implementation and practice.
• Advocacy and knowledge generation.
• Women's participation and leadership.
• Gaps and recommendations.

These appendices provide detailed insights into the current state of gender integration in each country and actionable recommendations for improvement.