GEF SGP Barbados Newsletter 2017

ISSUE 6 | DECEMBER 2017

BARBADOS

GREEN REPORTER “COMMUNITY ACTION, GLOBAL IMPACT”

MESSAGE FROM THE NATIONAL COORDINATOR

Season’s Greetings!

Balancing New Welcome to another special edition of the tion to the sustain-

What’s Inside

SGP’s Green Reporter. This edition provides a glimpse of several of our initiatives and achievements in 2017. It also acknowledges 2017 as a period of transition for our country programme and the global programme.

able development of Barbados. SGP continuously seeks to find creative partnerships that lead to impactful At the country programme level we have weland scalable initiatives such as those highcomed a new National Steering Committee, lighted by our Grantee Partners in this newsSub-regional Associate Programme Officer letter. and Programme Assistant to the SGP Team.

While at the global level we were privileged We know that you will find this special edition to welcome Yoko Watanabe as our new Glob- informative and interesting so please share it al Manager and to participate in the opera- within your networks, inclusive of partners, colleagues, friends and family. On behalf of tionalization of the rebranding of SGP. the GEF SGP Barbados team, I would like to Heraclitus famously said that change is the wish you all the best for this holiday season and we look forward to your continued suponly constant in life. SGP Barbados has emport in 2018. braced these changes in a relatively seamless David Bynoe manner. As we look to 2018, we are well po-

Green Knowledge Fair

sitioned to continue our meaningful contribu-

….And More!

National Coordinator

——————— Solar Transport Project Launch ——————— CBA 11 in Kampala ——————— >> CONT. PAGE TWO

Women’s Climate Change Workshop ——————— 1

GEF EXPANDED CONSTITUENCY WORKSHOP (ECW)

By Faye Best Secretary of Non-Governmental Organizations The Global Environment Facility (GEF) held its Expanded Constituency Workshop (ECW) in Grenada from May 15th to 19th, 2017.

GEF and its corporate partners – fellow international funding agencies - provided updates on the status of the funding mechanisms and opportunities available, while encouraging professional networking opportunities. Local representatives from Government and Civil Society attended from the English speaking Caribbean. The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Civil CSO Attendees at GEF ECW, May 2017 Society Organization (CSO) Network held a half-day session, while the Regional and of meetings and presentations.

National Focal Point went through a series The meeting was delivered by CSO representative and Assistant Professor from the University of the Bahamas, Dr Erecia Hepburn, and supported by William Ehler, GEF Country Relations Coordinator for Latin American & the Caribbean. CSOs were briefed on the organisation’s history and structure, its cross cutting and programmes, and the types of projects it funds and supports through its numerous implementing and executing agencies in the GEF international network. Dr. Hepburn also reviewed the Progress Report of the Ad Hoc Council Working Group on the GEF CSO Network, while Mr. Ehlers, answered numerous questions posed by CSO representatives.

Much of the GEF funding supported LDCs and SIDs and spent over $1bn in projects ensuring balancing resources to enable all focal areas in addition to encompassing country and regional needs. Mr Ehlers briefly reviewed: •

the GEF 7 Programming Directions and Policy Agenda;

•

the Independent Evaluation Office Report of GEF 6, which covered the major concerns that they face including how many donors can increase their pledges;

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CSO Grenada Field Trip

•

the Impact Programme vs Focal Areas;

•

how and why they encouraged donors to invest money in the GEF;

•

the need for Ministers of Government to put GEF 7 and the issues on their agenda; and

•

how the focal area strategies are taken care of with the design of the Impact Programmes.

GEF funding is expected to be used to achieve transformations and remove barriers, through cross sectoral approaches. It aims to achieve scaling-up and effect behavioural changes, including GEF’s relationship with the World Bank’s recently launched Toward a Blue Economy: A Promise for Sustainable Growth in the Caribbean, the Caribbean Regional Oceanscape Project, and World Bank Project Areas .

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S U S TA IN A B L E C IT Y T R AN S P ORT T H E S M A LL B U S IN ES S A S S O C IAT I ON

TOUR BRIDGETOWN IN SUSTAINABLE STYLE!

Bridgetown is the capital of Barbados and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Once named Indian Bridge and St. Michael Town by the British, it is the largest city, chief port and main commercial hub on the island. The Solar Express City Sites and Historic Tours feature a unique experience for the visitor and local alike, as each tour showcases the beautiful architecture and rich antiquity of Barbados’ major city.

