BELMOPAN, Belize (CMC) — The Executive Director of the Belize-based Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), Colin Young, says the appointment of Jamaican, Mansfield Blackwood brings a wealth of experience in regional development, climate programming and strategic leadership.

Blackwood, who served as the partner country systems advisor and senior technical specialist with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), will assume duties on September 15 as the assistant executive director.

“As a Caribbean national, he brings extensive knowledge and thought leadership of working across the region to advance climate resilience and sustainable development objectives.

“He is intimately familiar with the Caribbean development landscape and he will no doubt bring his proven track record of building strong and lasting partnerships to support the CCCCC’s work as we continue to deliver on our mandate and accelerate climate action to improve lives and livelihoods across our region,” Young said.

The CCCCC said that Blackwood, who holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of the West Indies (UWI) brings over 30 years of extensive experience in international development and private sector leadership across the Caribbean region.

It said his appointment comes at a critical time as the CCCCC continues to expand its efforts to strengthen regional climate resilience and deepen strategic partnerships.

Blackwood also played an integral role in the design and implementation of programmes through key regional organisations such as the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Caribbean Community (Caricom), the CCCCC, and a range of contractors and non-government organisations (NGO).

The CCCCC said that Blackwood’s role as the regional institution will include providing strategic oversight and technical guidance to the Programme Development and Management Division (PDMD) and the Technical Services Division (TSD).

It said this will ensure alignment with regional priorities and the CCCCC’s strategic direction, supporting engagement with national, regional and international stakeholders for project/programme implementation and playing a critical role in strengthening the CCCCC’s project pipeline, guiding the development of climate finance proposals, and advancing institutional targets.