Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Arterra Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo Saint Vincent N atural disasters have gender-differentiated effects. Women and girls are disproportionately impacted due to existing inequalities and the regarding access to endowments, economic opportunities, and Grenadines agency.3 The objective of this note is threefold. First, to present Country Profile 1,2 recent data on key gender gaps in relation to DRM in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and compare its performance against regional and 1 This note is an output of the LAC structural peers. Second, to present gender-differentiated effects of previous Regional Gender Coordination (Poverty and Equity GP) with support from the disasters in SVG based on existing evidence. And third, to use the evidence on Canada-Caribbean Resilience Facility. gaps and differentiated effects to help task teams identify gender-responsive It was written by Giacomo Palmisano. Marcela Natalicchio and Eliana activities and indicators for the gender tag, a tool to systematically track Rubiano-Matulevich provided insightful comments. The note was edited by implementation of the WBG Gender Strategy and measure the quality and Shari Johnson. results of World Bank operations. This note presents examples of results 2 According to the GFDRR Country Note for SVG (GFDRR, 2010), multiple chains for project teams working on DRM-related operations to obtain the hazards impact SVG and the most gender tag with a focus on exposure and vulnerability, preparedness, and common threat is the potential for hurricanes and tropical storms - since coping capacity. Details about key policy documents on gender equality and 1900, St. Vincent has been hit by 8 storms. In addition, SVG is vulnerable Gender-Based Violence (GBV), gender gaps in DRM national-level policies to drought, landslides, coastal flooding, and laws in SVG as well as recommendations for policy makers to address and volcanoes activity. As result, SVG is reported among the top 60 countries gender such gaps—which go beyond the gender tag requirements for World with relatively high mortality risks, Bank project teams—are presented in the Annexes. with about 41.6% of the population being exposed to risk of mortality from 2 or more hazards. Gender Dimensions of Disaster Risk and Resilience: Existing Evidence. GFDRR (2021). 3 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile health commodities and supplies (UNDP, 2021b). In a country where teenage pregnancy is hig—evidenced by 49.3 percent imageBROKER / Alamy Stock Photo of women having their first pregnancy between ages 15–19 according to 2007/2008 data (CDB, 2015) –– lack of access to family planning (FP) services as well as lack of access to basic and comprehensive emergency obstetric and neonatal care can increase unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, the transmission of STIs including HIV, and the risk of maternal and neonatal death (UNDP, 2021b). Education. Girls have higher rates of enrollment in, and 1. Exposure and vulnerability, completion of secondary school compared to boys (Table 1). preparedness, and coping capacity These statistics confirm the under-participation and under- of women and men in case of natural achievement of boys in the education system in SVG. This is likely due to the influence of social and cultural norms disasters promoting “masculinity” in the society, among other issues (CDB, 2015). High levels of teenage pregnancy in SVG may result 1.1. Exposure and vulnerability4. in girls, especially those from poor households, to drop out of school. Among other things, anecdotal evidence suggests that In line with global and regional trends, gender inequalities in teenage girls generally become pregnant by older men, with SVG persist. Data in Table 1 shows some of the main gender their mothers appearing to approve and/or encourage this as a gaps in the country, including lower rates of enrollment in means of supplementing household income (Kairi Consultations, and completion of secondary school for males compared to n.d.), a situation that can be exacerbated in case of natural females, low female labor force participation, and limited disasters. Additionally, while sufficient data to confirm this is participation of women in decision-making. Gender inequalities unavailable, gender stereotypes still influence the selection of in the country contribute to differentiated impacts on women subjects among girls and boys both in secondary and tertiary and men when natural hazards and disasters occur (CDB, education. More specifically, data gaps exist in relation to 2015; UN Women, 2021). Improving the availability and quality sex-disaggregated data on enrollment in vocational training, of data related to reproductive work, access to and control over graduates in Information and Communication Technologies, assets and resources, and involvement of women in disaster and in Engineering, Manufacturing, and Construction (CDB, risk management (DRM) decision-making, among others, may 2015). Available assessments following Hurricane Tomas further contribute to understanding the asymmetric impacts (2010), floods in 2016 and the eruption of La Soufrière Volcano between women and men. in 2021, do not contain sex-disaggregated data and analysis Health. Overall, health indicators (Table 1) are in line with on gendered impacts in the education sector, even though regional trends and show a generally positive performance school buildings were directly and indirectly affected. For of SVG’s health system. While free primary health care instance, during the eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano, 139 services –– including mental health –– are offered at all health schools were mildly affected, 19 were moderately affected and centers, existing challenges include, but are not limited to, : an another 19 were severely affected; 70 percent of the shelters ageing population; an upsurge in chronic non-communicable immediately activated were school buildings; and a total of diseases, high levels of communicable diseases, and limited 20,915 students were displaced, 12,025 of whom were primary access to sexual and reproductive health services for the school students, while 8,890 were secondary school students most vulnerable and marginalized populations (UNDP, 2021b). (UNDP, 2021b). The recent eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano has placed Care work. Despite the lack of data relating to time spent added pressure on the health system considering the ongoing by women and men on unpaid work (Table 1), women in SVG COVID-19 pandemic and the dengue outbreak in the country reportedly play a major role in household tasks and caregiving, (UNDP, 2021a). More specifically, there was a surge in the and are challenged due to very little support from male demand for health services, which overwhelmed the capacity household members in shouldering domestic responsibilities to provide emergency and essential care to the affected and a lack of affordable day care (CDB, 2015). According to populations, including a shortage of sexual and reproductive According to Erman et al (2021), exposure constitutes the assets that are of interest and at risk—including population, environment, 4 economy, buildings—in a disaster-affected area. Vulnerability is the assets’ susceptibility to damage or impact from a hazard. 