Thorough, dynamic, innovative and immersive are some of the words that can be used to describe the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean Water Academy for Youth (GWP-C WAY).
The carefully crafted 3-month programme which is the first of its kind in the region, was officially launched on July 6th, 2021 (watch the opening ceremony on Facebook) and ends in September. It is a specially designed training programme for Caribbean young leaders and professionals between the ages of 20 – 35 years which builds their capacity in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Additionally, it equips them with a range of skills which would allow them to provide sustainable solutions to Caribbean water issues.
Two views capaturing some members of the GWP-C WAY Cohort, facilitators and members of the GWP-C Secretariat during one of the Academy's training sessions.
The GWP-C WAY Cohort is currently comprised of thirty-two (32) remarkable young professionals who earned their spot in the Academy after a very competitive application process. Cohort members are representative of the following twelve (12) countries: Barbados, Belize, Curaçao, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago.
The Academy, which is being administered virtually is in its second month. During this period, the Cohort has already participated in a significant number of capacity building sessions. These sessions have been delivered by a cadre of experts in IWRM and other fields and have all been dynamic and engaging in their own way. These interactive lectures have included:
- Scientific Writing (Articles and Papers)
- Business Development and Entrepreneurship
- Proposal/Concept Note Development
- Storytelling in Water
- Problem-solving through Innovation
- Climate Resilience and IWRM (with a focus on Caribbean youth)
- IWRM and Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) Indicator 6.5.1 (Degree of IWRM Implementation)
Even in a virtual modality, the GWP-C WAY facilitators have endeavoured to make the sessions interactive (using a range of tools), dynamic and engaging for the Cohort. Activities or exercises during sessions, also allow Cohort members to work together with participants from different Caribbean countries. They are therefore able to share knowledge and experiences as it relates to water in their respective countries.
The commitment of the Cohort to the GWP-C WAY has been astounding. Although the programme is still in progress, it already highlights and validates the value of creating youth opportunities and empowering them to be agents of change.
Here’s a snapshot of some of the training, knowledge and skills the GWP-C WAY Cohort has already acquired, in this unique capacity building experience:
Scientific Writing (with a focus on Articles) – Dr. Adrian Cashman (Water Expert and GWP-C & GWP Technical Committee Member)
In this session Dr. Adrian Cashman imparted valuable knowledge on the commonalities and differences between scientific report writing and academic journal writing. He provided a very comprehensive session on how to plan a journal article and scientific report, as well as the elements of good writing.
Scientific Writing (with a focus on Papers and Reports) – Dr. Gaius Eudoxie (Senior Lecturer and Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA) of The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus)
Dr. Gaius Eudoxie delivered a very interactive session focusing on the elements and style of report writing. He detailed aspects of technical report writing versus essay writing, delved into various types of reports, formats, writing styles and the presentation of these documents.
Business Development and Entrepreneurship Skills – Mr. Carlinton Burrell (Chief Executive Officer of the Caribbean Climate and Innovation Centre)
In this interactive session, Mr. Carlinton Burrell highlighted the importance of entrepreneurs and the valuable contributions they make to development. The session sparked the need to “think and innovate” whether with existing or new business ideas. Through this session, the Cohort learnt about various business development tools and concepts, how to define their existing business models and how to generate ideas for potential start-ups or new products.
Proposal/Concept Note Writing and Development – Mr. Ryan Zuniga (Project Development Specialist at the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre)
Mr. Ryan Zuniga delivered two (2) comprehensive sessions on the Results/Logical Framework and Theory of Change Approach to Project Development. The logical framework or log-frame was carefully explained to the Cohort. A key part of his session was introducing the Cohort to proposal/concept note writing. Mr. Zuniga used the development of a concept note for the Green Climate Fund (GCF) as a main area of focus and how to build the climate rationale into the concept note.
Storytelling in Water – Dr. Monica Morrison (Storytelling, Knowledge Management and Communications Expert)
Dr. Monica Morrison’s inspiring session focused on stories for water aimed at changing hearts and minds in the Caribbean. In her session, she taught the essentials of good storytelling with dynamic exercises on crafting stories for different audiences in various formats and use on different channels.
Problem Solving through Innovation – Mr. Lorenzo Hodges (Innovation Strategist)
This dynamic session by Mr. Lorenzo Hodges, trained the Cohort on creative problem solving using the design thinking process. Mr. Hodges showed that problems are opportunities waiting to be exploited. The session included an innovation team challenge, which enabled the Cohort to work in groups to solve it.
A three-day training course on “Climate Resilience and IWRM” was held as part of the GWP-C WAY. The course was meticulously designed and implemented by Caribbean WaterNet (Cap-Net UNDP) under the leadership of Dr. Ronald Roopnarine (Network Manager of Caribbean WaterNet and Lecturer in The Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA) of The UWI, St. Augustine Campus) in collaboration with the FFA of The UWI St. Augustine and GWP-C.