The Small Business Association (SBA) has embarked on a major project, funded in part by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that could significantly change the transportation industry in Barbados. In an effort to lower the island's carbon footprint, the association will be launching two solar powered, 10-seater buses as part of a new Solar Transport Project.

grammes geared towards this outcome will positively impact economic growth in Barbados. "The SBA has members from the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors such as manufacturers of solar water heaters and providers of energy efficient equipment and services.

In addition, the SBA has leveraged capital to green businesses in the past to pilot solar vehicles. It is the latter project that the association is now desirous of expanding to feature solar transportation in the Bridgetown area, in the first instance," says Holder.

The main objectives of the one year pilot project are to assist in sensitizing the public on the issues of climate change and its mitigation; help in the reduction of the Greenhouse Gas emissions by establishing local After officially launching during Small Busisustainable transport for inner city transit in ness Week, locals and tourists can now Bridgetown; promote greater use of renewbook a trip on the sustainable Solar Express. able energy, and initiate green economic transformation in Historic Bridgetown.

The SBA will achieve this while increasing awareness of sustainable transport and offering tours of Historic Bridgetown to locals and tourists on the two solar electric powered vehicles.

The Solar Express tour is an initiative of the Small Business Association of Barbados funded in part by the GEF Small Grants programme of the UNDP, and is aimed at increasing awareness of sustainable transport in the historic City of Bridgetown.

BOOK YOUR TOUR TODAY!

SolarExpressTours solarexpress@sba.bb

(246) 228-0162

Chief Executive Officer of the SBA Lynette Holder, says the organization supports the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency, and advocates that policies and pro3

GEF SGP GREEN KNOW

PATHWAYS TO THE GR

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WLEDGE FAIR 2017

REEN

ECONOMY

The 2nd Annual National Green Knowledge Fair was held on the 3rd and 4th November 2017 at Queen’s Park – one of Barbados’ most popular and beautiful green spaces. This free event was facilitated by the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), and implemented by the Future Centre Trust, under the theme “Connecting People with Nature: Pathways to the Green Economy”.

The main objectives of the Fair were to increase the consciousness of locals towards greening Barbados and facilitate knowledge sharing among civil society, the public and private sectors and the general public. There were over 30 green business exhibitors, including 18 GEF Grantees whose displays and presentations reflected the tangible results of SGP’s work in Barbados , over the past four years.

In addition to the innovative and interesting exhibits, the Fair also featured art competitions, a riveting school debate, environmental short films and interactive workshops on topics like renewable energy, sustainable transport and water harvesting. There was also a Kids Zone, Soccer-a-thon and lots of free entertainment from popular local performers.

In his speech at the Opening Ceremony, the UNDP Resident Representative for Barbados, Stephen O’Malley, remarked that the National Green Knowledge Fair contributes to greening Barbados as it fosters knowledge sharing and exhibiting of innovative technologies. He also noted that a green economy will better enable Barbados to grow and mitigate risks stating, “the Green Economy offers the possibility of clean, affordable energy; the increase of green jobs and careers; the conservation of Barbados’ rich biodiversity, and increased resilience against external shocks.”.

During an interview, National Coordinator of the GEF SGP, David Bynoe stated that this Fair was aligned with the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). “Most of the SDGs as it relates especially to the environment can be found in our work as we support life on land and below water, we promote inclusive, sustainable growth and development and we focus strongly on moving towards a low carbon, climate resilient economy,” he said.

This unique annual event will continue to contribute to Barbados’ sustainable development by fostering increased levels of awareness, education and expertise among entrepreneurs, homeowners, students and the general public.

EXHIBITORS: Barbados Association of Tourism Employees Barbados Light & Power Barbados Marine Trust Barbados Renewable Energy Association Better Caribbean Bico Ltd. B's Recycling Caribbean Centre for Food Sustainability and Security Caribbean Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Livelihoods Caribbean Permaculture Research Institute Coral Reef Restoration Alliance H & M Antillean Inc. Healing Waters International Ministries House of Re-discovery Mocha Hair Designs Organic Growers and Consumers Association PEG Farm and Nature Reserve Phoenix Creations Project Discovery Project Recycle Ltd. Red Diamond Compost Solagrow Incorporated Solar Dynamics Sustainable Barbados Recycling Centre Inc. (SBRC) The Sojourner Foundation UNDP GEF SGP Weston Fisherfolk Association Yello Media Group Young Nature Conservationist Association (YNCA) Youth Equipped to Achieve

