SERVICES: National Platforms
Dominica
Context: On 18 September 2017, Hurricane Maria hit the Caribbean island of Dominica. Communications, connectivity and power were severely impacted as vital infrastructure was destroyed. The government set up feedback channels under its Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) with high-level leadership involvement. Channels included a 3-number hotline, an email-address and a help desk in Roseau. The hotlines were designed for the emergency response with the intention that a more robust system would be developed in the future, embedded within the government emergency telecommunications system. Communication from communities was facilitated by the Dominica Amateur Radio Club (DARCI). The Government initially worked through the Emergency Telecommunications Cluster (ETC) to re-establish communication. DFID funded CDAC, Ground Truth Solutions (GTS), ACAPS and IRIN via H2H to respond. CDAC undertook a rapid assessment in September. It then facilitated the establishment of a CCE working group and organised weekly meetings to support individual and collective agency efforts. To support longer term capacity, three ham radio kits were procured in collaboration with DARCI and after training were handed over to three disaster management committees in Bagatelle, Penville and Laplaine.
Government links: Government Information Services, the Office of the Prime Minister and the Emergency Operation Center were involved, specifically with the team that managed the hotline. In the recovery phase this extended to the Office of Disaster Management. Government engagement was further achieved through sectoral coordination with close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Environment (WASH), Ministry of Planning, Investment and Economic Development, Ministry of Housing, Division of Local Government and the Ministry of Information and Telecommunication (both on CCE coordination).
Leads / co-chairs: From October 2017-April 2018, CDAC Secretariat deployed Platform coordinators to the WG. In June 2018, Habitat for Humanity took over leadership to end of 2018.
National and international actors involved: Various actors were engaged at different points to different degrees, including the Dominica Red Cross, Caritas Antilles, Samaritans Purse, IsraAid, West Dominica Children’s Federation, Lifeline Ministries, DARCI, Dominica Association of Persons with Disabilities, OCHA, UNDP, IOM, UNICEF, WFP and UNFPA.
Donors: DFID H2H via CDAC from Sept 2017 – May 2018.
Opportunities and challenges: In May 2018, an independent learning review recommended that the working group should remain part of the coordination system, expanding its membership to local media associations and supporting a future localised handover. In June 2018, Habitat for Humanity took over leadership in support of such efforts. Many international organisations left the island with the exception of IOM, ISRAAID, Samaritan and UNDP and government has taken ownership of the rebuilding efforts. As such no other organisation has actively taken over leadership. The working group still exists in theory, making it easier to re-activate should a new emergency occur, to share work and seek out possible collaborations.
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