Strengthening Community Resilience in Dominica’s Kalinago Territory

Dominica’s Kalinago Territory will be the focus of a new US$1 million project, aimed at increasing community resilience through enhancing sustainable agriculture, improving forest and watershed management, and fostering indigenous eco-tourism. “Strengthening Community Resilience within the Kalinago Territory (SCR-K)” is an initiative led by the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica. It is implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and supported by the Government of India through the India-UN Development Partnership Fund. 

A media launch was held on Thursday, December 19 at the Barana Autê to announce the project, which seeks to promote resilience, enhance sustainable livelihoods, and preserve the unique Kalinago heritage. Nestled in a remote and mountainous area of Atlantic coast, the Kalinago Territory is a 15 km2 district with an estimated population of approximately 3,000 indigenous Kalinago people – the only Caribbean community directly descended from the indigenous people that populated the entire region before colonization.

Caption: Officials from Dominica's Ministry of Environment, Rural Modernisation, and Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment, the Kalinago Council, the High Commission of India to the Commonwealth of Dominica, and UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Multi-Country Office at the media launch of the Strengthening Community Resilience within the Kalinago Territory (SCR-K) project at the Barana Autê on December 19, 2024.

Photo: © UNDP/Zaimis Olmos

The Hon. Cozier Frederick, Minister of the Environment, Rural Modernisation, and Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment, said, “The Kalinago community’s resilient agenda has been greatly enhanced through the collaborative efforts of financing from the India-UN Development Partnership Fund and the coordination of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as they continue to enable us to recover, adapt and thrive in the face of immense adversity.”

High Commissioner of India to the Commonwealth of Dominica, Dr. Pradeep Singh Rajpurohit, was also in attendance at the launch. He emphasized the Government of India’s commitment to supporting multilateralism and south-south cooperation for development that is driven by national ownership and leadership. “India has taken a lead role in putting the priorities of the countries of the Global South on the global agenda. It was evident during India’s G-20 Presidency last year. This project for the empowerment of the indigenous Kalinago community of Dominica represents India’s desire to support Dominica in a sustainable manner.”

UNDP Resident Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Ms. Limya Eltayeb, welcomed the continued investment in the Kalinago Territory. 

“We are honored that the Government of Dominica continues to entrust UNDP with efforts to build resilience within this unique community. Through several initiatives, we have worked closely with the Kalinago Community to increase internet accessibility and strengthen digital transformation, promote Kalinago language and culture, and support livelihoods, tourism and entrepreneurial ventures,” she said. “We are pleased to have the opportunity to continue supporting the Kalinago people when this new project comes on stream. I would especially like to thank the Government of India for its strong support through the UN-India Fund, which has distinguished itself as an excellent example of productive south-south cooperation and an important resource for small island developing states.”

Some of the key issues to be addressed by the SCR-K initiative include revitalizing agriculture to support national food security and economic growth; mitigating the impact of climate-related hazards and deforestation on forest ecosystems; and developing sustainable tourism practices that leverage the unique cultural heritage of the Kalinago community. These challenges are compounded by the need for effective community engagement and capacity building to ensure long-term resilience and economic benefits. Included in the planned activities are the establishment of a greenhouse park in the northern belt of the Kalinago Territory, training of community members in climate-smart agriculture techniques and disbursement of small grants to farmers and small businesses.

The SCR-K initiative builds upon and complements UNDP’s Strengthening Sustainable Livelihoods and Resilience in the Kalinago Territory (SSLR) project, which closed earlier this year. UNDP established a project office in Dominica in 2017 to support the Government with immediate response, recovery, and reconstruction post-Hurricane Maria. Since then, UNDP’s portfolio has expanded to a range of projects supporting reconstruction and social protection, resilience-building, agriculture, Indigenous peoples, blue economy, and digital transformation.

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About UNDP
UNDP is the lead United Nations agency tackling the injustice of poverty, inequality, and climate change. Working with a broad global network of experts and partners in 170 countries, UNDP helps nations develop impactful, integrated, and sustainable solutions by and for people and the planet. The UNDP Multi-Country Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean serves 10 small island developing states. For more information, visit www.undp.org/barbados or follow us on social media @undpbarbadosec.

About the India-UN Development Partnership Fund
Established in 2017, the US$150 million India-UN Development Partnership Fund is supported and led by the Government of India and implemented in collaboration with the United Nations system. The Fund supports Southern-owned and -led, demand-driven and transformational sustainable development projects across the developing world, with a focus on least developed countries and small island developing States. United Nations agencies implement the Fund projects in close collaboration with partnering Governments.

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This story was first published by UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.