LocationsSafer Schools, Stronger Communities: Canada-Funded Project Advances Recovery and Resilience in the Eastern Caribbean
June 30, 2026
Participants at the PDNA workshop in Grenada on March 2, 2026.
Communities recovering from the devastating impacts of Hurricane Beryl are becoming safer, stronger and more resilient through targeted support from the Government of Canada, delivered by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA).
Global Affairs Canada has supported recovery and resilience-building efforts under an extension of the recovery component of the Enabling Gender-Responsive Disaster Recovery, Climate and Environmental Resilience in the Caribbean (EnGenDER) Project. Since the passage of Hurricane Beryl in July 2024, the initiative focused on strengthening disaster preparedness, enhancing national recovery systems and restoring critical educational infrastructure in affected countries, particularly Grenada and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Through a combination of training, planning and strategic investments, it has helped governments, schools and communities better prepare for future shocks while supporting ongoing recovery efforts.
GRENADA
Building Regional Recovery Capacity
This Canada-funded project supported several strategic activities in Grenada aimed at strengthening recovery planning and resilience-building systems.
In Carriacou, stakeholders validated a Housing Recovery Plan for Carriacou and Petite Martinique, providing an important framework to guide reconstruction and long-term recovery efforts in communities affected by Hurricane Beryl.
A second validation workshop brought together representatives from key institutions to review and update Housing Guidelines in the National Disaster Plan, helping ensure that national disaster management policies reflect current recovery needs and lessons learned.
Additionally, a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment Training and Adaptation Guide for the Agriculture Sector equipped national stakeholders with the tools required to assess impacts and recovery needs within one of the country's most important economic sectors.
Participants at the PDNA workshop in Grenada on March 2, 2026.
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Strengthening School Safety and Community Preparedness
In Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, a two-day Comprehensive School Disaster Management and Safety Capacity Building Workshop was held on Union Island in November 2025, bringing together teachers, School Disaster Committee members and community stakeholders from Union Island and Mayreau. Fifteen participants, the majority of whom were women, benefited from practical training designed to improve disaster preparedness, response and recovery planning within schools and surrounding communities.
Facilitated by experts from CDEMA, the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO), the School Safety Unit and regional specialists, the workshop strengthened local capacity to identify hazards, develop school safety procedures and protect children and vulnerable groups during emergencies.
Learn more: UNDP, Canada and SVG Government Advance School Safety in the Grenadines
Investing in Education Recovery in the Grenadines
Recognizing that education is central to recovery, the initiative also supported the restoration of learning environments damaged by Hurricane Beryl.
Equipment and school supplies valued at approximately EC$385,000 were procured and delivered to five schools across the Grenadines: Paget Farm Primary School, Mayreau Government School, Mary Hutchinson Primary School, Stephanie Browne Primary School and Union Island Secondary School.
The handover, which took place on March 20, 2026, included 42 desktop computers, 47 computer chairs, air-conditioning units, projectors, printers, classroom furniture, internet connectivity devices, library furniture, office equipment and other teaching and learning resources.
These investments are helping schools restore learning spaces, improve digital access for students and teachers, and create safer, more functional environments for education and administration.
For students and educators who experienced extensive disruption following Hurricane Beryl, the support represents an important step toward educational continuity and long-term resilience.
Learn more: Canada-Funded Project Helps Schools in the Grenadines Rebuild and Recover
Improving Disaster Recovery Planning
Another key intervention focused on strengthening national capacity to assess disaster impacts and plan recovery more effectively.
UNDP supported the delivery of a Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) Training for the Housing Sector and Guidelines in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in March 2026. Thirty-two representatives from government ministries and statutory bodies participated in the training, including housing, planning and disaster management professionals.
The training introduced participants to internationally recognized methodologies for assessing disaster-related damages, losses and recovery needs while improving coordination among institutions responsible for recovery planning. Particular attention was given to the housing sector, which experienced some of the most severe impacts from Hurricane Beryl.
The exercise also supported the validation of housing sector assessment guidelines that will strengthen future recovery planning and decision-making.
Comprehensive School Disaster Management and Safety Capacity Building Workshop in Union Island in November 2025.
A Partnership Delivering Lasting Impact
Collectively, these activities demonstrate how strategic investments in preparedness, recovery planning and education can accelerate recovery while reducing future disaster risks.
By strengthening institutional capacities, supporting schools and enhancing national recovery systems, the EnGenDER extension has reached communities at the frontlines of climate and disaster risk. The initiative has maintained a strong emphasis on gender-responsive recovery and support for vulnerable populations, ensuring that recovery efforts are both inclusive and sustainable.
The extension builds on the achievements of the broader EnGenDER Project, implemented from 2019 - 2024 by UNDP in partnership with Global Affairs Canada, CDEMA, UN Women and the World Food Programme.
Through this continued collaboration, the Government of Canada is supporting Caribbean countries to recover, build stronger systems, safer schools and more resilient communities capable of withstanding future hazards.
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