Greening Micro, Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) in Barbados

The overall goal of the Greening MSMEs project is for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) across Barbados to implement low-carbon technologies and behavioural changes in their business practices which reduce their business’ overall carbon footprint and facilitate livelihood changes that are economically and environmentally sustainable.

 

[caption id="attachment_4729" align="alignleft" width="300"] A craft and souvenir shop in one of Barbados' popular tourist districts. (Photo: CARIBSAVE 2014)[/caption]

The Government of Barbados has made recent strides towards encouraging renewable energy and energy conservation nationally, and especially within the private sector. However, large corporations are often the only private sector players that are able to adopt pro-active, environmental strategies because they have the means to do so.

This project is helping MSMEs supplant their carbon-intensive operations with more sustainable, "green" technologies and practices. Many MSME operators feel they have little choice but to use the readily available yet expensive fossil-fuel-based energy sources, because even though the cost is high, the set-up cost for alternative energy solutions is prohibitive. For these MSME operators that do not have the capacity to access such opportunities or are not fully aware of the opportunities available, this project will provide the training and financing necessary to access the locally available renewable energy and energy conservation alternatives.

Country: Barbados

Duration: January 2014 – June 2015

Funder:  GEF Small Grants Programme (GEF/SGP),implemented by the United Nations Development Programme for Barbados and the OECS

For further information on this project, contact Ms. Nikki Hassell via e-mail on nikki.hassell@caribsave.org.

Vulnerability, Impact and Adaptation Analyses in the Caribbean (VIAAC)

Caribbean countries are particularly exposed to extreme climate-related events, which will be exacerbated by climate change.  

Individually, these countries have distinct and varying degrees of vulnerability due to their unique environmental, socio-economic and institutional challenges.  Since most of the countries currently struggle to deal with the negative effects of climate variability, developing pragmatic adaptation solutions to cope with present and future changes is an absolute imperative.

Vulnerability, impact and adaptation (VIA) analyses will therefore help countries in the region to better plan for climate change adaptation.  In this context, under the Regional Gateway for Technology Transfer and Climate Change Action in Latin America and the Caribbean (REGATTA) initiative implemented by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the CARIBSAVE Partnership is conducting three [3] VIA analyses at the national and local scale in Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and Haiti.

These VIA analyses are focused on water resources, agriculture, coastal areas and the tourism sector and provide an understanding of the countries’ and watersheds’ exposure to climatic events based on current climate variability and future change, such as hurricanes and sea level rise.  The VIA analyses also have an emphasis on evaluating the key ecosystem services that contribute to livelihoods in order to provide a clear understanding of their status and sensitivity to climate changes, as well as to identify opportunities to implement ecosystem-based adaptation options as part of an overall adaptation strategy.

The main outputs from this 12-month project will be (1) National and Watershed VIA documents; (2) Policy Briefs and (3) Community Adaptation Plans (CAPs) or Local Adaptation Plans of Action (LAPAs). The VIA documents will create a basis for the evaluation of actual and potential threats / risks to key sectors, activities and ecosystems in the countries and watershed communities; as well as identify corrective adaptive actions.

As decision support tools, these outputs will be developed based on the findings of the respective VIAs as their basis to support decision makers in determining where scarce resources should be targeted to address ‘high vulnerability’ areas..

The results will demonstrate, amongst other things, the importance of including non-climatic determinants of vulnerability to climate change of livelihoods and communities benefiting from ecosystem services in watershed areas. They will also improve the understanding of the main approaches to climate change vulnerability assessment and to what extent their findings are useful for implementing and facilitating adaptations at both the national and local levels.

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For more information, contact the Project Manager, Dr Donovan Campbell at donovan.campbell@caribsave.org.

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C-FISH: Alternative Livelihoods Programme and the Craft Fair Experience

Craft is not only a very important part of the culture and economic life of small communities, but is also a powerful medium for communicating messages of sustainability, community action and of course (coming soon) adaptation to climate change. 

CARIBSAVE, in partnership with community craft artisans from C-FISH beneficiary Fish Sanctuary communities participated in two Craft Fairs which were recently hosted in Kingston, Jamaica. CARIBSAVE and the artisans used the events to collect information from customers and craft producers to in order to enhance the C-FISH alternative livelihoods programme.

Thirty-two (32) artisans from three (3) areas were represented through craft products brought – Bluefields Bay fish sanctuary,  Oracabessa Bay and Sandals Boscobel fish sanctuaries, and Galleon, St. Elizabeth fish sanctuary (through the Treasure Beach Women’s Group).

The fairs also served as an opportunity for some of our partnered artisans to gain some valuable experience and exposure to the current market, networking (with other artisans and customers), assessing (of their group’s products in relation to current market) and opportunity for sales. All profits went back to artisans.

The community artisans were very appreciative and thankful for the experience, and representatives were able to return to their communities with feedback and suggestions for improvement and way forward. Market testing of current products also occurred during the craft fair to help guide product development and training workshops.

More information coming soon on this and the C-FISH website.