2 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile CANARI (2021), the impact assessment of the COVID-19 and declined water availability in SVG, women and men may pandemic may serve as a good proxy for the socio-economic also be dissimilarly affected – the former, mainly employed shocks expected to result from climate change and related in hotels and restaurants, are at risk of job loss induced by hazards over the long-term. The impact survey, carried out in the potential closure of such activities; women farmers may November 2020, noted that the time spent on domestic work, be affected as they are less likely to have their own irrigation childcare, and subsistence activities in SVG has increased, systems and may be more dependent on rainfed crops; women particularly for women. The volcanic eruption in 2021 resulted in fish processing and vending may lack water for preparation in severe power outages, which continued for consecutive days and to meet health and safety requirements (CANARI, 2021). and impacted negatively upon the population, particularly In addition, it has been found that older men living alone in SVG women, and their reliance on electricity for domestic tasks are at particular risk in case of natural hazards and disasters (UNDP, 2021b). Across the Caribbean, women tend to lead due to the of absence of a family support network (CDB, 2015). household activities related to the use and storage of water. Assets and entrepreneurship. Women and men have Thus, risks arising from damage to water infrastructure asymmetric access to and control over assets and productive and potential reliance on external water sources are likely to resources in SVG (CDB, 2015). For instance, according to UN affect women and children (UN Women, 2021; UNDP, 2021b). Women (2021), leased land is predominantly held by men in These risks may include time use, physical stress, and issues SVG. Following the 2013 floods, about 500 people remained of physical security, and may be particularly significant for homeless, mainly women and children (CDB, 2015), likely owing women residing in rural and Indigenous communities. In fact, to poor housing, especially among Female-Headed Households the Garifuna population was the only group to suffer major (FHHs). Low access to assets and resources is also reflected structural damage and long-term water disruption following in entrepreneurship opportunities as female-led businesses in the eruption in 2021 (CANARI, 2021). SVG tend to have limited access to credit and land ownership Livelihoods. Gender gaps persist in labor force (CDB, 2015), despite the fact that 38.6 percent of total participation in SVG (57 percent for women vs. 77.4 percent for businesses in SVG are headed by women (Table 1) - a rate which men). However, among those employed, men are more likely is about twice the average for LAC and structural peers. to be engaged in vulnerable employment compared to women Female-headed households (FHHs). FHHs account for (Table 1), while women are more likely than men to work part- an estimated 39 percent of all households in SVG (Table 1). time, to raise children without a spouse, and report lower According to ECLAC (2011) and CDB (2015), FHHs in SVG earnings (CANARI, 2021). As mentioned above, stereotypes tend to be overrepresented among the poorest households in the education system still influence gendered patterns of and therefore have lower resilience capacity and experience subject selection resulting in occupational sex segregation in the negative consequences of natural disasters more sharply the labor market, with women mainly concentrated in areas than their male counterparts. Among other factors, female such as education and public administration, and overall, in household heads are more likely to be unemployed than male lower paying occupations (CDB, 2015). Because of their higher household heads (CANARI, 2021). This is confirmed by the participation in sectors particularly affected by the volcanic impact analysis following the eruption of La Soufrière Volcano eruption in 2021, such as wholesale and retail trade and in 2021, which indicates that 52 percent of the poorest tourism (accommodation and food service), women may have households in SVG are headed by women, and therefore, poor suffered disproportionate income loss compared to their male women who were heading their households and their family counterparts, except in agriculture, forestry and fishing (UNDP, members were expected to be particularly affected by the 2021b). However, some consequences of natural disasters may eruption, resulting in widened structural inequalities and be overlooked especially for those informally employed. For continued cycles of intergenerational poverty (UNDP, 2021b). instance, while the agriculture sector in SVG is male-dominated, Additionally, the Rapid Damage and Loss Assessment following there is a large informal sector related to agro-processing and the November 2016 floods reported that, of the households vending, employing mostly women (CANARI, 2021). Hurricane directly affected, 40 percent were FHHs and 30 percent were Lenny in 1999 affected SVG and caused losses to the fishery male-headed households (MHHs), while the remaining 30 sector with gender-differentiated impacts depending on percent were not classified (Government of Saint Vincent and involvement in the fisheries value chain. Men, who largely the Grenadines, 2016). fished,, were unable to work at sea due to loss of their vessels or due to rough seas and storms, while women, mainly involved Indigenous communities. Garifuna and Kalinago people as fish vendors, were highly affected due to their reliance on mainly residing in the northern parts of the country (such as in the catch of the fishermen (CANARI, 2021). In case of droughts Owia, Sandy Bay and Georgetown areas) reportedly experience 3 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile high levels of poverty and are particularly vulnerable to climate- women and men related to evacuation, access to shelters related hazards (CANARI, 2021). Both the volcanic eruption and other relief responses. Men were particularly hesitant in 2021 and the November 2016 floods significantly affected to evacuate as they did not want to lose their homes; 80 these communities, lava and pyroclastic flows devastated percent of the shelters were not registering women, and other their villages, and floods impaired water supply (CANARI, 2021). household members, separately from their male partners; and However, an analysis of possible gender-differentiated impacts 29 percent of shelters were not registering single women and between Indigenous women and men was not conducted. girls. 