Rigobert Announces Island’s First Adaptation Fund-Approved Project

The implementation of the project “Building Resilience for Adaptation to Climate Change and Climate Variability in Agriculture in Saint Lucia” has been approved by the Adaptation Fund to the tune of EC$26.5 million, to the obvious delight of Minister Gale Rigobert. “Today signals a significant achievement or turning point in the efforts of our country to build resilience as a response to the impact of climate change,” she said. Since 2014 the government of Saint Lucia had been in talks with the Caribbean Development Bank with a view to improving the country’s resilience level. After gaining the bank’s approval later that year, the government began developing a project to be approved by the Adaptation Fund.

Rigobert was “especially glad that, notwithstanding the very long gestation period, we have been able to secure $US9.8 million to help build resilience in the agricultural sector”.

The project addresses issues such as irrigation and the infusion of renewable energy techniques in the agricultural sector, she revealed.

Annette Rattigan-Leo, Chief Sustainable Development and Environment Officer, recalled that “between 2016 and 2018, through a number of consultations with many public and private stakeholders, more particularly targetting our farmers who would be the beneficiaries of this project, we were able to develop a project which has now been approved by the Adaptation Fund”.

She said the project will focus on addressing issues relating to water accessibility, knowledge management and capacity building, adding: “Many times when we receive approval for a project, not much thought is given to post-project sustenance. It is important that we’re able to ensure the beneficiaries will be able to continue benefitting from it, take ownership of it and continue building on it.”

The preparation of the project was funded by the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre and was coordinated by the Department of Sustainable Development. The Adaptation Fund was created under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and is designed to finance climate change adaptation projects and programmes based on the priorities of eligible developing countries.