Saint Lucia: Measurable Reduction of Disaster Risk Specific to Public Infrastructure

Context and Objectives

The project initially focused on supporting the Government of Saint Lucia (GoSL) to better understand disaster risk affecting public infrastructure, to use this information for the development of a comprehensive risk reductions strategy, and to monitor risk levels over time. Following meetings with the GoSL, the scope of the project adjusted to address the following key national priorities:

• Enhancing the resiliency of the housing sector;
• Fostering knowledge sharing around resilient urban development;
• Strengthening resilient social protection systems. 

Main Activities and Results

The following results were achieved: 

Component 1: Enhancing the resiliency of the housing sector, by developing geographic data on the vulnerability of households to withstand wind hazards.

• The project funded in part the development of a housing inventory that contains information such as height, roof type, roof shape, roof slope and ground slope for buildings in the cities Castries, Dennery and Gros Islet. The information will be used to assess the quality of the building and estimate how resilient each roof will be if a hurricane was to hit. This, in turn will inform Government policies and strategies. 
• A Solid Waste Management sector assessment was conducted through field visits to landfills and waste management facilities. Based on the sector assessment, a comprehensive work plan will be developed to support Saint Lucia in enhancing the resilience of its Solid Waste Management systems.  

Component 2: Fostering knowledge sharing around resilient urban development, through south-south knowledge exchanges.

• The project funded the participation of one participant from Saint Lucia to the XXVII General Assembly of Ministers and High-Level Authorities in Housing and Urban Development of Latin America and the Caribbean (MINURVI), where participants shared experiences and solutions. In addition, the World Bank Group’s Resilient Housing Strategy was shared during the event, and issues of key relevance for the Caribbean highlighted.
• Field visits were conducted to water sites and facilities around the island, and to main water production sites , treatment facilities, wastewater treatment, direct disposal of raw sewage into the Castries bay, and final disposal of sludge; as well as to a stormwater water retention pond and pumping locations in Castries within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Infrastructure.
• A workshop took place at the WRMA office facilities, where 15 stakeholders from various government agencies participated.

Component 3: Strengthening resilient social protection systems, by using information on vulnerable housing to better target the social protection system.

• A technical report was finalized on the ability of the existing safety net tool (the Saint Lucia National Eligibility Test Instrument, SL-NET) to identify poor households and potential beneficiaries for social programs. 
• Based on this report, a revised version of the SL-NET was developed to better meet current needs, and policy recommendations were provided to enhance resilient social protection. 
• Trainings on the SL-NET were delivered to Government officials: in August 2018 to 12 Government officials, and in October 2018 to 18 Government officials.

Partnerships and Coordination

The World Bank team established strong working arrangements with three key sector ministries – the Ministry of Finance and Economic Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure, Port Services and Transport, and the Ministry of Physical Development, Housing and Urban Renewal – as well as the National Disaster Management Organisation.

The EU was updated on a regular basis regarding the progress of project implementation. 

Useful links

Several videos were produced in the frame of the project:

• Reducing disaster impacts
• Addressing Disaster-Related Financial Concerns in Saint Lucia
• A message for Saint Lucians