68 percent of shelters were only providing ration cards to male household heads while only 7 percent provided ration Gender-based violence (GBV). In the aftermath of the cards to all individuals in shelters and the remaining 25 percent 2021 volcanic eruption, there were several reports of cases of did not provide any food support. Further, an assessment of GBV within shelters and in all cases, the victims were women shelters’ water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) capacity (UNDP, 2021b). Increased risk of GBV was linked to a number of revealed that 18 percent of shelters had less than 3 days of issues, including tensions arising from displacement, trauma, water storage capacity, only 81 percent had functional locks lack of finance, unemployment, grief and loss, pressures on on toilets and 50 percent did not have sanitation bins in female men to be providers and protectors, absence of lighting due to power outages (UNDP, 2021b) and the weakening of the toilets (UNDP, 2021b). This was compounded by the risk of GBV national systems for service delivery such as health, justice, in shelters, as mentioned above. and social support (UNDP, 2021a). According to the UN Report Early Warning System (EWS). According to UNDP (2021a), (2021), GBV risks were identified in shelters which lacked basic low-income women across the Caribbean are unlikely to have protection for women and girls, including those who were access to smart phones and weather systems apps, and unaccompanied, and which also lacked the capacity to provide thereby face more limitations regarding access to EWS. Sex- emergency support in response to cases of sexual violence, disaggregated data on phone ownership and internet use is including clinical management of incidents of rape. however not available to confirm country-specific analysis for Women in DRM decision-making. Women hold only 18 SVG (Table 1). According to UN Women (2021), women appear percentof seats in the national parliament of SVG, a rate much more prepared for climate and disaster risks in SVG as they are lower than the LAC average and that of structural peers. This more conscious of climate change, are more involved in discussions data reveals potential barriers limiting women’s engagement in on the issue, and take immediate action upon hearing alerts. This is decision-making in SVG. Nevertheless, the National Emergency based on social and traditional norms which shape the ways in which Management Organization—the country’s DRM agency—is women and men cope with shocks. Nevertheless, the Multi-Hazard headed by a female director. Women were also reported to be Early Warning System (MHEWS) report for SVG (CDEMA, 2018) at the forefront of community mobilization efforts following the highlights deficiencies in disaster risk knowledge related to 2013 floods, involved in undertaking and coordinating training analysis and preparation of information for vulnerable groups in disaster preparedness such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (which includes women, although they should not be considered (CPR) and first aid, and coordinating relief response alongside a homogeneous group), and a communication gap evidenced by the authorities (CDB, 2015; World Bank, 2021a). a lack of sufficiently targeted warning messages, which cater to specific gender needs. This report subsequently informed the Communications Plan to support SVG EWS (CDEMA, 2019), 1.2. Preparedness and coping capacity. which outlines specific measures to ensure EWS messages Table 1 shows data gaps on financial inclusion, access to assets are targeted toward and address the specific needs of women, and resources such as land, credit, and mobile and internet use, including older women. The plan is however limited by the which affect the capacity of both women and men to prepare absence of a monitoring framework. for and cope with disasters. Recent assessments provide Livelihoods. According to UN Women (2021), the information on specific gendered differences in areas related participation of women and men in specific sectors and to preparedness and coping capacity. throughout the value chains may determine their capacity Evacuation and access to shelters. Following the volcanic to cope with natural hazards. In the fishing industry in SVG, eruption in 2021, 23,032 people were evacuated, of which women depend more on onshore activities related to fisheries approximately 54 percent were women and 46 percent were and have multiple income streams such as selling fish and food, men (UNDP, 2021b). The population in shelters was comprised while men engage in sea-fishing (UN Women, 2021), which may of mostly women, elderly persons, and children (UNDP, 2021a). result in more limited coping capacity for men. Likewise, women According to UNDP (2021b), there were challenges for both in agriculture tend to be involved in the entire value chain while 4 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile men tend to concentrate in a few activities, namely planting government institutions which consider women’s businesses and harvesting (UN Women, 2021). Despite this, women may to be ‘small scale’ businesses and do not see women as experience the effects of occupational sex segregation which ‘entrepreneurial’ (CDB, 2015). greatly limits their cross-sectoral mobility compared to men. For Access to social protection, remittances, insurance. example in construction and security services, rural women— Overall, vulnerable women tend to outnumber vulnerable men especially single mothers—may face difficulties in finding jobs in and the number of women on public assistance in SVG is higher urban areas (CANARI, 2021). Interestingly, women represented than that of men (UNDP, UNICEF and UN Women, 2020). Also, approximately 70 percent of those temporarily employed in women tend to rely more on remittances from abroad, although road cleaning after the 2013 floods (CDB, 2015). they have a higher level of entitlement to employment-related Assets and entrepreneurship. As mentioned previously, insurance benefits from the National Insurance Scheme as access to assets and resources is unequal between women 41.8 percent of women’s employment is based on a written and men in SVG, which may limit women’s preparation and contract, compared to 31.6 percent for men (UNDP, UNICEF ability to cope with shocks. In the agriculture sector, women and UN Women, 2020). With regard to policy holders, despite often face more difficulty in accessing financial support non-reporting of sex-disaggregated data, small establishments compared to men. For instance, farmers’ support programs engaged in tourist accommodation as hotels and guest houses in the country are more accessible to men than to women were likely to be without insurance or under-insured prior to (CANARI, 2021). In addition, female farmers in SVG reported Hurricane Tomas (2010) and only about 30 percent of home that they are more vulnerable to theft of agricultural produce owners were likely to be insured (ECLAC, 2011). and find it challenging to recover from such losses (CANARI, Female-headed households. As mentioned above, FHHs 2021). Moreover, female entrepreneurs in SVG face similar are particularly at risk of natural disasters as they receive constraints as their female counterparts in other parts of the lower incomes than MHHs and transactional sex is a likely Caribbean, including lack of business skills required to engage outcome when female household heads fail to secure limited with financial institutions and administrative procedures, employment (CANARI, 2021). time constraints due