1st Quarterly Report: Youth Emergency Action Committees (YEAC) III: Caribbean Emergency Response Network

The project aims to strengthen regional emergency response capacity and the network of YEACs in the Caribbean. The project focuses on consolidating and reinforcing capacity building accomplishments from the previous phase and creating a regional emergency response network to ensure greater sustainability. The first quarter of the YEAC III project focused on ensuring that all participants had a thorough understanding of all deliverables to be achieved over the six-month period. A significant amount of energy was placed into the strengthening of relationships with national DRR agencies and exploring where the YEACs fit in the larger DRR network. The formation, training, and certification of response brigades were prioritized. In the Dominican Republic, five mini workshops were conducted to strengthen YEACs, and 77 youth were trained in response areas such as beneficiary selection, damage assessment, and needs analysis. In Grenada, three response brigades were formed, comprising 14 youth each from the communities of Mont Tout, Gouyave, and Victoria. The relationship between the YEACs and the National Disaster Management Agency (NADMA) continues to strengthen, with NADMA agreeing to provide all brigade trainings and assist with the implementation of early warning systems and emergency drills. A baseline survey was completed to ascertain the present reality in the project areas, and 28 youth were trained and certified in shelter management, first aid, and initial damage assessment. In St. Lucia, a comprehensive training symposium was held to complete all brigade trainings and provide an opportunity for the YEACs to continue bonding as a team. 21 youth and 2 members of staff were trained and certified, and dialogue with the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) and other DRR agencies continues. YEAC members supported NEMO after the Christmas Eve Trough, demonstrating the true spirit of YEAC and the Christmas season. The project has made significant progress in achieving its targets, with 72.41% of the target number of people trained in disaster preparedness, mitigation, and management. The formation of specialized response brigades and training of youth in selected response skills has been completed in all islands. The project has also made progress in integrating YEACs into local DRR decision-making forums, with 100% of the target number of institutional meetings held in St. Lucia and 150% of the target number held in the Dominican Republic. The project has also made progress in creating a virtual YEAC platform for information sharing and social networking, with a consultant identified to create the platform. The project has also made progress in recognizing YEACs formally by Civil Defense or the national emergency management agency, with applications made for the YEACs to join the Welfare and Social Committee of their local disaster management authority. The project has also made progress in implementing early warning systems and emergency drills, with 95% of the target number of attendees at joint planning meetings from the local community. The project has also made progress in reaching community members through home visits, with 2907 persons from the target communities reached in the Dominican Republic. The project has also made progress in implementing early warning systems, with planning for this activity ongoing and slated for implementation in the second quarter.