By Tecla Fontenard, Communications Specialist, CCCCC
Project development is central to the work of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), and the role of Project Development Specialists within the agency lies at the heart of its existence. This is a fundamental function that goes back to its origins when it was given the mandate to coordinate the Caribbean’s response to climate change through self-sustaining initiatives. Project development soon became its spine, and the role of project developers rooted in its sustainability plan. Dr. Mark Bynoe Assistant Executive Director was the pioneer for the development of the unit. He recalls that “the intention was to build synergies and efficiencies amongst project developers, as we were at the time, the only CARICOM self-financed entity.”
Over the last 7 years, the Project Development Unit (PDU) has seen a steady increase in its human resource capacity, where project developers meticulously follow the steps of initiation, researching, planning, consulting, and writing funding proposals – making several reviews until the proposals are acceptable to donors.
“It’s the first phase of building resilience and it’s a very important one” says Mr. Ahnivar Peralta, a longstanding staff member who recently transitioned as a project developer in the PDU. Having had many previous roles at the CCCCC, Peralta says, “It’s like a relay. We start the process and then we pass the baton to other departments for implementation. Implementation contains project management, finance, and procurement personnel – each is passing the baton, so it’s teamwork. We play a critical role because the relay starts with us to do climate resilience building”.
Following the agency’s accreditation to the Green Climate Fund (GCF) in 2015, the Programme Development and Management Unit (PDMU) prioritized a pipeline of projects that falls within an entity programme. In the first quarter of 2024, the Unit expanded to become one of the largest at the CCCCC, welcoming the largest cohort of Project Development Specialists. Dr. Donneil Cain, Lead Project Development Specialist, shared his enthusiasm about the current trend stating that “The team is critical to the CCCCC meeting its climate financing and resource mobilisation targets for the Caribbean region. To date, the team has mobilised and got approved, approximately US$150 million across multiple donor partners and governments of the Developed World. We currently have a pipeline of over US$450 million in projects under development, all at varying stages. With the recent expansion of the team in collaboration with our funding partners, we hope to mobilise upward of US$350 million over the next four years.
Some of these funding partners include the European Union (EU), German Development Bank (KfW), the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), World Bank (WB), United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Global Affairs Canada (GAC), Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Global Environment Facility (GEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Governments of the Australia, UK, Italy, France, Greece and more.
In developing projects, the PDU works in close collaboration with Member States and their climate change focal points to ensure that project concepts are aligned with national development priorities and are complementary to other nationally and/or regionally relevant frameworks. Stakeholder consultations inform this critical stage providing the national context, for example, presenting the country’s needs, outlining the priority areas, and assisting with linking the project to its sustainable development plans, strategies, alignment with, but not limited to climate change frameworks, Nationally Determined Contributions and climate change policies.
Currently comprising 13 professionals in their specialized fields and aiming to recruit an additional 3 experts by the conclusion of 2024, the PDU consists of Program Development Specialists dedicated to sustainable energy, gender and stakeholder engagement, environment and social safeguards, and climate finance. These positions not only ensure compliance with donor specifications but also enhance the team’s diversity, while effectively channelling climate finance to Member States.
“It is my job to ensure that our projects assess and address the vulnerabilities of girls, boys, men and women to build their resilience to climate change. This adds value to the breadth and depth of thinking that goes into developing a successful project,” explains gender and stakeholder specialist, Ms Elishah St Luce. “I ensure that potential beneficiaries and project affected groups and communities can provide inputs and feedback on the actions that may impact them. At the elaboration of a proposal, I support the review of project activities to guarantee that they are taking into consideration the gender assessment. I also work closely with the project development specialists to inculcate a gender mainstreaming and social inclusion point of view.”
In fact, climate change financing organisations demand a holistic approach, which also includes “environmental and social due diligence and considerations in all funding proposals to ensure that the impacts of projects do not fall disproportionately on the vulnerable, indigent, marginalised communities, and groups” says Mr. Ian Morrison, environmental and social specialist.
Providing insights into his role, he explains, “Projects may not move forward without a thorough screening for environmental and social (E&S) risks and impacts. If E&S risks and impacts cannot be adequately mitigated, it is my role to advise on alternatives that can reduce risks and impacts or if the project idea needs to be revised or even abandoned.”
For the CCCCC, project development is not just a “catch all term”, it is the umbilical cord from which it gets its sustenance, and the same cord which provides the oxygen for sustainable climate resilience projects in CARICOM.
