ROSEAU, Dominica — Canada has announced two new initiatives totalling CAN$17.5 million to support post-hurricane reconstruction, build long-term climate and economic resilience, and further the advancement of gender equality in the Caribbean.

Global Affairs Canada (GAC), in a release today, said this strategic move is due to Canada’s commitment to the working with regional partners.

Minister of International Development, Kamal Khera, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Development, yesterday announced the two initiatives to support ongoing reconstruction efforts and strengthen response capacity in the Caribbean region, which was severely affected by the devastating 2017 hurricane season.

One of these reconstruction initiatives will help to rebuild and restore primary schools in Dominica to make them more climate-resilient. It will also fund Dominica’s Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility for two years so that essential services can continue in the event of a future crisis, GAC said.

The other project will enable the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) to strengthen the region’s capacity to respond to and prepare for disasters. This project will help reach the most vulnerable populations, including women and girls.

Meanwhile, Khera also announced a CAN$4.8 million ‘Women’s Voice and Leadership’ initiative that will support and improve the sustainability of local and regional women’s rights organisations in the Caribbean, particularly those representing vulnerable and marginalised women and girls, GAC noted.

Parliamentary Secretary Khera made these announcements during her four-day visit to Barbados and Dominica, almost one year since Category 5 hurricanes Maria and Irma wreaked devastation in the region.

Recently, the parliamentary secretary met with Barbados’ Prime Minister, Mia Mottley; Dominica’s Prime Minister, Roosevelt Skerrit; women’s rights groups, and other key stakeholders to discuss economic and climate resilience needs and the advancement of gender equality, the release stated.

Over the next two days, Khera will have the opportunity to engage with young entrepreneurs and farmers, who are now able to develop and get better quality products to market thanks to Canada’s support.

She will also visit a school and an indigenous community in Dominica that have benefited from Canada’s reconstruction assistance, as well as CDEMA’s regional hurricane-response centre in Barbados, the release said.