GCF Readiness Support for Mainstreaming Climate Resilience into Water Sector Planning, Development and Operations in Saint Lucia

Project Outcome

The primary goal of the Green Climate Fund Readiness Support for Mainstreaming Climate Resilience into Water Sector Planning, Development and Operations in Saint Lucia is strengthened water security via enhanced institutional capabilities of WASCO to integrate climate resilience into water sector planning, development and operations by project conclusion.

Project Description

Saint Lucia's Government (GOSL) via the Department of Economic Development, Office of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) National Designated Authority (NDA) has secured approval from the GCF to fund a climate change readiness initiative focused on strengthening water security. This initiative is titled "Mainstreaming Climate Resilience into Water Sector Planning, Development and Operations in Saint Lucia" and will be executed by the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), serving as the Delivery Partner (DP).

WASCO Inc. (Water and Sewerage Company) serves as the main beneficiary and principal stakeholder, functioning as the utility responsible for delivering potable water and sewerage services across Saint Lucia.

This initiative tackles essential obstacles that have limited WASCO's capability to effectively address climate change consequences, such as restricted institutional capacity, limited access to concessionary financing, inadequate pipeline of climate resilient infrastructure projects, and insufficient communication and public awareness of water supply issues relating to climate change.

This readiness initiative encompasses the following primary components:

• Institutional Capacity Enhancement and Development
• Human resource advancement via recruitment of new personnel to fill vacant roles
• Staff education to ensure improved capacity for climate resilient service provision
• Technical and administrative capability strengthening for GCF-funded activity development
• Communication Strategy and Action/Campaign Plan Creation
• Formulation of comprehensive communication strategy to drive behavioral change on climate related challenges
• Development of internal communication plan and integrated marketing communications plan
• Establishment of crisis communication policies and media engagement protocols
• Public education programs concentrating on climate change impacts, water security, water resources management, water storage and rainwater harvesting, water demand management, and water conservation
• Knowledge Management and Public Awareness
• Creation of media knowledge tools in English and Kweyol
• Execution of public awareness campaigns through radio, print media, internet and television
• Focus group discussions with key stakeholders for strategy validation
• Initiative Pipeline Development
• Improved capability to develop and submit water sector concept notes
• Support for GCF Project Preparation Facility requests addressing water security challenges

The Communication Strategy consultancy specifically targets the insufficient communication and public awareness of water supply issues relating to climate change.

Primary focus areas include: climate change and its related impacts on Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and the water sector, water security, water resources management, water storage and rainwater harvesting, water demand, leakage, and water conservation.

Initiative Location

This initiative delivers island-wide benefits throughout Saint Lucia, with specific emphasis on strengthening WASCO's operational and service delivery capabilities. The communication strategy and capacity building initiatives will serve all communities receiving WASCO services across Saint Lucia.

Primary stakeholder organizations within this Initiative's area of influence include:

• Water and Sewerage Company Inc. (WASCO)
• Ministry of Infrastructure
• Ministry of Agriculture
• Department of Sustainable Development
• WASCO Board and Senior Management
• National Utilities Regulatory Commission (NURC)
• Water Resources Management Agency (WRMA)
• General public and water consumers island-wide

This initiative acknowledges that water security has emerged as a national priority due to insufficient water supply and sewerage services island-wide following climate change and related impacts. The water sector's cross-cutting characteristics affect economic sectors including tourism, agriculture, industry, commerce, education and healthcare institutions throughout Saint Lucia.