Cohort members who successfully completed the 3-day training course received a certificate. The course was very thorough and incorporated a range of interactive exercises which generated fruitful discussions. Over the three (3) days, GWP-C WAY participants received training on the following six (6) modules:
- Introduction to Water Resources Management and Climate Change
- Drivers and Impacts of Climate Change on Water Use Sectors
- The Role of Youth in IWRM and Climate Change
- Adaptation Planning
- Adaptation Techniques and Technologies
- Implementation: How-To Guide
The following are a few highlights of some of the presentations delivered within the course:
IWRM and Climate Change in Caribbean Small Island Developing States – Ms. Simone Lewis (Regional Coordinator of the GWP-C)
GWP-C’s Regional Coordinator Ms. Simone Lewis delivered an interactive presentation breaking down the meaning and process of IWRM. She explored major water challenges in the region and globally. Furthermore, Ms. Lewis covered various themes under the topic of climate change and related concepts such as climate-related hazards, exposure, vulnerability and more.
Drivers and Impacts of Climate Change on Water Use Sectors – Dr. Mark Wuddivira (Incoming Dean of the FFA at The UWI St. Augustine)
Dr. Mark Wuddivira’s presentation gave an in-depth look into climate change. He also focused on Caribbean scenarios and climate change impacts across the region, particularly as it relates to the water sector.
Role of Youth in Sustainable Development, IWRM and Climate Change – Dr. Ronald Roopnarine (Network Manager of Caribbean WaterNet & Lecturer in the FFA at The UWI St. Augustine)
Dr. Ronald Roopnarine engaged the Cohort on the role of youth and the SDGs. In this session, he also looked closely at SDG 6 (Water and Sanitation) in a Caribbean context, as well as various water management challenges in the region.
Adaptation Planning Considering IWRM – Dr. Gaius Eudoxie (Senior Lecturer and Deputy Dean of the FFA of The UWI St. Augustine)
In covering this module, Dr. Gaius Eudoxie presented on the main principles and processes that have been proposed for the process of preparing adaptation strategies. He also gave a case example of transposing adaptation principles into a project context; and went through the identification of linkages between adaptation plans and possible conflicting measures between the two. He also familiarised the Cohort on how adaptation to climate change can be incorporated into water resources management at all levels.
Adaptation Techniques and Technologies – Mr. Ryan Zuniga (Project Development Specialist at the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre)
In this session Mr. Ryan Zuniga presented on various adaptation related terms and concepts, providing the Cohort with knowledge on why adaptation is necessary, the meaning of climate change adaptation capacity, types of adaptation and more.
Within the 3-day Climate Resilience and IWRM course, the GWP-C Cohort also benefitted from experiences and valuable knowledge sharing by the following keynote speakers:
The following is a short video round-up of highlights from the 3-day "Climate Resilience and IWRM" course:
Separate from the lectures delivered within the 3-day course, Dr. Roopnarine also delivered two (2) sessions within the Academy on SDG Indicator 6.5.1 (Degree of IWRM Implementation). These sessions allowed the Cohort to gain knowledge on the SDG 6.5.1 survey instrument used to assess the IWRM progress of countries. Additionally, participants learnt how to interpret the available SDG 6.5.1 data on their countries.
Within the SDG 6.5.1 session, a guest presentation was made by Ms. Vanessa Toré, Director of Foreign Economic Cooperation at the Ministry of Economic Development of Curaçao, Chair of the IWRM Committee of Curaçao and a GWP-C Steering Committee (SC) Member. Her presentation gave an in-depth look into how IWRM was applied in Curaçao and the future of water in the country.
The Water Academy is still underway, and GWP-C is already inspired by the capacity built among the Cohort on IWRM. GWP-C must acknowledge the support of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) in helping to make the Academy a reality, as well as its partners under the GWP-C WAY: Caribbean WaterNet (Cap-Net UNDP), the Faculty of Food and Agriculture (FFA) of The University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Campus, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) and the Caribbean Climate Innovation Centre (CCIC).
All members successfully completing the 3-month programme will receive a certificate. Special awards will be given to Cohort members with the best IWRM stories, proposals and concept notes from assignments. Participants will also benefit from being paired with mentors, who are experts within the GWP-C network. Additionally, the two (2) top alumni from the Academy will be deemed IWRM Ambassadors and will gain an internship opportunity within the GWP-C network.
GWP-C has and continues to remain committed to engaging Caribbean youth in water management. It recognises that youth are not just the future but the present. Young people of the Caribbean are a powerful force that can ignite positive change and bring visibility to water and other challenges that affect us collectively.