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Cover: Star fruit hanging on a tree in Guyana. © frank600 | istock.com Cover design & layout: ULTRAdesigns Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessment Report for Guyana’s Agriculture Sector Table of Contents ii Acknowledgements............................................................................................................................................ v Executive summary ...........................................................................................................................................vi Acronyms ......................................................................................................................................................... ix Glossary of key terminology ............................................................................................................................. xi 01 Introduction.................................................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Need for timely, inclusive, and resilient recovery in the Caribbean Region.................................................... 2 2.2 Assessing Sectoral Recovery Capacity in the Caribbean Region.................................................................... 2 1.3 Specific objectives of the Recovery Capacity Assessment for the agriculture sector in Guyana............. 4 1.4 Assessment methodology ..................................................................................................................................... 4 02 The agriculture sector in Guyana................................................................................................................. 7 2.1 Disasters and their impact on agriculture .......................................................................................................... 8 2.2 Climate change impacts on agriculture.............................................................................................................11 2.3 Flood and drought defense infrastructure along the coast............................................................................11 2.4 Gender, agriculture, climate change and disasters .........................................................................................13 03 The Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessment implementation process in Guyana................................... 15 04 Results overview ....................................................................................................................................... 17 4.1 General findings......................................................................................................................................................18 4.2 Findings for Governance ......................................................................................................................................19 4.3 Findings for Competencies...................................................................................................................................22 4.4 Findings for Resources and Tools.......................................................................................................................24 4.5 Findings for the inclusion of gender and disability in recovery processes.................................................. 27 05 Recommendations..................................................................................................................................... 30 06 Conclusions............................................................................................................................................... 33 References ....................................................................................................................................................... 36 Annex 1. Specific recommendations to strengthen the capacity of Guyana’s agriculture for resilient and inclusive recovery............................................................................................................................................. 38 Annex 2. Inundation scenario maps for Guyana.............................................................................................. 42 Annex 3. Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessment Questionnaire................................................................... 44 SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Figures iii Figure 1. Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessment results overview. ............................................................................vii Figure 2. Disaster Risk Management cycle. ......................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 3. The SRCA framework structure. ............................................................................................................................ 5 Figure 4. Approximate location of main agricultural areas along Guyana’s coast........................................................ 9 Figure 5. Areas affected by sea level rise in Guyana by 2100 under a high climate change scenario (RCP 8.5).. 12 Figure 6. Diagrammatic representation of the assessment process.............................................................................16 Figure 7. Recovery Capacity Index for the components assessed in the sector: Governance, Competencies (operational capacity) and skills, and Resources and tools. ............................................................................................18 Figure 8. Recovery Capacity Index for the key elements assessed: Policies and legal framework; Strategies and plans; Institutions and coordination; Workforce; Capacity (knowledge and skills); Human resources, Profile suitability; Natural-hazard data and risk information; Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and Project portfolio planning; Resilient recovery project design; Financing; and Project implementation. ............................... 