to family responsibilities and biases from TABLE 1. Benchmarking gender gaps related to DRM Same income Performance Year LAC Year -level group Year Source Human endowments Life expectancy at birth, female (years) 75.13 2019 79 2019 79 2019 WD (2021) Life expectancy at birth, male (years) 70.29 2019 72 2019 73 2019 WD (2021) Maternal mortality ratio per 100,000 live 68 2017 74 2017 41 2017 Country scorecard (2021) births Births attended by skilled health staff 98.6 2016 93.8 2018 98.4 2018 Country scorecard (2021) (% of total) School enrollment, secondary, female 91.6 2018 79.1 2018 83.9 2018 Country scorecard (2021) (% net) School enrollment, secondary, male (% 87.4 2018 76 2018 80.7 2018 Country scorecard (2021) net) Lower secondary completion rate, female 96.4 2018 82 2019 88.2 2019 Country scorecard (2021) (% of relevant age group) Lower secondary completion rate, male 88.0 2018 77.3 2019 86.2 2019 Country scorecard (2021) (% of relevant age group) Proportion of persons aged 15-24 enrolled NA 2018 or the CRF report (2021) in vocational training (%); female latest year available Percentage of female tertiary graduates NA UN Women (2020) in Information and Communication Technologies 5 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile Same income Table 1. (cont.) Performance Year LAC Year -level group Year Source Human endowments (cont.) Percentage of female tertiary graduates NA UN Women (2020) in Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction Assessing laws affecting the size of a 100 2021 80.5 2020 NA NA WBL (2021) woman’s pension (on a scale ranging from 0 – the lowest to 100 - the highest Proportion of population above statutory NA NA UN Women (2021) pensionable age receiving a pension, female Female-headed households (% of 39 2012 UNDP (2021) households with a female head) Proportion of time spent on unpaid NA WDI (2021) domestic and care work, female (% of 24 hour day) Economic opportunity Female labor participation (% of female 57 2019 52.5 2019 56 2019 Country scorecard (2021) population ages 15+) Male labor participation (% of male 77.4 2019 76.7 2019 74.8 2019 Country scorecard (2021) population ages 15+) Vulnerable employment, female 18 2019 33.8 2019 38.1 2019 Country scorecard (2021) (% of female employment) Vulnerable employment, male (% of male 23.4 2019 33.4 2019 35.6 2019 Country scorecard (2021) employment) Firms with female top manager (% of 38.6 2010 20 2020 19 2020 WDI (2021) firms) Account ownership at a financial NA 52.03 2017 69.28 2017 WDI (2021) institution or with a mobile-money- service provider, female (% of population ages 15+) Share of agricultural landowners who are NA Our World in Data (2021) female Female mobile phone ownership as a % of NA ITU (2021) total female population Female internet use as a % of total female NA ITU (2021) population Voice and agency Proportion of seats held by women in 18.2 2020 32.8 2020 26.5 2020 Country scorecard (2021) national parliaments (%) Victims of GBV Females – 2014 CDB (2015) 176 (74%) Males – 61 (26%) 6 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile Arterra Picture Library / Alamy Stock Photo 2. DRM policies and gender budgeting and implementation.” Also included in the NAP are specific activities to elaborate on recommendations which SVG has made its initial steps to integrate a gender will further mainstream the consideration of climate change perspective into DRM-related policies (Table A.2). For example, into the planning process, including national guidelines for the National Disaster Plan (NEMO, 2005) highlights the the application of gender screening and environmental and importance of conducting assessments to identify vulnerable social safeguards and a targeted outcome of one guide which communities, the extent of their vulnerability, and measures will focus on vulnerable sectors (agriculture, water, forestry, for reducing said vulnerability, although specific mention is tourism, health, and public infrastructure) and address not made of the collection and analysis of sex-disaggregated gender issues and environmental and social safeguards. data. As for shelter management, FHHs are identified as being Despite efforts by the Caribbean Disaster Emergency at high risk of homelessness following natural or other type of Management Agency (CDEMA) to support sex-disaggregated disasters, and as such are identified among those for whom data collection for disaster response in SVG (UNDP, 2021a), in- accessing temporary shelters will be most beneficial. Below sufficient sex-disaggregated data on disaster impacts, a lack is a summary of other disaster-related policies and how they of a comprehensive national multi-hazard database/archive integrate gender. with protocols for information sharing (World Bank, 2021a) ● The National Comprehensive Disaster Management Policy and a lack of analysis in government reports of structural is- (Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 2014) sues resulting in gender inequality (UN Women, 2021) are still directly aims to “build a safe, resilient and sustainable society persistent issues in SVG. This is also confirmed by the lack of through the use of a comprehensive, gender- based approach inclusiveness and gender-sensitive considerations in the allo- towards the integration of disaster risk reduction, energy cation of resources for disaster response (Post-Disaster Public and water conservation and climate change adaptation Financial Management Review for SVG. World Bank, 2021c). into all aspects of national development.” To achieve this, its SVG participates in UNDP’s Project “Enabling Gender-Re- Capacity Building & Knowledge Management component sponsive Disaster Recovery, Climate and Environmental Re- involves the inclusion of guidelines to ensure gender issues silience in the Caribbean” (EnGenDER project), which supports are assessed and addressed, but includes no details on how the assessment of the role of gender-related knowledge, atti- these will be implemented and monitored. tudes, and behaviors in the different coordination mechanisms ● TheNational Adaptation Plan (NAP) (Government of Saint for climate change and disaster risk reduction. Findings re- Vincent and the Grenadines, 2019) indicates that all vealed the existence of knowledge gaps with respect to gender adaptation options must undergo a gender analysis and issues and related concepts, a bias in gender attitudes with a include agreed-upon social and environmental safeguards. belief that women should prioritize their family needs regard- Among other principles, the NAP adopts a gender-sensitivity less of its impact on their professional development, limited principle whereby actions which support climate change awareness of gender issues at the institutional level and lack adaptation (CCA) are to “integrate gender concerns and of strategies to respond to gender differentiated impacts, and needs into programming, while simultaneously ensuring that a lack of disaggregated data as the main barrier for stronger the contributions and leadership of both men and women institutional commitment (UN Women and IISD [2021], UN are adequately employed at all stages in CCA planning, Women [2021]). 