Press Release

Towards a more resilient Caribbean: How EU-CA-RES is Making a Difference

11 December 2024

Basseterre, 2 December 2024 - The Caribbean’s ability to withstand shocks, emergencies and hazards received a considerable boost this week with the launch of the landmark European Union Caribbean Resilience Programme (EU-CA-RES), known as “EU Cares”.

The intervention aims to build a Caribbean that is not only prepared for the challenges of today but ready to face the uncertainties of tomorrow. These challenges and uncertainties include earthquakes, flooding, drought and hurricanes. Recent devastation wrought by Hurricane Beryl in July this year was a stark reminder of the risks the region faces. EU-CA-RES, which was launched in Saint Kitts and Nevis on 2 December, brings together a broad range of partners for maximum reach and influence.

The European Union is joined by UNICEF, the World Food Programme (WFP), the UN Development Programme (UNDP), and the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR).

The initiative will pave the way for a region more able to recover from adversity - such as the ravages of climate change, whether slow and creeping or sudden and catastrophic - with even greater strength and resilience.

European Union Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, Malgorzata Wasilewska declared that while all partners are clearly working towards the same goal, it is imperative that they all work together.

“The region has to work closely together, international partners are here to assist,” said Wasilewska. “Every life we help to save, every house we rebuild should always be our motivation to work on these issues.”

Enhancing social protection, which provides a safety net for those in need, is critical and EU-CA-RES works to strengthen systems that can provide immediate financial support to families affected by disasters - especially the most vulnerable like women, children, and people with disabilities - who often bear the brunt of these extreme events. Quick access to resources can make a huge difference in helping communities recover.

he programme is committed to ‘building back better’ which develops what has gone before. By implementing improved building standards, investing in disaster-proof infrastructure, early warning systems and strengthening institutional policy, planning, financial arrangements, and data gathering and dissemination, the initiative helps to ensure that when the next emergency strikes, the damage will be less severe, with faster recovery processes reducing loss and suffering. Simon Springett, UN Representative for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean thanked the EU for generously supporting “one United Nation delivering for a collective good.” “We are working collectively every day to reduce that level of fragility and it’s really imperative that we don’t look away, that we really tackle these issues.”

Portrait of smiling man wearing glasses with a yellow background

Kareem Smith

UNICEF

Senior Communications Associate

karsmith@unicef.org +1 (246) 830-6969

Kareem Smith is a Senior Communications Associate at the UNICEF Eastern Caribbean office. His primary responsibility is to monitor the public perception of UNICEF in the countries within the office's jurisdiction. Based on his observations, he recommends appropriate actions to maintain a positive image for the organization. Kareem ensures the collection of high-quality data, conducts analysis and evaluation, and prepares reports to facilitate effective communication strategies, planning, and advocacy efforts.

Before joining UNICEF, Kareem served as a broadcast journalist at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation for four years. He then transitioned to a multimedia journalist role at Barbados TODAY, a digital media company. Throughout his five-year journalism career, Kareem has reported on various issues affecting Small Island Developing States, including the climate crisis, natural disasters, migration, economic sustainability, human rights, and crime.

In terms of content development, Kareem writes, edits, and produces compelling communication content for internal and external audiences. He highlights news and events, as well as global UNICEF campaigns and priorities. Kareem gathers content ideas, utilizes customer feedback mechanisms, and supports the production of communication materials such as messages, newsletters, stories, videos, photos, presentations, and infographics. He is also involved in exploring innovative approaches for presenting content and designing visualizations, videos, exhibitions, and other engaging formats. Maintaining an up-to-date pipeline of communication outputs is another important aspect of his role, supporting planning and prioritization.