United Nations in the Caribbean

The Sustainable Development Goals are a global call to action to end poverty, protect the Earth’s environment and climate, and ensure that people everywhere can enjoy peace and prosperity. The United Nations in the Caribbean is supporting delivery on all 17 goals:

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29 June 2026

English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean nations signal broad support for new regional UN cooperation framework

At the 2026 Annual Coordination Meeting held virtually on 16 June 2026 in Belize City, the United Nations System and Caribbean governments introduced a new framework for guiding their development cooperation over the next five years. The Multi-Country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (MSDCF) for 2027-2031 was the subject of a hybrid regional meeting that included Resident Coordinators and government ministers, as well as representatives of UN agencies and development partners from across the English and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. During the open floor session, representatives from Grenada, Barbados, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, the British Virgin Islands, Jamaica and Belize each expressed their governments' broad acceptance of and commitment to the MSDCF 2027–2031. Countries pledged national ownership, called for stronger data systems, and welcomed the framework's sharper, more catalytic focus as a decisive improvement over the previous cycle. THE FOUR OUTCOMES: A Sharper Framework for Caribbean Resilience This MSDCF marks a decisive shift from broad aspiration to focused, measurable action, built around four interconnected outcomes that address the Caribbean's most urgent development priorities.Outcome One — Economic Diversification & Inclusive EconomiesCaribbean economies must grow beyond narrow sectors and legacy dependencies. This outcome targets small producers, women entrepreneurs, youth, and indigenous communities, helping them participate in green, blue, orange, and circular value chains. The UN will invest in digital public infrastructure for micro-enterprises, regional trade integration, climate-resilient food systems, inclusive finance, and future-ready skills — so that by 2031, economic opportunity is no longer concentrated in the hands of a few.Outcome Two — Resilience to ShocksWith 80 per cent more extreme weather events since 1980 and over 70 per cent of critical infrastructure in high-risk coastal zones, climate vulnerability is the region’s defining challenge. This outcome embeds anticipatory, risk-informed development into national systems – strengthening governance, early warning data, climate finance, community-level preparedness, and nature-based solutions. The 2025 response to Hurricane Melissa, which mobilised over USD 100 million in combined support, demonstrated exactly the coordinated action this outcome seeks to institutionalise.Outcome Three — Integrated Social ServicesAgeing populations, migration pressures, and recurring climate shocks are straining already constrained social systems across the region. This outcome focuses on building health, education, and social protection institutions that remain functional before, during, and after crises, not improvised in the heat of an emergency. Digital civil registration systems, inclusive life-course services, and shock-responsive social protection will ensure that vulnerable groups from early childhood through older age are reached, counted, and protected.Outcome Four — Resilience to Crime and Violence Crime-related losses cost the Caribbean an estimated 3.83 per cent of regional GDP annually, and the impacts fall hardest on women, young men, migrants, and marginalised communities. This outcome calls for a shift from fragmented, reactive policing toward coordinated, prevention-first, community-led action. It addresses transnational crime networks, strengthens justice institutions, and in a notable recognition of emerging needs, elevates mental health and trauma-informed services as central to breaking cycles of violence across generations.“Behind every indicator in this framework is a human being, and behind every target, a family, behind every outcome, a life. So let us never lose sight of that, and let us never stop until every one of these lives is better for having been here.” — Dennis Zulu, UN Resident Coordinator, Multi-Country Office (MCO) Jamaica, Incoming Chair of the Regional Steering Committee From Alignment to ExecutionWhat distinguishes the MSDCF 2027–2031 from its predecessors is not its ambition — it is its discipline. The previous framework was acknowledged as relevant but too broad, spreading resources thinly and making it difficult to demonstrate collective impact. The new cycle responds with fewer but clearer outcomes, stronger links between action and results, and renewed Country Implementation Plans that governments must actively own and review.During the meeting, leadership of the Regional Steering Committee was formally passed during the meeting from Resident Coordinator Raul Salazar, who had guided the consultative process among multiple Caribbean nations, to RC Dennis Zulu of Jamaica, who will steer implementation through the framework’s first cycle. The handover, marked by Belizean cultural performances, underscored that behind every policy document lie real communities with history, identity, and a stake in the future.RC Salazar closed by reminding delegates that contributions from governments, civil society, development partners, and UN agencies had helped ensure the framework remains grounded in the needs, priorities, and aspirations of the region. He called on all present to carry forward the theme of the meeting - One Caribbean, One Framework, One Future - as the region moves from preparation to implementation.