7 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile 3. Building result chains for impact project level. These results chains are intended to inform the through the gender tag design of World Bank DRM-related operations to meet the requirements for the gender tag. Specific recommendations for policy makers to address existing gender gaps (going This section presents a set of non-exhaustive gender gaps in beyond the requirements of the gender tag) are presented in key priority areas for SVG (in line with section 1), examples of Table A.3 in the Annex. actions that could be integrated in DRM-related projects to address such gaps, and indicators to monitor progress at the Entry points Gaps Actions Indicators Examples Among other challenges, access to sexual and reproductive Support the provision Percentage of health services for most vulnerable and marginalized of healthcare services, low-income/ populations is limited. Levels of teenage pregnancy are also including continuity of rural/indigenous high (49.3% of women had their first pregnancy between sexual and reproductive women accessing ages 15–19 (CDB 2015)). health care, especially for healthcare those with more limited services/ sexual Natural disasters increase pressure on overall health access (women in remote and reproductive Health services, and more specifically, on sexual and reproductive areas, from indigenous health services. health services, and increase the risk of unplanned communities). pregnancies, unsafe abortions, the transmission of STIs including HIV, and the risk of maternal and neonatal death. A serious shortage of sexual and reproductive health commodities and supplies resulted following the eruption of the La Soufrière Volcano. Under-participation and under-achievement of boys in the Support the continuity Share of female education system are reportedly due to the influence of and strengthening of and male students social and cultural norms promoting “masculinity” in the educational activities attending school society (CDB, 2015), among other issues. during an emergency regularly in and recovery, especially selected areas. High levels of teenage pregnancy may lead girls, especially in areas where there is those from poor households to drop out of schools. a large percentage or Out of school number of out-of-school girls and boys in Education Gender stereotypes still influence subject selection both selected areas. children, boys and girls. in secondary and tertiary institutions (CDB, 2015), and post-disaster assessments revealed significant damage to Provide incentives for schools and displacement of students despite limited sex- family and community disaggregated data and analysis. engagement to create environments that support the success of boys and girls in school. Women in SVG play a major role in household tasks and Provide infrastructure Reduction in caregiving with very little support from men, and lack and services support time spent on access to affordable day care (CDB, 2015). Socio-economic to reproductive and unpaid work in the shocks are expected to increase the time spent on domestic care work, provision household. work, childcare, and subsistence activities. of childcare, transport services to access Reduction in time Following the volcanic eruption in 2021, power outages and employment opportunities spent fetching a potential increase in electricity tariffs (UNDP, 2021b) are for those in shelters, water due to likely to increase time allocated by women to household continued energy improved access tasks. services for residential to water supply Care work use; increase water system. Prolonged disruption to water and sanitation services is access points, in line expected to have a gender-differentiated impact on women with specific needs of and girls because of the time and energy spent collecting women and men, as part water, the threat of violence and sexual harassment, and of water supply system diminished childcare (UNDP, 2021b). rehabilitation or improving Women residing in rural and Indigenous communities in overall accessibility by SVG may be particularly at risk similar to the Garifuna improving road networks community in the aftermath of the volcanic eruption in as part of infrastructure 2021 (CANARI, 2021). rehabilitation. 8 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile Entry points Gaps Actions Indicators Examples Women in SVG are less likely (57%) than men (77.4%) to Provide targeted support Female and male P166328 – participate in the labor market, but are more likely to work to affected women beneficiaries Dominica part-time, to raise children without a spouse, and report and men, addressing reached with Emergency lower earnings (CANARI, 2021). their specific needs to productive assets Agricultural recover and restart their and services (to Livelihoods Biases in the education system contribute to occupational livelihoods. For instance, be defined in the and Climate sex segregation in the labor market, with women mainly through the provision project document). Resilience concentrated in areas such as education and public of inputs and tools Project administration, and in lower paying occupations (CDB, (such as grants, loans, Number of 2015). micro-finance), as well women- and men- as technical support owned businesses Gender-biased impacts exist depending on level to start and develop receiving suppor of involvement in sectoral value chains, sectoral their businesses. And, to participation, and cross-sectoral mobility and informality. include support to enable Number of women Women enjoy multiple income streams due to their formalization of their and men with engagement in varying positions in the agriculture and activities and provide formal employment fisheries value chains, compared to men (UN Women, access to social security. and access to 2021). In contrast, women suffered disproportionate social security Livelihoods income loss following the 2021 volcanic eruption due to Promote female benefits by the end their high concentration in trade (wholesale and retail) participation in non- of the project. and tourism (accommodation and food service) activities traditional fields as compared to their male counterparts (UNDP, 2021b). reconstruction work Share of women through targeted training, in permanent jobs Women experience limited mobility across sectors recruitment (such as created by the compared to men (in construction and security services), a quota in bidding project. and rural women, especially single mothers, may face documents), provision of difficulties finding jobs in urban areas (CANARI, 2021). information. Men experience a higher participation in vulnerable employment compared to women (Table 1) and are less entitled to employment-related insurance benefits (UNDP, UNICEF and UN Women, 2020). Female-led businesses in SVG, particularly in agriculture (CANARI, 2021) have limited access to credit and land ownership, lack business skills to engage with financial institutions and associated bureaucracy, and suffer from time constraints due to family responsibilities (CDB, 2015). There are more vulnerable women than there are Provide access to social Number of female- Locust vulnerable men in SVG and the number of women on public safety nets (relief and headed households Emergency assistance