About Us
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).
Message from the ISD Coordinator
Dr. David SmithDirector of The Institute of Sustainable Development
Welcome to the website of The Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD) at The University of the West Indies. We fulfil the University’s commitment to build capacity and competence in multidisciplinary areas to ensure a resilient and Sustainable Caribbean region.
The Caribbean region is affected by global environmental, developmental and technological impacts which represent important new opportunities, but also existential challenges for the region’s nations, which have had to recover from recurring natural disasters and negative environmental impact (increasing pressure on water, energy, land and natural resources, rising sea-levels and environmental degradation). The region also faces market liberalization; the loss of preferential terms of trade and rapidly increasing competition from emerging economies, while simultaneously contending with climate change, increasing rates of violence and homicide, human trafficking, illegal narcotics and weapons trading.
At the Institute, we prioritize transitioning Science and Data into Policy, to provide practical solutions to attain resilience and sustainability within the region. We provide teaching and support to ensure the success of students to secure the transformation of the Caribbean to sustainable societies for present and future generations; implement projects and conduct high-impact research that integrate 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).
The ISD is fully committed to engaging, engendering and supporting policies that strengthen sustainable development strategies and resilience for SIDS. To nurture and sustain these strategies it partners, collaborates and cooperates with civil society, international agencies, regional governments, the private sector, colleagues of academe and other agencies.
Vision
The Institute for Sustainable Development (ISD), The University of the West Indies (The UWI) seeks to be a catalyst for Sustainable Development Initiatives within The UWI by adopting an integrated approach to nurturing resilience in the Caribbean by linking Teaching, Research (Science and Data), Innovation and Partnerships to secure a more inclusive, peaceful and prosperous region.
Mission
The mission of the ISD is to build capacity to achieve a more resilient and sustainable Caribbean through teaching, research, innovations and partnerships.