19 Figure 9. Recovery Capacity Index for the key elements of Component 1: Policies and Legal Framework, Strategies and Plans, and Institutions and Coordination. ................................................................................................20 Figure 10. Recovery Capacity Index for the sub elements of Component 1: Policies, Legal Framework, Foundations for recovery, Mainstreaming DRM & Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Gender and disability inclusion in policy, Building codes and regulation mechanisms, Strategies and Plans, Build Back Better, Gender and disability inclusion in planning, Institutions, Coordination, Building codes and regulation compliance, and Gender and disability coordination mechanisms. .............................................................................................................20 Figure 11. Recovery Capacity Index for the key elements of Component 2: Workforce, Capacity (knowledge and skills) and Human Resources, Profile suitability. .................................................................................22 Figure 12. Recovery Capacity Index for the sub elements of Component 2: Workforce; Gender; Private sector; Skills; Training activities; Proven capacities; and Human Resources, profile suitability. ............................................ 23 Figure 13. Recovery Capacity Index for the key elements of Component 3: Natural hazard data and risk information, PDNA and Project portfolio planning, Resilient recovery project design, Financing, and Project implementation. ........................................................................................................................................................................24 Figure 14. Recovery Capacity Index for the sub elements of the key elements of Component 3: Data collection and management, Use of risk information in the sector, PDNA mechanisms, Planning of recovery priorities, Gender and disability inclusion in PDNA, Availability of BBB tools, Use of risk information for recovery, Building codes and regulations in project design, Gender and disability inclusion in project design, Availability of sources of funding, Accessibility to recovery funds, Budget for recovery, Resources, Project management, Building code implementation resources and M&E at project level. .........................................................................................................25 Figure 15. Recovery Capacity Indexes for a. Gender and b. Disability inclusion at the level of the components assessed: Governance, Competencies (operational capacity) and Skills, and Resources and Tools. ........................ 28 Figure 16. Recovery Capacity Index for Gender and Disability inclusion in recovery processes at the level of the key elements assessed: Policies and legal framework; Strategies and plans; Institutions and coordination; Workforce; Capacity (Knowledge and skills); Human resources, profile suitability; Natural hazard data and risk information; PDNA and project portfolio planning; Resilient recovery project design; Financing; and Project implementation. ........................................................................................................................................................................29 Table of Contents SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR iv Tables Table 1. Scoring system for the quantitative evaluation of qualitative responses to questions in the SRCA questionnaire................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 Table 2. Traffic light system used to categorize Recovery Capacity Index (RCI) values.............................................. 6 SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Table of Contents Acknowledgements v This Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessment (SRCA) Agency (CDEMA) for its active involvement in govern- was prepared by a World Bank team composed of ment engagement and stakeholder consultations. The Clara Ariza (Senior Disaster Risk Management and assessment was financed by the Canada-Caribbean Climate Adaptation Specialist, Consultant), Roberto Resilience Facility, a single-donor World Bank-executed Mendez (Senior Disaster Risk Management Specialist, trust fund managed by the Global Facility for Disaster Consultant) and Francesco Varotto (Disaster Risk Reduction and Recovery. Management Specialist, Consultant), with inputs from Linda Anderson Berry (Senior Disability Specialist, This report has benefited from discussions with gov- Consultant) and Marcela Natalicchio (Senior Gender ernment officials, development partners, and members Specialist, Consultant), and overall guidance from of the community, and the team would like to thank Naraya Carrasco (Senior Disaster Risk Management key informants and participants in the focus-group Specialist) and Suranga Kahandawa (Senior Disaster discussions and semi-structured interviews. The team Risk Management Specialist). The team is grateful collected data with assistance from CDEMA, GFDRR to the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management and governmental staff. SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Executive summary vi Guyana is one of the most exposed countries to nat- and Recovery (GFDRR) at the World Bank Group and ural hazards and the impacts of sea level rise in