is higher than that of men (UNDP, UNICEF and recovery funds, inputs that receive and Food UN Women, 2020). assistance) with specific support through Security targets, especially for the safety net Project FHHs account for about 39% of all households and tend to FHHs and/or indigenous programs (specific (P174314) be overrepresented among the poorest households and as peoples (women and targets may be such have lower resilience capacity (ECLAC, 2011). men) and older men set for indigenous Somalia living alone. This may women and men Emergency Older men living alone are also reported to be at risk due include CCT (linked to and older men Drought to the absence of a family support network (CDB, 2015). school enrollment of living alone) Response children), cash-for-work and Recovery programs, including Number of Project Social childcare services to be women heads (P163830) assistance provided and offered as an of households’ optional paid activity, and beneficiaries of monetary subsidies. cash-for-work programs (including indigenous women and men) Share of public works offering childcare and Share of beneficiaries with access to childcare. 9 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile Entry points Gaps Actions Indicators Examples A post-2021 volanic-eruption assessment confirms poor women who are head of their households and their family members are likely to be particularly affected by the eruption (UNDP, 2021b). The Rapid Damage and Loss Assessment following November 2016 floods reported that among directly affected households, FHHs were Social predominant - 40% were FHHs, 30% were male-headed, assistance while the remaining 30% were not classified (Gov. of SVG, (cont.) 2016). Garifuna and Kalinago people mainly residing in the north of the country (such as in Owia, Sandy Bay and Georgetown areas) were significantly affected by the volcano eruption in 2021 and November 2016 floods, from which lava and pyroclastic flows devastated their villages and floods caused damages to water supply (CANARI, 2021). Following the 2013 floods, majority of the 500 people Provide targeted support Number of female- P166537 – rendered homeless were women and children (CDB, to women/FHHs for headed households Dominica 2015), possibly indicating a higher probability of women, housing reconstruction (for that received Housing especially FHHs, having poor housing. example, requirements and support* and Recovery criteria for prioritization of rebuilt their houses Project According to ECLAC (2011), prior to Hurricane Tomas women/FHHs) and access in 2010, only 30% of homeowners likely had insurance Share of female- P171361 - to insurance on property. Housing of which most would have been underinsured (sex- headed households Comoros This may also include disaggregated data on insurance coverage may shed light with access* to Post- subsidies (grants, in-kind on a potential gap between FHHs and MHHs). resilient housing Kenneth support.), and adequate technical assistance in Number of female- Recovery and reconstruction works headed households Resilience and for securing land and with access* to Project house entitlements. housing insurance According to ECLAC (2011), prior to Hurricane Tomas Expand insurance Share of female P171465 (2010), small establishments engaged in tourist coverage and address and male policy - Grenada accommodation as hotels and guest houses likely had no protection gaps between holders. Disaster Risk insurance or were under-insured (sex-disaggregated data women and men. This Management on policy holders may shed light on potential gap between may include the design Development women and men as owners/managers of businesses). of insurance products Policy Credit addressing the specific with a Insurance for needs of women and men Catastrophe business (including parametric Deferred insurance products); Drawdown subsidize insurance costs Option for the most in needs; raise awareness on insurance coverage and benefits for potential beneficiaries. Despite women’s likelihood of higher preparation for Support awareness Share of registered P170874 - climate and disaster risks in SVG based on social and campaign and EWS users of mobile Indonesia traditional norms (UN Women, 2021), the Multi-Hazard targeting women and phone application Disaster Early Warning System (MHEWS) report for SVG (CDEMA, men, especially those for EWS (or other Resilience 2018), highlights deficiencies that exist in disaster living in rural areas and EWS application) Initiative risk knowledge utilized in analysis and preparation of indigenous women (to that are women Project information for vulnerable groups including women, and ensure the satisfaction of (and disaggregate targeted communication strategies which meet different specific information needs, by urban/rural gender needs. use of inclusive language areas, ethnic EWS and materials, use of groups). The subsequently implemented plan for targeted appropriate channels for communications plan lacks a monitoring framework dissemination). (CDEMA, 2019). Ensure that women are represented and involved in the design and development of EWS (Design messaging and delivery of EWS through women’s networks). 10 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile Entry points Gaps Actions Indicators Examples Increased reports of GBV in the aftermath of the Set up adequate systems, GBV assessment volcanic eruption in 2021, mainly due to tensions arising protocols, and guidelines made available for from displacement, trauma, lack of finance and/or for collecting and planning disaster unemployment, and grief and loss; pressures on men to be analyzing data on GBV response and data providers and protectors; absence of lighting due to power during disasters in the sharing among outages (UNDP, 2021b); the weakening of the national affected areas. decision-makers. systems for service delivery. in health, justice, and social sectors (UNDP, 2021a). GBV risks were identified in shelters Support infrastructure Number of shelters which lacked basic protection services for unaccompanied design and services in with established women and girls and the capacity to provide emergency shelters to prevent and protocol and support in response to cases of sexual violence, including address GBV (set up measures to clinical management of rape incidents (UN Report, 2021) protocol and procedures to prevent and prevent and address GBV address GBV cases. Gender biases and inconsistencies existed in evacuation, cases; training/awareness GBV/Access Number of women shelter arrangements and relief (UNDP, 2021b). Men were campaign on GBV and to shelters and girls reporting particularly hesitant to evacuate because they did not measures in place for want to lose their homes while women and other household DRM professionals and GBV cases in members faced widespread difficulty in being registered communities). Ensure shelters. to access shelters without the accompaniment of male protocol and measures are partners. Men were more likely than women to be granted in line with needs of rural ration cards by those shelters which utilized cards. and indigenous women. Shelters also lacked sufficient WASH capacity, posing Ensure shelters design implications for women: 18% of shelters