The Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD) hosts three UWI Units: The Centre for Policy Studies in Sustainable Development; The Centre for Environmental Management (CEM); and The Disaster Risk Reduction Centre (DRRC) and coordinates the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network Caribbean (UNSDSN Caribbean) and the University Consortium for Small Island States, (UCSIS).

The ISD complements the agenda of The University of the West Indies (The UWI) in providing skilled and competent decision-makers for the sustainable development of the Caribbean region. It offers graduate programmes at the MSc, MPhil and PhD levels to strengthen policy capacity and competence in sustainable development across the region.

The Institute also builds capacity among stakeholders; provides consultancy services and community outreach; implements projects and conducts high-impact research that integrates priorities in security, energy, environmental management, economics and disaster risk management to chart a viable course for the development of resilience in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).