the following a consultative process facilitated in Guyana Latin America and Caribbean region due to its low-ly- by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Civil Defence ing terrain. The rise in sea level and intensified storm Commission (CDC). surges expose 100 percent of the country’s coastal agriculture and 66.4 percent of the coastal urban areas The SRCA assessed in detail the existing capacity with potential losses of coastal gross domestic prod- for resilient recovery in the tourism sector in terms of uct (GDP) projected to exceed 46.4 percent (Giardino enabling policies and legal frameworks, institutional et al. 2020; Dasgupta et. al. 2009). Guyana has been arrangements, and available resources and tools. The coping with the COVID-19 pandemic and a devastat- assessment allowed the identification of gaps, bottle- ing flooding event that has caused major damages to necks, deficits, blockages, and other factors that limit and losses of homes, farming land, infrastructure, and the planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and livelihoods nationwide in June 2021. With more fre- evaluation of resilient and inclusive recovery projects, quent and intense extreme weather events expected as well as capacity building interventions, invest- owing to climate change in the coming decades, there ments, and opportunities to solve pressing issues. The is an urgent need to prepare for timely, effective and report includes practical recommendations, including efficient disaster recovery, while building resilience at proposed interventions to facilitate the prioritization all levels and sectors of government and society. This and decision making on investments by national and involves strengthening the capacity of key national international agencies supporting disaster risk man- sectors to implement climate resilient recovery proj- agement (DRM) and development efforts in Guyana. ect portfolios that are gender responsive and disability Figure 1 presents the results of the SRCA for each of inclusive. the assessed issues. This report presents the results of the Sectoral At a high and strategic level, the assessment deter- Recovery Capacity Assessment (SRCA) undertaken mined that the capacity of Guyana’s agriculture sector in Guyana to assess the capacity of the country’s to implement resilient and inclusive recovery projects agriculture sector to plan, design, implement, moni- in a timely, efficient, and effective manner is incipi- tor, and evaluate climate resilient, gender responsive ent. However, key results of a more detailed analysis and disability inclusive recovery projects. The agri- indicate that although the resources and tools avail- culture sector has been selected as a priority by the able enable, to a certain extent, the development of Government of Guyana due to its high vulnerability to recovery projects, the existing level of knowledge and flooding and sea level rise. The report has been pro- skills within the sector are still insufficient for plan- duced as part of a partnership between the Caribbean ning and implementing a recovery portfolio. To date, Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) recovery operations and processes have been mainly and the Canada-Caribbean Resilience Facility (CRF), led by international organizations supporting the hosted by the Global Facility for Disaster Reduction Government of Guyana in the aftermath of disasters, SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR FIGURE 1 Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessment results overview. The issues addressed in the assessment were classified under three main components: Governance, Competencies and Resources, and Tools. For each issue, the level of existing capacity within the sector was determined using the Recovery Capacity Index. Executive Summary Component 3: Resources and tools Component 1: Governance 1.1.1. Policies (RCI of 59) 3.5.4. M&E at project level (RCI of 38) 1.1.2. Legal Framework (RCI of 53) 3.5.3. Building codes and regulations in project implementation (RCI of 33) 100 1.1.3. Foundations for recovery (RCI of 88) 3.5.2. Project management (RCI of 63) 90 1.1.4. Mainstreaming Disaster Risk Management and 80 88 Climate Change Adaptation (RCI of 70) 3.5.1. Resources (RCI of 83) 70 1.1.5. Gender and disability inclusion (RCI of 50) Low or 3.4.3. Budget for recovery (RCI of 25) 83 absent 59 1.1.6. Building codes and regulation (RCI of 29) 60 70 63 (0–24) 3.4.2. Access to recovery funding (RCI of 25) 53 1.2.1. Strategies and Plans (RCI of 25) 50 3.4.1. Availability of funding sources 40 1.2.2. Build-Back-Better in recovery strategies and plans Basic or 38 50 for recovery (RCI of 58) (RCI of 25) incipient 33 30 1.2.3. Gender and disability inclusion in (25–49) 3.3.4. Gender and disability inclusion 58 25 20 29 25 strategies and plans (RCI of 25) in project design (RCI of 44) 25 44 10 25 3.3.3. Building codes and regulations 25 1.3.1. Institutional responsibility for recovery Moderate 50 0 25 in project design (RCI of 50) (RCI of 25) (50–74) 38 25 42 50 1.3.2. Disaster risk management and 3.3.2. Use of risk information (RCI of 38) 23 recovery coordination (RCI of 42) 25 50 Advanced 3.3.1. Availabilities of BBB tools (RCI of 50) 25 1.3.3. Building codes and regulations (compliance) 75 30 29 (75–89) 34 (RCI of 25) 3.2.3. Gender and disability inclusion in PDNAs 1.3.4. Gender and disability inclusion (coordination) (RCI of 75) 75 63 47 (RCI of 50) Recovery Capacity Index (Capacity Level) 63 Full 3.2.2. Planning of recovery priorities (RCI of 75) 67 2.1.1. Sector's workforce (RCI of 23) (90-100) 3.2.1. PDNA mechanisms(RCI of 63) 2.1.2. Gender specialists (RCI of 25) 3.1.2. Use of risk