had less than 3 and services to meet days of water storage capacities; only 81% had functional women’s specific needs locks on toilets and 50% did not have sanitation bins in and priorities, including for female toilets (UNDP, 2021b). indigenous women (provide separate toilets5 and adequate lighting; etc.). Women in SVG are underrepresented in leadership Set up mechanisms Percentage positions, despite female directorship of the country’s to promote the of female DRM agency, and women’s roles at the forefront of representation and representatives community mobilization, including in undertaking and involvement of women in DRM decision- coordinating training in disaster preparedness activities in higher-level decision- making bodies and in assisting the coordination of the relief response making of DRM-related Participation following the 2013 floods in SVG (CDB, 2015; World Bank, institutions (for example, in decision- 2021a). quotas and targeted making training for women to develop their careers in DRM/promotion; set up standardized procedures and mechanisms for promotion to avoid bias and discrimination). *The terms “support” and “access” need to be defined in the project document. Please note that having separate facilities (as separate toilets) is a basic requirement of universal project design and, as such, it does not fulfil 5 the criteria for the gender tag. 11 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile Entry points Gaps Actions Indicators Examples Sex-disaggregated data on disaster impacts is Set up adequate Disaster risk, P171474 insufficient, a comprehensive national multi-hazard systems, protocols, and exposure and – Haiti database/archive with protocols for information sharing guidelines for collecting vulnerability Covid-19 is lacking (World Bank, 2021a) as well as analysis in and analyzing sex- information, Response government reports of structural issues resulting in disaggregated data in disaggregated by and gender inequality (UN Women, 2021) in SVG. DRM. gender and age, Resilience made available Development This is also confirmed by the lack of inclusiveness and Provide targeted support for investment Policy gender-sensitive considerations in the allocation of (such as capacity planning and Operation resources for disaster response (Post-Disaster Public building and technical disaster response Financial Management Review for SVG. World Bank, assistance) to generate and data sharing 2021c). and disseminate disaster among sectors. risk, exposure, and DRM policies vulnerability information, and gender disaggregated by gender issues and age. Set up and review DRM framework to include a set of gender-responsive indicators informed by sex and age-disaggregated baseline data, that can be used to select and prioritize investment projects and disaster response, and monitor and evaluate progress in addressing identified gaps. *The terms “support” and “access” need to be defined in the project document. References GFDRR, 2010. 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SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb. int/files/resources/Full%20Report%20SVG%20PDNA%20Volcanic%20 Eruption.pdf 13 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile Annex TABLE A.1. SVG’s key policy documents on gender equality and GBV Laws, policies and plans Content Equal Pay Act (1994) It sets out equal remuneration for all workers and allows for maternity leave to be granted to women. Employment of Women, It addresses the employment of women, young persons, and children in industrial work Young Persons and Children and on ships. Act (1992) National Insurance Act It is a compulsory, contributory scheme to which employees pay 3.5% of their monthly Gender equality (1986, amended in 2007) earnings and employers pay 4.5% of their monthly payroll. Domestic workers are ineligible to receive these benefits because of their inability to contribute to the scheme. National Economic and It affirms that women remain “amongst the most vulnerable and economically Social Development Plan powerless” and calls for inclusion and protection of the vulnerable groups in society (2013–2025) such as women, the differently abled, mentally ill, the elderly, and other high-risk groups Criminal Code, Cap. 124 It contains provisions addressing sexual offenses, abduction, and kidnapping. (1990 Revision) Domestic Violence It creates a wide range of remedies aimed at reducing the number of DV incidents. (Summaries) Act (2015) However, DV is not criminalized, and no comprehensive definition of DV exists. Children (Care and Adoption) It addresses neglect, abuse, exploitation, and violence affecting children. It includes Gender-based Act (2011) mandatory reporting of abuse cases, with penalties for failure to comply. violence National Action Plan to End It outlines mechanisms for policy, legislation, multi-sectoral collaboration, GBV (2013–2017) implementation, prevention, data collection, and tracking the progress on GBV. Prevention of Trafficking in It prescribes measures to prevent and combat human trafficking, particularly Persons Act (2011) victims who are women and children by: protecting victims; facilitating the efficient investigation of cases; facilitating the just and effective punishment of traffickers; and promoting cooperation with other states. Source: From “Gender-Responsive Disaster Preparedness and Recovery in the Caribbean: Desk Review.” World Bank, 2021. 14 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile TABLE A.2. Gender in SVG’s key policy documents on DRM Laws, policies and plans Gender-specific content National Disaster Plan (2005) It points to the importance of conducting vulnerability assessments to identify vulnerable communities, extent of their vulnerability, and measures for vulnerability reduction. It also mandates shelter management to focus on vulnerable groups—the physically and mentally challenged, the elderly and low-income groups, particularly female-headed households. National Emergency and Disaster Management Act (2006) It does not include gender-specific content. General DRM National Comprehensive Disaster Management (CDM) It aims to strengthen the resilience of vulnerable Policy (2014) communities to cope with the impact of hazards, and recognizes the role of women and children in resilience building. It also mandates to include cultural and indigenous communities to implement CDM processes. National Adaptation Plan (2019) It calls for gender mainstreaming in the NAP process to decrease gender-based vulnerabilities, promote gender equality in decision making, and ensure that the implementation of adaptation measures does not impose additional burdens on women. Environmental Health Services Act (1991) It does not include gender-specific content. Town and Country Planning Act (1992) It does not include gender-specific content. Waste Management Act (2000) It does not include gender-specific content. National Information and Communication Technology It aims to improve disaster preparedness, promote Strategy and Action Plan (2010–2015) affordable and universal access to ICT services and resources in rural and underserved communities as well as to decrease poverty and gender inequalities. It also aims to foster the use of ICT for formal and non- formal education, skills development, and adult learning Sector/Agency regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, disability, or location. DRM Revised National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan It recognizes the need to enhance the benefits to all from (2015–2020) biodiversity and ecosystem services, provide essential services such as services related to water, and contribute to the health, livelihoods and well-being, and consider the needs of women, indigenous and local communities, the poor, and the vulnerable. Environmental Management Act (Draft, 2009) It does not include gender-specific content. Environmental Impact Assessment Regulations (Draft, It does not include gender-specific content. 