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20 February 2024

Decide to join the United Nations as a UN Volunteer

You can decide to change the lives of others while changing your own as a United Nations Volunteer (UNV). Volunteering for the UN is a full-time commitment to peace and sustainable development with a UN agency, fund or programme, in your country or abroad. RIGHTS AND BENEFITSThe United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme encourages broad and inclusive participation, and as such ensures a variety of benefits to secure a basic standard of living while serving as a UN Volunteer. Benefits include: Monthly living allowance Medical insurance (including dependents) Annual leave (2.5 days per month served) Learning opportunities Reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities Travel allowance for international UN Volunteers See more on the UNV Conditions of Service : https://bit.ly/UNV-COS PROFESSIONAL PROFILESBuild on your professional experience and knowledge - whether in development, emergency response, education, health, environment, communications, social work and much more. ASSIGNMENT TITLESSome of the most popular volunteer assignment titles are: Field Officer (in a wide variety of areas) Community Development Officer Communications Officer Protection/Human Rights Officer Monitoring & Evaluation Officer MAIN PARTNERSAs a UN Volunteer you can serve with the following UN entities, among others: United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) International Organization for Migration (IOM) UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) World Food Programme (WFP) In 2022, over 2,500 UN Volunteers served with over 30 UN partners in Latin America and the Caribbean! LEAVING NO ONE BEHINDThe UNV programme is committed to representing the diversity of the world's societies. If you are a person with disabilities, a member of the LGTBQ+, afro-descendant or indigenous communities, or any other minority, you are encouraged to apply. CATEGORIESAssignments are offered into four volunteer categories, which determine eligibility: Expert: candidates must be at least 35 years old and have more than 15 years of professional experience. Specialist: candidates must be at least 27 years of age and have at least 3 years of professional experience. Youth and University: candidates must be between 18 and 26 years of age, and no previous professional experience is required. Community: No previous professional experience or academic requirements needed but must live in the community they serve. Before applying, we recommend carefully reading the specific requirements of your selected assignment. DECIDE TO APPLYRegister in UNV’s Unified Volunteer Platform: app.unv.org, complete your professional profile and apply to vacancies NOW. When filtering vacancies, verify the volunteer category (Expert, Youth, etc.) you fit in and define whether to volunteer in your country or abroad. UN Volunteer opportunities reflect the evolving needs of UN agencies, funds and programmes. We encourage you to visit the UNV platform regularly, so as not to miss any opportunity. VOLUNTEER ONLINEWith the Online Volunteering service, you can undertake volunteer tasks for up to 20 hours a week and for a maximum of 12 weeks with different United Nations entities, governments, public institutions and civil society organisations. As the Online Volunteering service is a free time commitment, selected individuals are not under contract with the UN Volunteers programme or the host entity. As such, Online Volunteers are not eligible for the entitlements and benefits stipulated in the Conditions of Service. Their contribution is recognised with a certificate. Know more here: https://www.unv.org/become-online-volunteer

