The collaboration between CIMA Research Foundation and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) as part of the project “Fostering Collaborative Approaches to Disaster Preparedness in the Caribbean: Strengthening Human Mobility Frameworks and Building Capacity to Address Disaster Displacement” aims to strengthen disaster preparedness and the management of displacement in the Caribbean through integrated vulnerability and risk assessments in priority areas of Barbados and Suriname.
The initiative stems from the need to address gaps that emerged during recent hurricane seasons, which highlighted critical issues in evacuation management, the protection of displaced populations, and data collection systems. The project integrates multi-risk probabilistic modeling, dynamic scenarios, and participatory data collection, contributing to the strengthening of early warning systems and national and regional decision-making capacities.
GOALS AND EXPECTED RESULTS
The main objective of the project is to improve understanding of the risks associated with disaster-induced displacement in the Caribbean through harmonized and comparable assessments of vulnerability and multi-hazard risk. The activities combine quantitative modeling, geospatial data, Earth observation, and information collected through the IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix, with the direct involvement of local communities.
Expected results include interoperable and replicable datasets, geospatial layers related to hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and displacement risk, estimates of affected and displaced populations, analyses of infrastructure resilience, and indicators useful for preparedness and risk reduction. The project will also produce technical reports, risk scenarios, and decision-making support materials, in line with the requirements of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and EWS4ALL.
CIMA RESEARCH FOUNDATION’S CONTRIBUTION
CIMA Research Foundation is responsible for the technical and scientific coordination of risk assessment and modeling activities. Specifically, it is tasked with:
- incorporating the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and technical requirements defined by the IOM into the displacement risk assessment methodology;
- collecting and harmonizing the datasets required for modeling;
- implementing a multi-risk probabilistic displacement model using spatially explicit methodologies. This includes the development of geospatial layers related to hazards, exposure, vulnerability, and risk;
- supporting participatory validation processes through the involvement of national authorities, local stakeholders, and regional partners.
