CARIBBEAN REGIONAL COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AND DISASTER MITIGATION PROGRAM FINAL REPORT MARCH 2006 This publication was produced for review by the United States Agency for International Development. It was prepared by Planning and Development Collaborative International Inc. CARIBBEAN REGIONAL COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION AND DISASTER MITIGATION PROGRAM FINAL REPORT This report was prepared by PADCO’s contract with USAID Contract No. EPP-I-00-04-00026- 00, Task Order No. EPP-I-01-04-00026-00. Please direct all queries regarding this report to: Planning and Development Collaborative International (PADCO) 1025 Thomas Jefferson St., NW Suite 170, Washington DC, 20007 Telephone: +1 (202) 337-2326 Fax: +1 (202) 944-2351 Email: [email protected] DISCLAIMER The author’s views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of the United States Agency for International Development or the United States Government. Table of Contents Table of Contents ........................................................................................................................... i Acronyms...................................................................................................................................... iv I. Executive Summary .................................................................................................................. 1 II. Background .............................................................................................................................. 2 1 Impact of 2004 Hurricanes Season on Tobago and Bahamas.........................................................2 1.1 Bahamas......................................................................................................................................2 1.2 Tobago........................................................................................................................................2 III. Task 1: Bahamas Hurricane Recovery Program ................................................................ 3 2 Approach and Assistance Strategy ....................................................................................................3 2.1 Leveraging USAID Resources ...................................................................................................3 2.2 Beneficiary Selection..................................................................................................................3 2.3 Contractor Selection ...................................................................................................................3 2.4 Training and Public Awareness of Safer Construction...............................................................4 2.5 Bahamas Management................................................................................................................4 3 Results Achieved .................................................................................................................................5 3.1 Number of Damaged Houses Reconstructed..............................................................................5 3.2 Number of Communities Benefiting from New Housing...........................................................5 3.3 Number of People Benefiting from New Housing .....................................................................5 3.4 Number of People Informed of Hurricane Resistant Construction/Maintenance Techniques....5 3.5 Exogenous Conditions and Events Affecting Implementation...................................................6 3.5.1 Hurricane Wilma ...........................................................................................................6 3.5.2 Gaining GOB Commitment to USAID/GOB Cost Sharing Plan ..................................6 4 Lessons Learned - Program Design and Management ....................................................................7 4.1 Cost Sharing as Win-Win Approach for Partnering Governments.............................................7 4.2 Set Market Rates and Lottery System as Quick Method of Awarding Subcontracts .................7 4.3 Ensure Management Continuity for Swift, Coordinated Implementation ..................................8 IV. Task 2: Tobago Hurricane Recovery Program ................................................................... 9 5 Approach and Assistance Strategy ....................................................................................................9 5.1 Hillside Stabilization ..................................................................................................................9 5.2 Community Emergency Response Teams ..................................................................................9 5.2.1 CERT Participant Selection and Employment.............................................................10 5.3 Tobago Management ................................................................................................................11 6 Results Achieved ...............................................................................................................................11 6.1 Number of Hillside Stabilization Projects Completed..............................................................11 6.2 Number of Communities Benefiting from Hillside Stabilization.............................................11 6.3 Number People Benefiting from Income Generation Activities...............................................12 6.4 Number of People Benefiting from Community Emergency Response Training ....................12 6.5 Number Communities Benefiting from CERTs Equipment and Training ...............................12 6.6 Exogenous Conditions and Events Affecting Implementation.................................................13 6.6.1 Hurricane Emily and Other Weather Events ...............................................................13 6.6.2 Other Donors Contributions to Success: United Nations Technical Staff at DIPU.....13 6.6.3 Unsynchronized Implementation Schedules of NEMA and USAID...........................13 7 Lessons Learned – Program Design and Management .................................................................14 7.1 Synchronizing USAID Assistance with NEMA’s Implementation Schedule ..........................14 i 7.2 USAID Assistance to NEMA helps Secure Long-term Support for Disaster Mitigation.........14 7.3 Ensure Management Continuity for Swift, Definitive Action..................................................15 V. Task 3: Conferences Supported and Hosted ....................................................................... 16 1 Approach and Assistance Strategy ..................................................................................................16 2 Results Achieved ...............................................................................................................................16 2.1 Regional Conferences Supported .............................................................................................17 2.2 OECS-USAID “Lessons Learned” Conference........................................................................17 2.3 Exogenous Conditions and Events Affecting Implementation.................................................18 3 Lessons Learned................................................................................................................................18 VI. Task 4: Disaster Mitigation Action Agenda and Pilot Projects ....................................... 19 1 Approach and Assistance Strategy ..................................................................................................19 1.1 Defining the Technical “Action Agenda”.................................................................................19 1.2 Gathering Support for the “Action Agenda” in the Region......................................................20 1.3 Demonstrating the Action Agenda through Pilot Projects........................................................21 2 Results Achieved ...............................................................................................................................21 2.1 Defining the Technical “Action Agenda”.................................................................................22 2.2 Gathering Support for the “Action Agenda” in the Region......................................................22 2.3 Demonstrating the Action Agenda through Pilot Projects........................................................23 2.3.1 Poverty Reduction Fund and MoSSaiC, St. Lucia.......................................................24 2.3.2 Local Government and Community Development/ MoSSaiC, Dominica...................25 2.3.3 Antigua/Barbuda Safer Building Training and Manual...............................................26 2.4 Exogenous Conditions and Events Affecting Implementation.................................................27 2.4.1 Coordination of Implementing Partners: OECS, USAID, and PADCO......................27 3 Lessons Learned – Program Design and Managment ...................................................................27 3.1 Inadequate Institutional Arrangement for Disaster Mitigation in Development Planning .......27 3.2 Pilot Projects Demonstrate and Empower Community Mobilization and Ownership .............27 3.3 Obtaining Political Buy-in at the Regional Level.....................................................................28 3.4 Joint Government and NGO Activities.....................................................................................29