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29 October 2026

Tobago - A model for global partnerships and local action

SCARBOROUGH, Tobago, 29 October, 2026 – Tobago's sustainable development story is being written by community groups in its villages, forests and public spaces. For United Nations Day, the UN in Trinidad and Tobago invited the international partners who help fund that work to see the results for themselves. On 26 and 27 October, diplomats and representatives of international financial institutions joined the Tobago House of Assembly (THA) and the UN Country Team on a mission from Scarborough to Charlotteville. They looked at what multilateral support has delivered on the ground and where it should go next.The mission opened with a Development Partners Meeting in Scarborough, co-chaired by the Chief Secretary of Tobago, the Honourable Farley Augustine, and the UN Resident Coordinator in Trinidad and Tobago, Joanna Kazana. It centred on a practical question: with global development finance under growing pressure, how can the THA, the UN and international partners make every investment in Tobago's future count for more? Chief Secretary Augustine presented the THA's Strategic Development Planning Pathway for Tobago 2025–2045 and invited partners to align their support with it. The UN followed with its Tobago-focused Common Country Analysis 2026, giving everyone at the table a shared picture of Tobago's development opportunities and challenges, before the floor opened for discussion."This meeting marks an important step in building a more inclusive society and an economy of opportunity where every citizen can participate in Tobago's development and share in its prosperity," the Chief Secretary said. "We welcome the continued cooperation with the UN and our international partners as we pursue this shared vision and strengthen the institutional capacity we need to deliver for the people of Tobago."Ms. Kazana commended the THA's support for community-led development and congratulated the youth and community leaders putting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to work across Tobago."Tobago offers a rare opportunity to demonstrate what multilateral success looks like when global partnerships align with governance institutions and community priorities," she said. "Even after UN support for a project has ended, these innovations are being sustained by the people of Tobago — the youth, women, fisherfolk and community advocates whose commitment and local knowledge have made these possible. Tobago can become a model of coordinated, locally-led implementation of the SDGs for small island states everywhere."The Chief Secretary, the Resident Coordinator, UN heads of agency and development partners then briefed the media. Marking UN Day togetherThe THA and the UN co-hosted a reception at the Pigeon Point Heritage Pavilion to mark United Nations Day, which commemorates the founding of the UN on 24 October, 1945. The occasion brought Tobago's leadership, the diplomatic corps and the UN family together to celebrate the partnership at the heart of the day's discussions. Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs, The Honourable Sean Sobers, delivered remarks and expressed the continued commitment of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to partner with the UN and the international community on sustainable development and on peace and security, in light of Trinidad and Tobago’s upcoming tenure as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2027-2028. From the meeting room to the fieldAcross six site visits, delegates saw UN-supported community initiatives in health, sustainable livelihoods, clean energy, biodiversity, waste reduction and the prevention of gender-based violence. At each stop, the people leading the work told the story themselves and demonstrated how Tobagonians are ensuring there is longevity to development successes even after the project has officially ended.Scarborough General Hospital: technology and care from the first day of lifeAt Scarborough General Hospital in Signal Hill, delegates interacted with a medical health services robot introduced with support from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), under a project backed by the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. They also learned about the hospital's Baby-Friendly certification, achieved through the PAHO/WHO-supported Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, the global standard for maternity care that supports breastfeeding. Both initiatives, executed in partnership with the THA Division of Health, Wellness and Social Protection, mean safer, higher-quality frontline care for Tobago's families.Blenheim: a lifetime of beekeeping knowledge, now onlineAt the Tobago Hospitality and Tourism Institute in Blenheim, Mount Saint George, the delegation met beekeepers and entrepreneurs building livelihoods from the hive. With support from the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme and implementation by UNDP (UNDP GEF SGP), Tobago has expanded its supply of homegrown honey and widened access to training. It did so through an online platform that teaches beekeeping theory, backed by a hands-on training apiary. The project draws on the knowledge of Tobago's oldest beekeeper, a key partner in the development of the training programme, and is anchored in collaborations with Tobago's police youth clubs so young people have a chance to learn the beekeeping craft. This initiative was made possible through robust partnerships with the THA Division of Education, Skills and Innovation and the THA Division of Food Security.During the visit, local entrepreneurs also showcased honey, soaps, candles, face and body creams and other products from the hive. Their stalls made the point plainly: a healthy bee population supports both Tobago's biodiversity and its small businesses. Main Ridge Forest Reserve: citizen science on the Blue Copper TrailTuesday began with an early drive to the Main Ridge Forest Reserve Visitor's Centre near Parlatuvier. Designated a reserve by law since 1776, the forest is among the oldest protected forests in the Western Hemisphere and the lifeblood of eastern Tobago's watersheds and biodiversity. Solar photovoltaic panels provided through an EU-funded project implemented by UNDP keep the Visitor’s Centre off-grid, so the THA Division of Environment, Climate Resilience and Energy can welcome tourists without generating carbon emissions. On the Blue Copper Trail, delegates joined the Trinidad and Tobago Bird Observatory and Research Centre (TTBO), an implementing partner in the FAO-supported BIOREACH conservation project, to tag the White-tailed Sabrewing. The globally-threatened hummingbird is found only in Tobago and north-east Venezuela, and was feared extinct in Tobago after Hurricane Flora in 1963.Tobago has worked to rebuild this fragile population, most recently through the BIOREACH partnership between the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the THA Division of Environment, Climate Resilience and Energy, the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), TTBO, the Tobago Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme (TRWRP) and the Ministry of Planning, Economic Affairs and Development. The project has delivered regular tagging operations using nets erected in the forest and trained and certified local foresters and community residents who can safely capture, handle and tag the birds while overseeing data collection. Local residents are now driving the citizen science that protects a globally significant ecosystem.Roxborough: putting plastic waste to workAt the Roxborough Police Youth Club, delegates saw community-led efforts to scale up plastic upcycling in Tobago. With funding from UNDP GEF SGP and support from the THA Division of Environment, Climate Resilience and Energy and the THA Division of Education, Skills and Innovation, the police youth club partnered with Flying Tree Environmental, a Trinidad-based NGO, to set up a Plastics Upcycling and Learning Centre.The centre keeps plastic out of landfills and teaches the public, particularly school-aged children, about the intricacies and benefits of upcycling. Delegates fed waste plastic into the centre's two machines, observing how one crushes bottles into chips that are melted and moulded into plastic lumber, fence posts, benches, pallets and aggregate for concrete. They also witnessed a demonstration of how the second machine compacts bottles so larger volumes can be transported from communities to the centre. The Roxborough Police Youth Club is working towards the next step in creating an island-wide upcycling system, which would establish drop-off and collection depots in communities to allow residents to bring in more waste plastic.Louis D'Or: young artists speaking out on gender-based violenceAt the Louis D'Or Recreational Ground, delegates saw a mural created by young Tobagonian artists to raise awareness of technology-facilitated gender-based violence, particularly against women and girls. The project is funded by Global Affairs Canada and delivered by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), in partnership with the THA Division of Youth Empowerment and Sport. It is producing murals in two communities in Tobago and three in Trinidad, building on an earlier mural by the Government of Canada and UNFPA at the Queen's Park Savannah in Port of Spain.Set in a space where residents meet every day, the artwork puts young people at the front of difficult conversations about respect, violence and online safety. It also displays hotline numbers people can call to report gender-based violence and seek support.Charlotteville: a biosphere reserve shaped by its communityThe final visit took the delegation to the Environmental Research Institute of Charlotteville (ERIC), a lead community partner in governing the North-East Tobago Biosphere Reserve. The reserve was designated under UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Programme in October 2020. Representatives of ERIC and the Tobago Biosphere Management Alliance explained how the reserve is managed, with leadership from the THA Division of Environment, Climate Resilience and Energy, and what communities have achieved over the last six years:a pilot that trained young people to revive oyster farmingcoral reef restorationa growing library of images and video of life in the reserveshark and ray conservation effortspublic education that builds support for conservationIn North-East Tobago, healthy forests, coastline and sea underpin fishing, tourism and daily life, and residents are leading the effort to protect them.From Scarborough to Charlotteville, the mission carried one clear message for partners: in Tobago, international support goes furthest when communities lead.Who took partThe international development partners on the mission included delegates from the Delegation of the European Union to Trinidad and Tobago, the U.S. Embassy, the High Commission of Canada, the High Commission of India, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Embassy of Germany, the Embassy of France, the Embassy of Spain, the Embassy of China, the Embassy of the Republic of Chile, the High Commission of Nigeria, the Consulate of Guyana, the Consulate General of The Bahamas, the Association of Caribbean States and CAF – Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean.The UN system was represented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), PAHO/WHO, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the World Food Programme (WFP), the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), UNFPA, FAO, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and United Nations Volunteers (UNV).The mission was organised by the UN Office of the Resident Coordinator in Port of Spain............................................................................This story was first published by United Nations Trinidad and Tobago