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MAINSTREAMING CLIMATE CHANGE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL The 11th International Conference on Community Based Adaptation Kampala, Uganda

Under the theme 'Harnessing natural resources and ecosystems for adaptation, the 11th International Conference on Community Based Adaptation was hosted from the 26th to 29th June 2017. It brought together more than 300 vibrant community practitioners from 50 countries to share their lessons learnt, experiences and to increase the impact to millions of people from the hundreds of thousands. The International Institute of Environment and Development (IIED), the International Centre on Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD), Makerere University Centre for Climate Change Research and Innovation (MAK) and the Ugandan Ministry of Water and Environment organized the conference.

One of the parallel sessions that benefited from SGP’s participation was Mainstreaming Adaptation at the Local Level. Angle Daze, of IISD and Margaret Barihaihi, of

Indigenous people are susceptible to climate “change but they have a relatively higher adaptive capacity to change ”

ACCRA facilitated the session. Daze provided an overview of the session noting that the focus will be on exploring lessons learned on mainstreaming adaptation at sub-national levels, with a particular focus on integrating climate change into government planning. She noted that the challenges and enablers for local governments in addressing climate risks, changes and uncertainty in planning, drawing links to national planning, including National Adaptation Plan (NAP) processes will be discussed while providing ample opportunities for participants to share their own experiences.

Panelist Aditya Bahadur of Action on Climate Today provided an overview of the challenges faced in Indonesia at the local level and highlighted the capacity barriers faced. Ced Hesse of IIED raised the issue of institutional capacity and power at the local level and balancing this to ensure that mainstreaming at this level is facilitated providing examples of Mali and other LDCs. Bahadur, of Action on Climate Today, Oxford Policy Management spoke from the experiences in India and highlighted the importance of local level budgeting for climate change and the valuation of climate change cost and benefits.

David Bynoe representing SGP highlighted the enabling factors within the context of SIDS. He spoke on the examples of several Caribbean SIDS where National Adaptation & Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) and NAPs were used as entry points to facilitate mainstreaming at the local level through down streaming. Climate Change adaptation at the local/ district/community level, is largely realized through the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) rubric, within the Disaster Risk Reduction/Disaster Risk Management policy and planning processes. The VRAs at the local level were successful in filing the information gaps required for mainstreaming, however civil society’s role is to maintain accountability, provide resource mobilization and joint policy formulation are required to ensure success within government’s implementation plan.

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H I G H L I G H T S F R OM U G AN D A Visits to the Nansimbi community members Adaptation Measures used in Agriculture

One of the Barbados National Coordinator’s more notable site visits during CBA 11 was to the project beneficiaries and farmers in the Nansimbi Village where the people of the village to adapt to climate change and be more resilient.

One such site included a tour to an individual farmer in Kitenga, Busoba Parish, whose farm was selected as a demonstration farm to host the farmer’s field school, demonstrate climate smart and adaptation practices.

There was also an on-farm water harvesting tank, the associated foot pump and the silage made from the improved pastures that facilitates consistency in production during the dry season.

Improved pasture varieties

Contoured trenches used to reduce soil erosion

Results are seen in the improved pasture grass varieties, the validation plots for maize and the multiplication site for forage seeds. This site also included the contour trenches used to increase water conservation and the reduction of soil erosion in banana and coffee fields.

Farmer bringing his cow to the Valley Tank during dry season

The Valley Tank was designed to capture water for use by cattle farmers particularly during the dry season at a cost of $250,000 USD. It has the capacity to hold ten million litres of water and accommodates up to 2000 heads of cattle which are provided water in troughs pumped via solar energy. The valley tank comprises of the following: water amenities, sanitary facilities, the installation of a localized abstraction, storage and delivery systems. This initiative has prevented farmers from losing their cattle during the dry season due to a lack of water or having to migrate to other villages or district in pursuit of water.

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WOMEN’S CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATORS WORKSHOP

The Barbados GEF SGP, in collaboration with Environment and Climate Change Canada and the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO), hosted a climate change negotiations workshop for Caribbean women from Oct. 2nd – 5th, 2017.