information (RCI of 25) 2.1.3. Private sector (contractors for recovery) (RCI of 63) 3.1.1. Risk data collection and management (RCI of 67) 2.2.1. Skills (RCI of 29) 2.3.1. Human Resources, profile suitability (RCI of 34) 2.2.2. Training activities (RCI of 47) Component 2: Competencies 2.2.3. Proven capacities (RCI of 30) SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR vii viii but a sustained effort is lacking to build national informed projects and resilient recovery interven- and sectoral capacity to operationalize and continue tions; (ii) improved data and information on natural strengthening the enabling policy and implementation hazards and risk that is disaggregated by gender environment. The SRCA identified the following as cru- and disability and at a meaningful scale for deci- cial to build recovery capacity in the agriculture sector: sion making in agriculture; (iii) tools for the sys- tematic integration of resilience into the sector’s » Develop and operationalize recovery enabling pol- operational procedures; and (iv) standard project icies, strategies, and plans. Specifically: (i) elabo- management and M&E tools. rate a national recovery strategy that integrates resilience building measures as well as gender and disability considerations; (ii) establish tools and » Reduce agricultural losses caused by flooding mechanisms, or institutional mandates, for sec- due to extreme weather events and sea level rise toral authorities at different levels to coordinate the by investing in coastal protection and flood miti- implementation of recovery strategies and plans, gation infrastructure. This includes retrofitting and (iii) enhance the enforcement of legislation seawalls and other hard coastal defense infrastruc- relevant to DRM and recovery, particularly building ture, conserving healthy mangrove ecosystems, codes, and gender and disability inclusion. and strengthening drainage and irrigation sys- » Create and sustain within the government and the tems. Prioritized interventions should be included Ministry of Agriculture the operative competencies in updated resilient infrastructure investment required for DRM and recovery that are unavail- portfolios. able. These include knowledge and skills in the use » Improve access mechanisms to finance recovery: of DRM methods and tools in: (i) the application of Specifically, accelerate the approval of the DRM the Build Back Better (BBB) approach; (ii) the inte- Bill to enable the establishment of the DRM Fund gration of gender and disability inclusion in proj- and conduct a needs assessment of the sector’s ect planning and implementation; and (iii) various budget, including the need for a contingent annual areas of the project management cycle, including recovery allocation. monitoring and evaluation (M&E). To develop ade- quate human resources, the government should It is expected that the findings of this report and its recruit specialized staff, institutionalize training, recommendations will be taken into consideration and and include in public recruitment protocols basic integrated in the design and implementation of recov- knowledge in these areas to support their main- ery strategies and plans that will follow the response streaming and operationalization. phase of the existing flooding disaster as well as into » Strengthen the availability and quality of crit- medium and longer term comprehensive disaster ical DRM and project management resources management (CDM) and development efforts in the and tools. This includes: (i) functional and useful sector. information to plan, design and implement risk SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Executive Summary Acronyms ix BBB Build Back Better CAP Conservancy Adaptation Project CDC Civil Defence Commission CDEMA Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency CDM Comprehensive Disaster Management CRF Canada-Caribbean Resilience Facility DANA National Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis DDIA Declared Drainage and Irrigation Areas DRM Disaster Risk Management ECLAC Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean EnGenDER Enabling Gender-Responsive Disaster Recovery, Climate and Environmental Resilience in the Caribbean ENSO El Niño-Southern Oscillation EDWC East Demerara Water Conservancy FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations GDP Gross Domestic Product GFDRR Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery GHG Greenhouse Gas GSDS Green State Development Strategy GuySuCo Guyana Sugar Company IICA Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture JICA Japan International Cooperation Agency LCDS Low Carbon Development Strategy M&E Monitoring and Evaluation NEMS National Emergency Management System 4NEOC National Emergency Operations Centre PAHO Pan American Organization PDNA Post-Disaster Needs Assessment PLWDs Persons Living with Disabilities SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR x RCI Recovery Capacity Index RCP Representative Concentration Pathway SRCA Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessment UN United Nations UNFCCC United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change USD United States Dollars SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Acronyms Glossary of key terminology1 xi Building code: A set of ordinances or regulations and the strengthening of resilience and reduction of disas- associated standards intended to regulate aspects ter losses. of the design, construction, materials, alteration and occupancy of structures which are necessary to Disaster risk reduction: Disaster risk reduction is ensure human safety and welfare, including resistance aimed at preventing new and reducing