Saint Lucia showcases achievements at Regional Dialogue on Anticipatory Action
Friday, December 6, 2024
by Ministry of Equity
SAINT LUCIA EMERGED A REGIONAL LEADER AND WILL CONDUCT A SIMULATION EXERCISE TO TEST ITS SYSTEMS.

Saint Lucia has proudly showcased its progress in disaster preparedness and risk reduction at the 6th Regional Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action (AA), held in Colombia, from November 28-29, 2024.

The island was represented by Sarah Leon, Deputy Director of Social Transformation in the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment. This pivotal event gathered over 300 participants from Latin America and the Caribbean under the theme: “Regional Solutions for Regional Challenges.”

The platform offered an invaluable opportunity for Saint Lucia to share its groundbreaking work as a smaller island nation successfully implementing an AA mechanism. Among the highlights of Saint Lucia’s presentation were

  • Verification of 1,000 beneficiaries under its AA program;
  • Development of a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Sheet to enhance transparency and communication;
  • Establishment of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to streamline the AA mechanism;
  • Implementation of a Feedback Mechanism, aligned with the National Social Protection Plan;
  • Creation of an in-house SMS messaging system to communicate effectively with beneficiaries;
  • Training of staff on the KOBO toolbox for precise and efficient data collection; and
  • Community sensitization efforts to educate vulnerable populations on the importance of AA mechanisms in disaster preparedness.

During a panel session titled “Opportunities for Anticipatory Action in the Caribbean,” Ms. Leon shared insights on integrating AA mechanisms within government structures. Her presentation, “Building an AA Mechanism within Government Structures: The Case of Saint Lucia,” highlighted the challenges the island faced, including data gaps, slow verification processes, human resource limitations, and navigating a relatively new electronic funds system.

Despite these hurdles, Saint Lucia has emerged as a regional leader, ready to conduct a simulation exercise in December 2024 – January 2025 to test and refine its systems. This exercise, designed to assess the efficacy of the AA mechanism, will not include an actual trigger but aims to further strengthen the island’s preparedness for future crises.

Saint Lucia remains steadfast in its mission to expand outreach and deepen community understanding of anticipatory action.