(CARIFORUM Directorate, CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) - The 11^th European Development Fund Programme for Strengthening Climate Resilient Health Systems in the Caribbean came under review when the Programme’s Steering Committee met in Bridgetown, Barbados on 20 June 2025.

Chair of the Committee, Director General of CARIFORUM, Ms. Alexis Downes- Amsterdam, explained that the programme is the first of its kind for the Caribbean region. Developing tools to mitigate against the negative impacts of climatic events on public health has been a major focus.

Mr. Luca Trinchieri, Team Leader for the Green Deal Partnership with the Caribbean at the Delegation of the European Union to Barbados, Eastern Caribbean States, the OECS, CARICOM and CARIFORUM, lauded the achievements of the Programme and expressed appreciation to the implementing partners for the work done.

The Steering Committee is comprised of the Programme implementing agencies Pan American Health Organisation/World Health Organisation (PAHO/WHO), Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC), Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH), Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), University of the West Indies (UWI) and the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) as well as CARIFORUM, the EU and the representatives of CARIFORUM States.

Under the Programme, CARIFORUM States have benefited from initiatives that address air quality, youth projects tackling recycling, food security, wetland protection and aquaponics, early warning systems, surveillance and safety plans and the training of public health professionals.