existing disas- to collapse and damage.1 ter risk and managing residual risk, all of which con- tribute to strengthening resilience and therefore to the Build back better: The use of the recovery, rehabil- achievement of sustainable development. itation and reconstruction phases after a disaster to increase the resilience of nations and communities Disaster risk assessment: A qualitative or quantitative through integrating disaster risk reduction measures approach to determine the nature and extent of disas- into the restoration of physical infrastructure and soci- ter risk by analyzing potential hazards and evaluating etal systems, and into the revitalization of livelihoods, existing conditions of exposure and vulnerability that economies and the environment. together could harm people, property, services, liveli- hoods and the environment on which they depend. Coping capacity: The ability of people, organizations and systems, using available skills and resources, to Exposure: The situation of people, infrastructure, manage adverse conditions, risk or disasters. The housing, production capacities and other tangible capacity to cope requires continuing awareness, human assets located in hazard-prone areas. resources and good management, both in normal times as well as during disasters or adverse condi- Hazard: A process, phenomenon or human activ- tions. Coping capacities contribute to the reduction of ity that may cause loss of life, injury or other health disaster risks. impacts, property damage, social and economic dis- ruption or environmental degradation. Critical infrastructure: The physical structures, facili- ties, networks and other assets which provide services Preparedness: The knowledge and capacities devel- that are essential to the social and economic function- oped by governments, response and recovery orga- ing of a community or society. nizations, communities and individuals to effectively anticipate, respond to and recover from the impacts of Disaster risk management: Disaster risk management likely, imminent or current disasters. is the application of disaster risk reduction policies and strategies to prevent new disaster risk, reduce existing Prevention: Activities and measures to avoid existing disaster risk and manage residual risk, contributing to and new disaster risks. 1 The following key terminology is provided by the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Online resource available at: https:// www.undrr.org/terminology SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR xii Recovery: The restoring or improving of livelihoods and Retrofitting: Reinforcement or upgrading of existing health, as well as economic, physical, social, cultural structures to become more resistant and resilient to and environmental assets, systems and activities, of a the damaging effects of hazards. disaster-affected community or society, aligning with the principles of sustainable development and “build Reconstruction: The medium- and long-term rebuild- back better”, to avoid or reduce future disaster risk. ing and sustainable restoration of resilient critical infrastructures, services, housing, facilities and liveli- Response: Actions taken directly before, during or hoods required for the full functioning of a community immediately after a disaster in order to save lives, or a society affected by a disaster, aligning with the reduce health impacts, ensure public safety and meet principles of sustainable development and “build back the basic subsistence needs of the people affected. better”, to avoid or reduce future disaster risk. Resilience: The ability of a system, community or Vulnerability: The conditions determined by physical, society exposed to hazards to resist, absorb, accom- social, economic and environmental factors or pro- modate, adapt to, transform and recover from the cesses which increase the susceptibility of an individ- effects of a hazard in a timely and efficient manner, ual, a community, assets or systems to the impacts of including through the preservation and restoration of hazards. its essential basic structures and functions through risk management. SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Glossary of key terminology 01 1 Introduction Birds over a rice field in Guyana. Photo: Bobbinton Braithwaite | istock.com 2 1.1 Need for timely, inclusive, and resilient and financial systems that support the recovery pro- recovery in the Caribbean Region cess, and obtain the necessary political commitment for the development of recovery policies and programs The Caribbean region is highly prone to disasters, includ- (GFDRR, 2020) more rapidly. This is particularly import- ing hurricanes, earthquakes, droughts, flooding, and ant in the Caribbean Small Island Development States landslides. Higher temperatures, changing precipitation (SIDS), where long-standing and pervasive human-re- patterns, more frequent, intense, and extreme weather source constraints and country-specific technical events, and sea level rise (SLR) resulting from climate capacity gaps, both at the national government level change, further exacerbate disaster risk in the region. and in all sectors, represent major obstacles for plan- Major hazard impacts destroy infrastructure and prop- ning and implementing timely and efficient disaster erty, result in losses from foregone output and incomes, recovery operations. Consequently, a better under- and escalate costs as individuals and businesses are standing of capacity gaps and a focus on strengthening forced to work around disruptions. Disasters jeopardize existing recovery capacity of the development sectors hard won national development gains and growth pros- most