The UWI Regional Headquarters, Jamaica, W.I., Monday, September 9, 2024—The University of the West Indies (The UWI) and Clara Lionel Foundation (CLF) are again collaborating by embarking on a novel project for two years that will focus on a pilot Early Warning System (EWS) in strategic, high-risk areas in the Caribbean and Sargassum monitoring. The project is aimed at identifying and creating specific data-sets which will be used to support scientific research and develop new opportunities for climate solutions in this region. The project will be community-centred and will engage multiple local agencies in Trinidad & Tobago to ensure sustainability, input of local knowledge, and positive community impact.

With commencement in the last quarter of 2024, the project will be led by Dr Gabrielle Thongs, from The UWI St. Augustine Campus, with administrative support from The UWI’s Office of Global Affairs. In speaking on the project, Dr Thongs noted that the project “will collaborate with rural communities to implement a riverine flooding early warning system.” She further added that the implemented system “will allow for the utilisation of cameras and an app to provide real-time monitoring and data for flood prediction.” 

The University of the West Indies’ Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Affairs, Ms. Sandrea Maynard reiterated that these types of projects are of significant importance, particularly in terms of impact for our communities. She continued to explain that research is critical, and as the leading international University on SDG-13, “we need to move the needle toward translating the research into sustainable and replicable solutions that can create new business opportunities for the region.”

A major projected advantage of the project is the creation of leaders and experts who will guide this region into the future. Under one of the major activities of this project, students from the Department of Geography at The UWI St. Augustine Campus will gain hands-on experience in the research and implementation of the EWS and monitoring devices, and will also access the Standard Operating Procedures used by local disaster agencies. Students will use this information in real time to allocate resources to attend to emerging threats to local communities. 

Krystle Francis, Director of Programs (Caribbean), Clara Lionel Foundation said, “CLF is thrilled to support this innovative, holistic solution to building more resilient communities. We believe in solving problems with community-led solutions, and the EWS initiative exemplifies that philosophy.  Our communities are on the front lines of the impacts of climate change, and we are proud to invest in the local leaders, professionals, and experts who are at the forefront of shaping new solutions and helping our communities thrive.” 

While the project is scheduled to kick-off in late 2024, it is not the first time that the two organisations have collaborated. Their partnership commenced in 2021 with a pilot project that focused on the development of a Caribbean Climate Knowledge Portal to map and identify all SDG and resilience projects across the region. The partnership not only encompassed scientific research but also created a unique practical opportunity for solutions to be designed in the region, by the Caribbean’s own experts. 

Coupling CLF’s committed, long-term presence in the Caribbean region and The UWI’s ability to rally some of the region’s top researchers, lecturers and students across its five campuses, this partnership will continue to bolster impactful projects and practical solutions that will have a long-term positive impact across many sectors in the Caribbean.