Following the passage of Tropical Storm Erika on August 27, 2015, Component 3 - Natural Disaster Response Investments - under the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP) was triggered upon a Declaration of Disaster Areas by the Honourable Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Dominica and an Action Plan of Activities was prepared to access financing for Emergency Response and Recovery. This component allowed for rapid reallocation of International Development Association’s (IDA’s) Funds during an emergency, under streamlined procurement and disbursement procedures.
USD1 million was budgeted under this Component. Of the total amount budgeted, forty-six percent (46%) was allocated towards procurement of emergency items including high density polyethylene pipes, tarpaulins, geotextile rolls and safety equipment – namely – reflective and safety cones, caution tapes, reflective lights, traffic signs, ropes and drums. Other items procured consist of sand, aggregate and cement for the creation of temporary road access. The remaining fifty-four percent (54%) was apportioned to small works, clean up and operation of equipment on the West Coast.
This intervention facilitated road access to approximately 20,000 persons along the West Coast. The Project Coordinating Unit of the DVRP through its development partners the World Bank, and Pilot Programme on Climate Resilience (PPCR) continues to fulfill its mandate of reducing vulnerability to natural hazards and climate change impacts in Dominica through investment in resilient infrastructure and improved hazard data collection and monitoring systems.
As this project progresses, we urge the general public to “be climate smart and build back better!”