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five people stand in full beekeeping suits and look into a bee hive

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28 October 2026

UNESCO biosphere reserve highlighted during UN Day in Tobago

The North-East Tobago Biosphere Reserve took centre stage during a visit by United Nations representatives and international development partners to the island of Tobago, in Trinidad and Tobago, showcasing how nature conservation can support local livelihoods, sustainable tourism and climate resilience.The delegation visited the Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville (ERIC) to learn about the Biosphere Reserve and community-led efforts to protect the environment while creating opportunities for sustainable development.The visit formed part of a two-day mission held in connection with the annual observance of United Nations Day. It also highlighted UNESCO’s contribution to Tobago’s development priorities, bringing together science, conservation and community action.The mission included a Development Partners’ Meeting convened on 26 October by the Tobago House of Assembly and the United Nations in Trinidad and Tobago.Representatives of 13 countries and nine UN agencies joined the discussions, alongside the Tobago House of Assembly and international development partners, including regional organisations, to explore how partners could better align their support with Tobago’s priorities.Representing UNESCO, Bandiougou Diawara, Head of the Natural Sciences Programme at the UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean, highlighted the contribution of the Biosphere Reserve to sustainable tourism and climate resilience.The North-East Tobago Biosphere Reserve shows why protecting nature matters to people: its forests, rivers and coastal ecosystems support livelihoods, water security and tourism. It also provides a platform for communities and partners to work together to strengthen resilience and create opportunities for local peopleBandiougou Diawara, Head of the Natural Sciences Programme at the UNESCO Regional Office for the CaribbeanDesignated in 2020 under UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere Programme, the Reserve encompasses terrestrial and marine ecosystems, including the Main Ridge Forest Reserve, coral reefs and mangroves.UNESCO is also supporting a multi-hazard risk assessment and mapping initiative for the Biosphere Reserve, which is about to begin. The study is expected to help inform disaster preparedness, ecosystem restoration and tourism planning.For local communities, protecting the environment is closely linked to preserving cultural heritage and securing future livelihoods.“Fishing has supported our communities for generations. Today, we see opportunities to build on that heritage through sustainable tourism, creating new sources of income while protecting our environment and preserving our traditions. What matters is ensuring that development benefits local people without changing what makes our communities unique.”Tamica Whitlock, representative of the Environmental Research Institute Charlotteville.The visit provided an opportunity to learn more about ERIC’s work and explore how UNESCO and its partners can complement ongoing efforts to strengthen the Biosphere Reserve and support the communities that depend on it............................................................................This story was first published by UNESCO Regional Office for the Caribbean

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24 October 2026

UN Day: Crafting our shared future together

Every year on 24 October, United Nations Day offers an opportunity to reflect on a simple but powerful truth: no country, community, or institution can overcome today's challenges alone.Across the Eastern Caribbean, that reality is evident every day. Small island developing States continue to confront the escalating impacts of climate change through more intense hurricanes, coastal erosion, biodiversity loss, and growing pressures on livelihoods and public finances. At the same time, the Caribbean faces persistent challenges related to food and energy security, inequality, economic vulnerability, and the increasing strain on already limited resources.Yet if there is one lesson that the Caribbean continues to offer the world, it is that resilience is born from solidarity. Time and again, Caribbean people have demonstrated an extraordinary capacity to adapt, innovate, and persevere. Even in the face of adversity, communities come together, institutions collaborate, and partnerships are forged to transform challenges into opportunities.I have witnessed this spirit of cooperation throughout the Eastern Caribbean. Governments, regional organisations, civil society, youth leaders, community groups, the private sector, and development partners are working together to strengthen climate resilience, expand social protection, promote sustainable food systems, and build economies that are more diversified, inclusive, and sustainable.Together, we are advancing human rights, gender equality, and access to justice. We are creating opportunities for young people not only to participate in decision-making but to lead it. We are supporting innovation and entrepreneurship, recognising that the region's future will be shaped by the energy, creativity, and determination of its next generation.These are not abstract goals. They are about whether families can recover after a devastating storm. Whether farmers can adapt to changing climate conditions and secure their livelihoods. Whether young people can access meaningful employment and envision a future in their own communities. Whether every person, regardless of circumstance, can live with dignity, security, and hope.The United Nations is proud to stand alongside the people and governments of the Eastern Caribbean in this work. Our role is not to prescribe solutions, but to listen, convene, and bring together the collective expertise, experience, and resources of the UN system in support of nationally defined priorities. Above all, our commitment is to help translate global commitments into tangible improvements in people's lives. This year's United Nations Day comes at a pivotal moment. With less than five years remaining to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals, the urgency to act has never been greater. Progress is possible, but it will require acceleration, ambition, and above all, partnership.It will require investing in people and communities, strengthening institutions, and expanding opportunities for those furthest behind. It will require unlocking financing that better reflects the unique vulnerabilities of small island developing States, a priority rightly emphasised by Caribbean leaders during the recent session of the United Nations General Assembly. And it will require renewed commitment to multilateralism at a time when global cooperation is needed more than ever.The challenges before us are significant, but so too is our capacity to address them together. The United Nations was founded eighty-one years ago on the conviction that peace, development, and human dignity are best advanced through cooperation among nations. That conviction remains as relevant today as it was in 1945.On this United Nations Day, let us reaffirm our shared responsibility to build a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future for all. The Eastern Caribbean has repeatedly shown that when people come together with purpose and determination, extraordinary progress is possible. That spirit of partnership gives us every reason for hope.Happy United Nations Day.

