The Global Institute for Climate Smart and Resilient Development (GICSRD) represents a culmination of UWI’s decades of research, teaching, advocacy and thought leadership in the area of Climate Change and Sustainable Development. As an SDG-engaged university, The UWI recognizes that it has a critical role in translating its research to inform policy and decision making in the Caribbean region to ensure sustainable lives and livelihoods for all Caribbean people and the continued economic growth and social development of just, resilient and inclusive Caribbean societies. 

The establishment of GICSRD is therefore a pivotal step in terms of leveraging the expertise cultivated over the last 75 years to address the contemporary challenges facing our post-colonial societies within the context of a rapidly changing physical environment even as we strive to attain the SDGs. It showcases The UWI’s institutional commitment to global leadership on SDG-13 and related SDGs and provides a vehicle for us to change the future through deep meaningful work and enduring multilateral and multi-stakeholder partnerships.

As GICSRD seeks to actualize its mandate, the Office of Global Affairs has been instrumental in its operationalization and continues to support in the areas of donor engagement, partner identification, resource mobilization, strategic planning, and project and programme development. We will continue to enable GICSRD to create a difference through brokering multilateral engagements and securing projects with a dedicated output of improving lives. I truly believe that the work of The UWI must be impact driven to demonstrate meaningful and sustainable engagements that can be mutually beneficial for our partners, positively influence future policy and policy-makers, and have tangible benefits for the ordinary citizens of the region, reducing our vulnerabilities and improving our collective resilience.

I am extremely pleased that UNDP has partnered with The UWI in this venture to create a digital space to facilitate connectivity between this virtual Institute and its regional and global partners and other valued stakeholders. This space will fulfill a vital role at a critical juncture, serving as a knowledge hub to turbo charge the region’s climate action and resilient development. Through its thought leadership, programming, advocacy, knowledge sharing, network development and research, I believe GICSRD is well positioned to serve the Caribbean by advancing our understanding of and mainstreaming best practice in climate smart and resilient development.