2009) Source: From “Gender-Responsive Disaster Preparedness and Recovery in the Caribbean: Desk Review.” World Bank, 2021. 15 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile TABLE A.3. Gender gaps in DRM and recommendations for SVG Area Gaps Recommendations • Lack of a comprehensive gender policy and action plan. • Develop a national gender policy and action plan. Legislation, • Lack of a gender perspective in many DRM national • Integrate gender equality objectives and anticipated policies, and policies and programmatic plans. outcomes into the National Economic and Social plans Development Plan and the related policies, and update the Emergency Act to reflect the CDM legislation. • Insufficient sex-disaggregated data on disaster impacts. • Enhance collection of disaster impact data disaggregated by sex and other important variables. • Lack of a comprehensive national multihazard database Sex- or an archive with protocols for information sharing. • Conduct systematic research and analysis of the disaggregated hazards which impacted Saint Vincent and the data and Grenadines, and record their impacts on vulnerable gender-specific populations and groups. research • Create a comprehensive national multihazard database or an archive with protocols for information sharing. • Existing data practices on GBV are inconsistent, which • Enhance the systematization of GBV data taken by the presents particular difficulties for making claims about GAD, the police, and the Statistics Department. GBV trends and the corresponding responses. • Enhance the resource base of the crisis center and Gender-based • Incidents of domestic abuse are underreported, and the strengthen systems of support for victims and violence police often do not take them seriously. survivors, including medical care, psychological counseling, and legal aid support. • Strengthen collaboration with NGOs, providing legal and other forms of assistance to survivors and victims. • Insufficient human and financial resources provided to • Support the GAD and its activities with resources, the GAD to support gender mainstreaming. particularly its community capacity building interventions. • Absence of DRM plans at the community level. • Develop DRM plans at the community level, with gender • Lack of the gender dimension inclusion in monitoring considerations. and evaluation activities in DRM and climate change adaptation programs. • Integrate budget formulation guidelines and monitoring mechanisms that reflect synergies between DRM, • Gender disparities in access to disaster safety nets due climate change adaptation, and gender-sensitive to unequal economic opportunities and women’s lower budgeting. control over productive resources. • Ensure the effective implementation of the prohibition • Gender gaps and other inefficiencies in EWS. of discrimination against women through appropriate Institutional enforcement mechanisms and sanctions. strengthening • Strengthen the existing mechanisms and programs to improve access to affordable health care, including sexual and reproductive health, for women, particularly in disaster settings. • Promote access of all women in disaster situations to critical services such as relief payments, disaster insurance, and compensation. • Strengthen women’s roles in community service delivery in immediate disaster response and rehabilitation. • Increase gender sensitivity of EWS and integrate other vulnerable groups into their development 16 Gender and Disaster Risk Management (DRM) Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Country Profile Area Gaps Recommendations • Insufficient understanding reported by both men and • Provide specialized training programs for local women of their role in the DRM process, and about communities to increase their resilience to climate agencies that lead particular DRM functions. change and their preparedness for climate-related hazards. • Insufficient gender considerations in hazard analysis and risk assessments conducted by governmental agencies. • Provide gender-sensitive leadership training programs for women and young people preparing them for • Lack of awareness raising campaigns about the decision-making positions. importance of gender-sensitive budgeting. • Provide training programs to government officials, with a focus on assessing differentiated vulnerability data Advocacy and and risks. education • Organize workshops on child and gender-responsive budgeting to increase the knowledge of relevant policy makers and social development practitioners about financing child and gender related policies and programs in DRM. • Strengthen existing anti-violence advocacy campaigns in disaster settings. • Engage media entities in education campaigns focused on critical terms in DRM • Low organizational capacity and ineffective advocacy by • Integrate the women and girls’ empowerment agenda the National Council of Women. into a broader civil society engagement agenda through renewed energy by the National Council of Women and • Lack of support for gender mainstreaming from NGOs other CSOs. and CSOs. • Build multi-stakeholder partnerships to drive and • Limited efforts to create partnerships with women’s monitor implementation of DRM policies and programs, Partnerships in organizations in DRM areas. with clear delineated roles and responsibilities of public DRM agencies, private entities, NGOs, and CSOs. • Enhance collaboration of the National Council of Women with the public and private entities engaged in DRM activities. • Sustain community mobilization through reporting and informal opinion surveys around key challenges • Lack of evidence-based policies on inclusion of ethnic • Increase participation of ethnic minorities, indigent minorities, indigent people, people with disabilities, HIV/ people, people with disabilities, HIV/AIDS, and members Social inclusion AIDS, and members of the LGBTI community in DRM and of the LGBTI community in DR. climate change adaptation programs. • Insufficient women’s participation in DRM and climate • Target and remove gender-biased criteria or processes Women’s change activities. of decision-making bodies, and strengthen mechanisms participation to increase women’s participation and leadership in and leadership • Under-utilization of women’s human resources in DRM and climate change activities. leadership and decision-making positions. Source: From “Gender-Responsive Disaster Preparedness and Recovery in the Caribbean: Desk Review.” World Bank, 2021. 17