Saint Lucia asserted its leadership in disaster preparedness and risk reduction at the 6th Regional Dialogue Platform on Anticipatory Action (AA), held in Colombia from November 28-29.
Representing the island was 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 provided a crucial opportunity for Saint Lucia to highlight its pioneering work as a smaller island nation effectively implementing an AA mechanism.
Key highlights of Saint Lucia’s presentation included:
– 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 for effective communication with beneficiaries;
– Training of staff on the KOBO toolbox for precise and efficient data collection;
– Community sensitization efforts to educate vulnerable populations on the significance of AA mechanisms in disaster preparedness.
During a panel session titled “Opportunities for Anticipatory Action in the Caribbean,” Ms. Leon confidently shared insights on integrating AA mechanisms within government structures.
Her presentation, “Building an AA Mechanism within Government Structures: The Case of Saint Lucia,” emphasized the challenges the island overcame, including data gaps, slow verification processes, human resource limitations, and the complexities of a newly established electronic funds system.
Despite these challenges, Saint Lucia has established itself as a regional leader, preparing to conduct a simulation exercise from December 2024 – January 2025 to rigorously test and refine its systems. This exercise aims to assess the efficacy of the AA mechanism, focusing on enhancing the island’s preparedness for future crises without requiring an actual trigger.
Saint Lucia remains unwavering in its commitment to expand outreach and deepen community understanding of anticipatory action.