The theme of the workshop was “Leadership and Diplomacy on Climate Change” and sought to empower Caribbean women to make stronger contributions to climate change issues and increase their influence on policy decisions.

This workshop brought together 19 women representing 12 Caribbean nations namely Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines and Trinidad and Tobago.

In the opening session, the Canadian High Commissioner, Ms. Marie Legault, emphasized the importance of this workshop to climate change and the empowerment of women. She made a strong appeal to attendees to use their skills, voices and resources to make a greater impact at an international level, on behalf of the Caribbean and women.

topics including public speaking, developing a brief and drafting

opening interventions.

Overall, participants were happy with their experience and felt that the sessions helped to improve their capacity to engage in climate change negotiations.

In his opening remarks, Mr. David Bynoe, National Coordinator highlighted the significance of this workshop in the aftermath of the recent devastating hurricanes, stating, “Hurricane Irma and Maria clearly demonstrated that although the Caribbean did not contribute significantly to climate change we are the ones most vulnerable to it”.

Mr. Bynoe relayed that the importance of this workshop is NETW ORK IN G further amplified by the fact that climate change has a greater negative impact on women than men.

The Workshop’s agenda included panel discussions and presentations on key topics like Negotiating in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Regional Context for the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP23). Participants also engaged in interactive simulation activities on a variety of

Ms. Yakima Daniel from St. Kitts stated “this workshop was a good experience particularly because it contained a lot of interactive activities that kept us engaged and simulation exercises that made us feel like we were actually at COP!”.

Ms. Bridget Burns, Co-Director of WEDO, expressed her satisfaction with the outcomes of the workshop and her gratitude to the GEF SGP and UNDP for their support in hosting the event. She felt privileged to have formed a new partnership with the Caribbean stating “it was an immense pleasure to work in the region as it is filled with talent, hope and people who see the impact of climate change and want to increase the levels of activity and effort. The solutions and innovations are here!”

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GRANTEE CORNER ERADICATION

OF

HARMFUL CHEMICALS THROUGH ORGANIC AGRICULTURE Highlights of Uganda

Eradication of Harmful Chemicals Through Organic Agriculture

By Aldair Sobers The Sojourner Foundation (TSF)

The Sojourner Foundation’s ultimate vision is to serve as a catalyst to help communities lead and transform their development needs into sustainable empowerment actions. The mandate will focus on creating innovative ways of becoming fully sustainable with the environment being taken into consideration. Operation Kultivation (OK) is one of the organization’s core programs, conceptualized to facilitate community development through agriculture.

With this initiative we intend to develop a sustainable farm model for educational awareness and the production of healthy and quality organic foods. Operation Eradication a project under OK will work towards the production of an alternative organic pesticide for plant maintenance, and will create an interactive media presentation on the benefits of organic farming to the environment and human health, along with the production and provision of organic crops and by-products. This project also aims to promote social enterprise in an effort to promote greater community development. This project is undertaken in partnership with the UNDP GEF SGP and commenced in November 2016.

knowledge of sustainable gardening practices. Thirty one persons participated in these workshops that focused on organic soil enrichment, composting and an introduction to permaculture. Members of the TSF were trained in conducting interviews, climate based assessment, mapping and permaculture design. TSF has also formed additional meaningful partnerships including a collaboration with Bellairs Research Institute with three interns from the McGill University who conducted a climate resilience assessment and created a climate smart agroecological guide.

TSF has also collaborated with an international partner, The Change Institute (an affiliate of Social Designs LLC, North Carolina) to host an intern for a month. This internship helped to further cement TSF ties with The Change Institute and provided valuable assistance in developing our members’ capacities.

We would like to thank the UNDP GEF SGP, the Barbados Agricultural Development Marketing Cooperation (BADMC) and Organic Growers and Consumers Association for their continued support. We look forward to maintaining and building more valuable links that will lend to the successful realization of our goal to make organic pesticides available to the public.

Although we experienced some delays with the first disbursement, that did not stop us from pushing forward with and realizing some of our goals and objectives, and as such would like to thank the TSF team for the continued support, ideas and determination. Some of our achievements so far include partial site clearance of the five acres of land sourced through the Land for Landless Programme and ploughing on the contour of the land and the creation of swales to mitigate soil erosion. We have also offered basic workshops to the public to improve their 9

SPECIAL MEMBERS’ MEETING - THE STATE OF THE SECTOR: Financing the Renewable Energy Sector in Times of Crisis The Barbados Renewable Energy Association held “The State of the Sector: Financing the Renewable Energy Sector in Time of Crisis” Meeting at the UN House under the auspices of GEF SGP UNDP to discuss financing, policy and the recent May 30th budgetary measures.