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Composite of a portrait of Simon Springett beside UN House in Barbados, with the United Nations emblem and the words "Op-Ed".

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22 October 2026

After the storm: How psychological first aid helped Jamaicans recover after Hurricane Melissa

In the days after Hurricane Melissa, which struck Jamaica on October 28, 2025, Shawna Guthrie was focused on getting through the day. There was her family to look after, basic needs to meet and the disruption around her to navigate. Although the storm had passed, she did not yet feel safe.“I was still worried and constantly thinking about what could happen,” she recalled. “At the same time, I still had my everyday responsibilities and couldn't just stop because I was overwhelmed.”Like many Jamaicans affected by the Category 5 hurricane, Guthrie was confronting a less visible consequence of the disaster. The immediate danger had passed, but fear, grief and uncertainty could remain long after the storm was over.“I was trying to be strong and focus on what needed to be done, but emotionally I was tired,” she said. “There came a point where I realized that being strong doesn't mean you don't need help.”Guthrie received Psychological First Aid (PFA) from a trained health worker, who listened to what she had experienced, helped her work through her immediate concerns and connected her with additional support when needed.PFA is a practical approach to helping people cope in the immediate aftermath of a crisis or disaster. It focuses on listening to people’s needs, providing compassionate support, and connecting them with practical assistance or specialised care when needed.Guthrie’s experience was similar to that of thousands of people affected by the hurricane who received psychosocial support in the months following the disaster.“I didn't necessarily need someone to fix everything,” she said. “I just needed someone to understand that I was scared, overwhelmed, and trying my best.” When the storm is over, recovery continuesDr. Janique Baldwin-Miller, Regional Psychiatrist for the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA), saw that need unfolding across many communities including Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth.“There was shock that such a disaster had occurred, relief that many individuals survived, grief over the loss of property, loved ones, and livelihoods,” she recalled. “At the same time, there was a strong sense of purpose and determination to rebuild stronger communities.”In Jamaica’s southern region alone, an estimated 40,000 people—approximately 10% of the adult population—required PFA. According to the data available up to May 2026, some 27,000 people, or 68% of that estimate, had received support.“With the wide range of emotional reactions that people have experienced, and continue to experience, it is essential that Psychological First Aid provides a compassionate and practical helping hand,” Baldwin-Miller explained. “Individuals can be guided, one step at a time, toward recovery by connecting them with available resources and support systems in a humane and dignified manner.”In the storm’s aftermath, Jamaica’s Ministry of Health and Wellness, with support from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) and partners, organised a series of PFA training sessions for healthcare workers, government ministries and agencies, community organisations and faith-based groups.By the end of February 2026, approximately 4,700 people had received training in Psychological First Aid through various initiatives carried out following the hurricane. These efforts also included a training-of-trainers component and the establishment of training hubs in St. Elizabeth, Westmoreland, and St. James to strengthen local capacity in some of the parishes most affected by the hurricane.Through simulations, scenario-based exercises, role-playing, singing and artistic activities, participants practised the core PFA principles of “Look, Listen and Link.”“The PFA trainings have been invaluable because they have simplified and organized how we provide support that is meaningful, evidence-based, and measurable,” Baldwin-Miller said. Support beyond the immediate emergencyWith multiple organisations responding across affected communities, coordination was essential. The Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) Health Cluster brought together 14 organisations to coordinate services, share information, and respond to mental health and psychosocial needs in affected communities.Supported by emergency funding, including contributions from the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) and the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), PAHO/WHO also worked with national partners to expand access to mental health support, strengthen local capacity and improve coordination among organisations working in affected communities. But the people providing that support were often experiencing the disaster themselves.“The experience was traumatic for many healthcare workers, and a significant number experienced burnout while simultaneously coping with their own losses and supporting others,” Baldwin-Miller said.This highlighted the need to ensure that emergency mental health responses also protect the people delivering the care. Baldwin-Miller believes the experience has underscored the importance of stronger systems to support frontline workers during emergencies, including external assistance when needed, dedicated periods of rest and recovery, and stronger employee assistance programmes.The experience also showed that mental health must be an integral part of disaster recovery. For people rebuilding their homes, restoring their livelihoods and caring for their families, emotional recovery goes hand in hand with physical reconstruction and can sometimes be essential to coping with the aftermath and gradually returning to everyday life. Nearly a year laterNearly a year after Hurricane Melissa, Dr. Baldwin-Miller sees signs of recovery across the communities she serves.“When I listen to people speak, I hear hope,” Baldwin-Miller said. “I hear individuals saying that despite this disaster, they are picking up the pieces and discovering strengths they did not know they possessed.”For Shawna Guthrie, recovery has also meant recognising that asking for help is part of moving forward. While memories of the hurricane and uncertainty about future disasters remain, she has learned to talk about what she is feeling and seek support when she needs it.“People need support after the cameras leave, and the attention moves on,” Guthrie said. “They need someone to check on them weeks and months later—not just immediately after the hurricane. Rebuilding a home or replacing belongings is important, but rebuilding a person's sense of safety and peace of mind is just as important.”Nearly a year after Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica’s experience shows that recovery does not end when attention to the emergency fades. The response has helped expand the number of people trained to provide support, strengthen coordination mechanisms, and reinforce the understanding that recovering from a disaster is not only about rebuilding what was lost, but also about helping people and communities regain a sense of safety, connection and hope for the future.More InformationMental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies (MHPSS)Virtual course: Psychological First Aid (PFA) in disaster management in the Caribbean - Second Edition Virtual course: protection and promotion of human rights in mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies Virtual course: Introducing Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) in emergencies (WHO course)...........................................................................This story was first published by Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)

