Canada Announces New Initiatives to Support Post-Hurricane Reconstruction, Gender Equality in Caribbean Region

ROSEAU, Dominica, Sept. 6 -- Global Affairs Canada, an arm of the Canadian government, issued the following news release:

Canada is a long-standing friend and partner of the countries and people of the Caribbean. Canada is committed to working with Caribbean partners to support post-hurricane reconstruction, build long-term climate and economic resilience, and support the advancement of gender equality in the region.

On behalf of the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of International Development, Kamal Khera, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, today announced two initiatives totalling almost $17.5 million to support ongoing reconstruction efforts and strengthen response capacity in the Caribbean region, which was severely affected by the devastating 2017 hurricane season.

One of these reconstruction initiatives will help to rebuild and restore primary schools in Dominica to make them more climate-resilient. It will also fund Dominica's Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility for two years so that essential services can continue in the event of a future crisis.

The other project will enable the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to strengthen the region's capacity to respond to and prepare for disasters. This project will help reach the most vulnerable populations, including women and girls.

Parliamentary Secretary Khera also announced a $4.8 million Women's Voice and Leadership initiative that will support and improve the sustainability of local and regional women's rights organizations in the Caribbean, particularly those representing vulnerable and marginalized women and girls.

Parliamentary Secretary Khera made these announcements during her four-day visit to Barbados and Dominica, almost one year since Category 5 hurricanes Maria and Irma wreaked devastation in the region.

Yesterday and today, the Parliamentary Secretary met with Mia Mottley, Barbados' Prime Minister; Roosevelt Skerrit, Dominica's Prime Minister; women's rights groups; and other key stakeholders to discuss economic and climate resilience needs and the advancement of gender equality.

Over the next two days, she will have the opportunity to engage with young entrepreneurs and farmers, who are now able to develop and get better quality products to market thanks to Canada's support. She will also visit a school and an Indigenous community in Dominica that have benefited from Canada's reconstruction assistance, as well as CDEMA's regional hurricane-response centre in Barbados.

Quotes

"Canada is proud to stand in solidarity with its Caribbean friends and neighbours impacted by the devastating 2017 hurricanes. We have been steadfast in our commitment to support reconstruction efforts and build long-term climate and economic resilience with a focus on the most vulnerable, especially women and girls."

- Kamal Khera, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development

Quick facts

* The reconstruction and climate-resilience initiatives announced today are part of Canada's $100-million pledge to support reconstruction and climate resilience in the Caribbean region over five years.

* Launched in 2017 as part of Canada's Feminist International Assistance Policy, the Women's Voice and Leadership initiative responds to the needs of local women's organizations and movements in developing countries that are working to advance the rights of women and girls and promote gender equality.

* In 2017, Canada committed $150 million in funding over five years to the Women's Voice and Leadership initiative.