The participants included the BREA Executive Director, Ms. Meshia Clarke, the President, Mr. Aiden Rogers and over 20 members of the umbrella organization along with the National Coordinator (NC) Mr. David Bynoe and the Minister of Industry, International Business, Commerce and Small Business Development Mr. Donville Inniss.

The meeting facilitated dialogue among private sector, government and civil society actors within the sector. The main areas examined regarding the growth of the Renewable Energy sector were: •

Financing the energy sector;

•

The application of the NSRL tax and VAT;

•

The tariff arrangement for the sale of renewable energy to the grid; and

•

The Electric Light and Power Act extension of the power purchase agreement from 10 to 20 years

Mr. Bynoe re-affirmed that Civil Society, in partnership with the Private Sector and Government, has a very important role to play in addressing the global climate and energy issues faced by the world today and in establishing the business model to facilitate this pursuit.

BREA President—Aidan Rogers, BREA Executive Director—Meshia Clarke, GEF SGP National Coordinator— David Bynoe

Mr. Rogers determined that in order to encourage the transition in the application for the renewable energy in many other sectors including the tourism industry, the financial investments will need to be unlocked by extending loan agreements to meet the length of the licenses and the application of taxes will need to be investigated.

Further dialogue among these players and Government is essential in meeting timely implementation and roll out of Renewable Energy uses across the domestic, manufacturing and tourism sectors in order to reduce Barbados’ dependency on fossil fuels.

Economic activity resulting from the tourism industry could be directly invested in renewable energy. The tourism industry can spearhead the country’s transition process for energy efficiency.

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MEET THE GEF SGP GLOBAL MANAGER Yoko Watanabe Global Manager GEF Small Grants Programme Find out more about Yoko by clicking HERE

MEET THE NATIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS!

Mr. Lionel Weekes, Chairperson Public Administration & Environmental Governance Expert

Ms. Shelley Weir Communications Focal Point & NGO Expert

Mr. Rickardo Ward GEF Operational Focal Point

Ms. Bertha Pilgrim Youth Focal Point & Actuarial Expert

Mr. Patrick McCaskie Green Climate Fund Focal Point

Mr. Jeremy Stephen Micro-Finance & Venture Capital Expert

Mr. Travis Sinckler Senior Environmental Officer

Ms. Marilyn Rice-Bowen Gender Focal Point

Dr. Adrian Cashman International Waters & Climate Change Expert

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GEF SGP BARBADOS OVERVIEW

7 NEW PROJECTS = USD $294,350 GRANTEE

PROJECT TITLE

FOCAL AREA

GRANT ($US)

Alternative Fisheries to Promote Sustainable Livelihoods Biodiversity BlueGreen Initiative Inc $31,600 Caribbean Policy Development Supporting the Development of an Enabling Policy EnvironCapacity Development $47,587 ment for Civil Society Organisations Centre

Empower Youth International

GROW SMART (Youth Organic Farm)

Land Degradation

$47,300

Codrington College

The Barbadian Medicinal Plants: Development of College Land, St. John into a herbal Health and Wellness Tourism Destination

Biodiversity

$47,500

The Future Centre Trust

GEF SGP Barbados Knowledge Fair

Capacity Development $38,838

Barbados Renewable Energy Association

BREA Community Solar PB Installation Pilot Project

Climate Change

$32,000

Coral Reef Restoration Alliance

Engaging the Community and Building Capacity for Coral Reef Restoration

Biodiversity

$49,525

2013– 2017 OVERVIEW

70 PROJECTS

CONTACT US:

Produced by:

GEF Small Grants Programme—UNDP UN HOUSE, Marine Gardens, Hastings, Christ Church, Barbados

Janaïka Sylvester— Programme Assistant

Email: gefsgpbarbados@gmail.com Websites: https://sgpbarbados.org https://sgp.undp.org

Cherie Pounder— Programme Assistant Tamaisha Eytle—Subregional Associate Programme Officer

Editors: Mr. David Bynoe, National Coordinator Bertha Pilgrim, National Steering Committee Member

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