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A presenter speaks beside a screen about crisis events at a training session with the Southern Regional Health Authority.

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21 October 2026

Global warming will breach 1.5°C – but deep, fast cuts can still bring it back

With global temperature rise set to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, countries “must pull out all the stops” and urgently cut emissions to minimise the overshoot and return to the internationally agreed threshold by the end of this century.The recommendation comes in the Emissions Gap Report 2026: The Point of Return, published on Wednesday by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).It outlines a “lowest possible” overshoot scenario in which peak warming by roughly mid-century is limited to 1.7 to 1.8°C.Achieving this requires slashing emissions by 18 per cent by the end of the decade, 45 per cent by 2035, and 69 per cent five years later, compared with 2025 levels.No surrender“Overshoot is not surrender,” UN Secretary-General António Guterres said in a message accompanying the report. “We can still keep it as small and as short as possible – and bring temperatures back below 1.5 degrees by the end of the century.” The report argues that there are more opportunities than ever to step up action.Since adoption of the 2015 Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which set the 1.5-degree target, renewable energy has boomed, total energy supply from coal and oil has grown slower than projected and climate policies have cut emissions in many places.UNEP Executive Director Inger Andersen was clear about the cost of inaction.“Every additional fraction of a degree and additional year of warming above 1.5°C increases climate impacts and risks, such as the deadly floods, heatwaves and wildfires that have plagued many nations this year,” she said.“So, we must pull out all the stops to minimize peak warming and return to 1.5°C by the end of the century”, she added, stressing that “this is possible”.Warmer planet, worse outcomesIf current policies continue, warming could reach 2.8°C within this century and increase thereafter, the report warned.Under the Paris Agreement, countries are required to submit national climate action plans, or NDCs, and even if all are delivered and similar efforts continue, warming will be limited to 2.6°C.These outcomes are worse than last year’s projections, the report said, due to the United States withdrawing from the climate deal and revised estimates of historical emissions.Meanwhile, new NDCs submitted since the last emissions report have hardly made a difference.Yet, returning to or below the 1.5 threshold can be done, particularly as evidence increasingly shows how climate policies have reduced emissions.Take stock, take actionThe report calls for accelerating implementation of goals outlined during the first-ever Global Stocktake (GST) – a process held from 2021 to 2023 to assess collective progress towards achieving the Paris Agreement.These include:Tripling renewable energy capacity and doubling the annual rate of energy efficiency improvements by 2030Shifting away from fossil fuels in energy systemsReducing non-CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissionsHalting and reversing deforestation and forest degradationHowever, progress across most of these goals remains insufficient.The second GST – which begins next month at the UN COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye – can build on this by reaffirming priority mitigation action areas, extending quantified goals to 2035 and 2040, and making existing action areas more tangible through clearer and, where possible, quantified targets.The report sets out benchmarks that would have to be hit to be consistent with the lowest overshoot scenario.For example, extending the goal on transitioning from fossil fuels would require reducing the share of coal, oil and gas in total energy supply by at least 55, 15 and five per cent respectively by 2035, relative to 2025 figures.Reductions of at least 75, 30 and 35 per cent would be required in 2040. ...........................................................................This story was first published by UN News

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Two industrial chimneys release a dense plume into an orange, hazy sky over Chisinau.

