To establish an effective mechanism for managing and sharing Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) knowledge used for decision-making among governments, local communities, private sector and voluntary organizations in the Caribbean.

The Enhancing Knowledge and Application of Comprehensive Disaster Management -  EKACDM Initiative is a five-year Project initiated to support the implementation of the CARICOM Enhanced Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Framework (2007-2012 & 2014-2024) to reduce the impacts of natural and technological hazards, and the effect of climate change, on the people in the region. The Initiative, seeks to improve access to and increase information that strengthen the knowledge needs of CDM stakeholders in the region by initiating Priority Outcome 2 of the CDM Strategy for the CARICOM Enhanced Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) Framework being implemented by Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) in the region.

The three immediate outcomes of the EKACDM Initiative are: 

• The creation of a regional network which generates, manages, and shares knowledge on disaster management among stakeholders, mainstreaming gender issues.

• The increased use of standardized training material for University degree courses and short courses for students, professionals and others employed in Disaster Management;

•  To stimulate and promote research in Disaster Management into policy development and business practices to mainstream fact-based CDM decision-making and policies into key economic sectors, particularly Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the region.