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Press Release

13 October 2026

UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean welcomes Nicholas Booth as Resident Representative

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados – Mr. Nicholas Booth has assumed the role of Resident Representative at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Multi-Country Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.He presented his credentials to Senior Minister of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, Senator the Hon. Christopher Sinckler on 12 October 2026, thus officially commencing his duties as the new UNDP Resident Representative. He succeeds Ms. Limya Eltayeb whose tenure ended in May.Mr. Booth brings more than 20 years of international experience across the United Nations system, leading and supporting initiatives on democratic governance, human rights, access to justice, conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and sustainable development. Prior to this appointment, Mr. Booth served as UNDP Resident Representative in Papua New Guinea and held senior leadership roles at UNDP's Regional Hub in Bangkok, supporting countries across Asia and the Pacific. A barrister by training, he holds law degrees from the Universities of Cambridge and Oxford in the United Kingdom. Mr. Booth affirmed his commitment and enthusiasm for continuing his work with Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – this time in the Caribbean."I am honored to present my credentials and formally begin my tenure as UNDP Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean. I look forward to deepening UNDP’s partnership with the countries and people of this region as we advance a more inclusive, prosperous and sustainable future together – one where SIDS’ vulnerabilities instead become opportunities for lasting resilience and growth."Senior Minister Sinckler warmly welcomed Mr. Booth to Barbados, as he lauded UNDP’s longstanding history of positive contributions to Caribbean development and emphasised the importance of its role as a strong and reliable partner for SIDS. ...........................................................................This story was first published by UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean

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Press Release

01 October 2026

Beatrice Mutali appointed new UNFPA SROC director

Beatrice Mutali assumed duties as the Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Sub-Regional Office for the Caribbean (SROC) on 1 October 2026.Prior to this, she was the United Nations Resident Coordinator (RC) and the UN Secretary-General’s Representative in Zambia. She led and coordinated the United Nations Country Team, comprising 24 UN Agencies, Funds, and Programmes, in support of Zambia's sustainable development efforts. Beatrice ensured system-wide accountability, promotion, and advocacy of the fundamental values, standards, and principles of the UN Charter.An Economist by profession, Beatrice brings over 30 years of private and public sector experience across high, middle, and low-income countries in both development and humanitarian contexts.Beatrice served previously in various roles within UNFPA, including Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, based in South Africa; Deputy Regional Director for West and Central Africa, based in Senegal; and UNFPA Representative to South Africa, Country Director for Botswana and Eswatini (2018-2021). During her prior tenure at UNFPA, she led successful resource mobilisation efforts, programme development, delivery, and monitoring, and built strong partnerships.Prior to UNFPA, Beatrice held leadership roles in Family Planning, HIV/AIDS, and Sexual and Reproductive Health with organisations such as Merck/MSD, the International HIV/AIDS Alliance, the International Planned Parenthood Federation, and the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Beatrice holds a Master’s Degree and a Bachelor's Degree in Economics from Kurukshetra University, India. She speaks English, French and Kiswahili............................................................................This story was first published by UNFPA Caribbean

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Press Release

16 September 2026

700 fishers and fish vendors certified to strengthen their livelihoods in three bays protected area

The certification ceremony, held at the Roi Henry Christophe Campus of Limonade (CHCL/UEH), brought together government authorities from the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), the Ministry of the Environment (MdE), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development (MARNDR), as well as representatives of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Technical Execution Unit (UTE) and other key project stakeholders.The 400 fish vendors and 300 fishers completed training on fishing equipment management, sustainable management of fisheries resources, safety at sea and sustainable fishing techniques. They form the second group to receive certification under the project’s efforts to strengthen the livelihoods of people working in the artisanal fishing sector, following an initial cohort of 204 fish vendors who had already received training.Marcelin Aubourg, Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, stated:« The I-BE Project addresses issues of particular importance to our country. In the departments of Nord-Est and Nord, and especially in the Three Bays Protected Area of Managed Natural Resources (AP3B), we must reconcile the protection of fragile natural resources with improving the living conditions of the populations who depend on them. The project must help diversify livelihoods, increase incomes, improve nutrition, and develop economic activities compatible with sustainable natural resource management. »The training is part of a broader package of measures to strengthen livelihoods along the artisanal fishing value chain. These include the establishment of the AP3B Fisher Support Cooperative (CAPAB) and the provision of fishing equipment, including a fish aggregating device (FAD) and four floating traps.Minister of Environment Valery Fils-Aimé, for his part, expressed strong satisfaction with the project's progress, noting that the initiative reinforces Haiti's efforts to implement its commitments under the Paris Agreement on climate change:« Our ambition is for the Grand Nord to become a pilot territory for a new approach, a blue economy that protects biodiversity, strengthens climate resilience, creates income and jobs, and opens the way to new financing mechanisms, particularly through the carbon market. »
IFAD’s third supervision missionThe ceremony took place as part of IFAD’s third supervision mission to the I-BE Project. IFAD is the project’s main financier, providing US $23 million toward a total project budget of US $26.6 million.Samir Bejaoui, IFAD Country Director for Haiti, highlighted the investment's direct impact on communities:« Smallholder producers and fishers are having a tangible impact on their communities' livelihoods through more entrepreneurship-oriented practices. Thanks to the training and equipment provided under the I-BE project, their skills are being strengthened, with improved access to markets and the adoption of sustainable practices. This is helping them increase their incomes and become more resilient to economic, climate, and social volatility. Through this investment, IFAD reaffirms its commitment to long-term, sustainable rural development for Haiti's rural populations. »Through its Technical Execution Unit (UTE), the Ministry of Economy and Finance implements the project in partnership with the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, and the National Agency for Protected Areas (ANAP). The partnership aims to strengthen project governance while helping local artisanal fishing communities put their skills and knowledge into practice and strengthen their livelihoods.Jean Béluis, a fisher from Fort-Liberté and a beneficiary of the training, said:« Thanks to the training, we have, while building our capacity, learned how to properly manage the sea. In the past, we were content simply to fish, without knowing that as fishers we had a responsibility to protect marine resources, the marine environment, and to properly maintain our fishing equipment. Today, things are different.»Implemented in the municipalities of Limonade, Caracol, Terrier-Rouge, Fort-Liberté and Ferrier, the I-BE Project has reached 5,699 households to date, approximately 28,345 people, across its different areas of intervention.5,699 households, approximately 28,345 people, across its different areas of intervention, including artisanal fishing, rice production, beekeeping, cattle farming, mangrove conservation and microfinance. Press ContactTechnical Execution Unit (UTE/MEF)Galvany Nicolas, Communication Specialistgnicolas@ute.gouv.ht(509) 4040-4566

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Press Release

31 August 2026

UN launches regional campaign for disability-inclusive employment in the Caribbean

The regional initiative, which promotes disability-inclusive employment and advances the economic participation of persons with disabilities, has attracted support from leading businesses, with some having committed to equitable hiring practices and workplace cultures through a Disability Inclusive Employer’s Pledge.The ‘HireAbility Campaign’ connects six UN Country Teams in the English- and Dutch-speaking Caribbean and brings together governments, employers, organisations of persons with disabilities, youth advocates, development partners and UN agencies. Mr Simon Springett, United Nations Resident Coordinator for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, in delivering Opening Remarks for the Campaign’s official launch, described it as "an important milestone for disability inclusion across the Caribbean", while highlighting its evolution from “a powerful idea advanced by Zinzee Noel, a youth advocate and Grenada’s representative on the UN Youth Advisory Group (YAG), to a Caribbean movement for inclusive employment and equal opportunity”. "Although barriers differ across countries, the aspiration is universal: persons with disabilities must be able to participate fully in society, access decent work, contribute their talents and skills, and be recognised for those contributions," he maintained. The UN Head thanked disability advocates, employers, and Caribbean businesses, including Massy Stores Saint Lucia, Grenada Broadcasting Network, and photography and videography companies Unique Productions Inc. and Bajanpro Inc. of Grenada and Barbados, respectively, for their leadership and support. He also urged stakeholders to view the campaign not as a one-time event but as part of a sustained journey toward accessible workplaces and more inclusive communities.In her welcome remarks, Ms Noel, who co-hosted the event alongside Mr Loik Charles, fellow youth disability advocate and YAG representative for Dominica, underscored the campaign's central message that persons with disabilities already possess the skills, qualifications, creativity and determination needed to contribute meaningfully to the workforce. Reflecting on her own journey, where she faced ongoing discrimination despite being qualified and extremely capable, she maintained, "The HireAbility Campaign gives us an opportunity to change the conversation. Its message is simple but powerful: Break barriers. Embrace inclusion. Champion rights.” Ms Noel stressed that inclusive hiring benefits not only individuals but also strengthens organisations, communities and economies.Thomas Kring, Deputy Director of the International Labour Organization Caribbean Office, in his Feature Address told participants, "Access to decent work is not charity. It's about rights, dignity, equality and economic participation.” Charging that labour markets must provide persons with disabilities with fair opportunities to develop their skills, find decent work and contribute fully to society, he described the Inclusive Employer Pledge as a public commitment to equitable hiring, dignity, respect and equal opportunity.Among the highlights of the launch was the signing of the Disability Inclusive Employer Pledge by representatives of Carenage Bay Holding Ltd in Canouan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Runman Belize Corporation; and The Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited. Signatories also outlined concrete actions being taken to fulfil this public commitment, including plans by the Grenada Co-operative Bank Limited to launch an internship programme for persons with disabilities. Bringing the curtain down on the launch ceremony, Mr Charles urged employers and partners across the Caribbean to sign the Pledge, remove workplace barriers, strengthen partnerships, and commit to long-term change that advances disability inclusion across the region.A disability inclusion sensitisation webinar immediately followed the launch, with presentations by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the UN Population Fund (UNFPA) offering practical expert guidance on inclusive hiring, workplace accessibility, reasonable accommodation, violence and harassment prevention, and supportive workplace environments. The HireAbility Campaign will continue over the next four months and culminate on the International Day of Persons with Disabilities on 3 December, thus providing more employers with the opportunity to sign the Pledge. The campaign’s ultimate goal is a Caribbean where talent is recognised, barriers are removed, and persons with disabilities can participate fully and equally in the world of work.

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