affected by disasters in these countries can pects, erode fiscal cushions, and disproportionately increase the efficiency and effectiveness of recovery impact the wellbeing of the poor.2 Caribbean coun- investments. The Canada-Caribbean Resilience Facility tries lost an average of 3.6 percent of aggregate Gross (CRF) has engaged in the standardized assessment of Domestic Product (GDP) per year Between 2000 and recovery capacity needs in key development sectors 2019 to damages related to natural hazards, compared of six Caribbean nations as a first step to assist coun- to 0.3 percent in all emerging markets and developing tries to bridge recovery capacity gaps and build resil- economies (World Bank, 2021). Indeed, the economic ience to climate impacts and disasters. The countries cost of disasters in the Caribbean region is so high that are Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, it often exceeds the size of the economy of the coun- Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and tries affected (Ötker and Srinivasan, 2018). the assessment could be undertaken in other coun- tries, depending on demand. However, more timely and inclusive recovery efforts and consequently, faster and better reconstruction can lower social and economic burdens and allow a 2.2 Assessing Sectoral Recovery Capacity more rapid recovery of pre-disaster development lev- in the Caribbean Region els. This critically depends on strong public systems that can rapidly coordinate and cost-effectively mobi- In order to assist Caribbean governments pre- lize resources, reconstruct infrastructure, deliver ser- pare for timely, efficient, and effective implementa- vices, and enable the rebuilding of local economies in tion of inclusive, climate-resilient recovery projects, the aftermath of disasters. Confronted with recurrent the CRF developed the Sectoral Recovery Capacity extreme weather conditions and the prospect of more Assessment (SRCA) in partnership with the Caribbean frequent and intense hydrometeorological events with Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) climate change, resilient recovery planning and invest- and has coordinated activities with the Enabling ments have become a priority for the Caribbean region. Gender-Responsive Disaster Recovery, Climate and Environmental Resilience in the Caribbean (EnGenDER) Preparing for recovery entails enhancing ex-ante the project for its implementation. The SRCA has been capacity of national governments to recover from included in CDEMA’s Comprehensive Disaster losses and damages, define and strengthen institutional Management (CDM) Audit Tool, which covers the dif- ferent phases of the Disaster Risk Management (DRM) 2 Marginalized groups and individuals that do not have equal access to societal and economic resources are disproportionately represent- ed among the poor. This often includes women, girls and the gender diverse; people living with disabilities; those that are geographically isolated; and ethnic and religious minorities. SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Introduction FIGURE 2 3 Disaster Risk Management cycle. Asterisks indicate the phases of the DRM cycle that are most relevant for the SRCA. These are the recovery phase and the preparedness phase, where the necessary actions for recovery need to be implemented. Limita tion Event of da m Preparations a ge for interventions s Intervention Preparedness > Management * > Early warning and early Recondition Respo actions systems nse > Resources for interventions ss ne > Emergency planning ion an repared > Training and exercises > Individual preparations Understanding dP duction > Risk transfer systems, e.g - Insurance Risk - Safety nets Event analysis ent > Forecast-based financing > Documentation of event ity re Re ev > Lessons learnt for co Pr ver Even preparednesss, response y and recovery l Prevention and mitigation bi t ra > Policy and planning E lne > Structural measures and val nature-based solutions Recovery, rehabilitation and u * u V - Technical measures a reconstruction (”Build back better”) tio - Biological measures > Strengthening resilience n > Organisational measures > Livelihoods and ecosystem restoration > Financing recovery, rehabilitation and DRR Actions - Development reconstruction & Humanitarian Nexus Emergency Response - Humanitarian Actions Source: Adapted from FOCP (2020). cycle (figure 2), to complement the national recovery emerging from the assessment will also inform the pri- component of the tool, and to facilitate the identifica- oritization, design, and implementation of recovery-re- tion of solutions to sectoral capacity issues that could lated capacity-building activities under the CRF, and delay the implementation of recovery projects. inform potential investments to prepare for recovery as well as additional activities to be led by national govern- Results of the SRCA are expected to serve as planning ments and other stakeholders. Based on their own cri- instruments and benefit national governments, sec- teria, priorities, and needs, each government selects the toral stakeholders, national DRM agencies, and CDEMA sector to be assessed. The Government of Guyana has in their efforts to enable a rapid and effective recov- selected agriculture in view of its economic and social ery in the aftermath of disasters. Recommendations importance, the consequences of previous disasters Introduction SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 4 and the vulnerability of the sector, its infrastructure Governance, (ii) Competencies, and (iii) Resources and and investments vis-a-vis projected climate change Tools. Each of these components includes a series of impacts, including sea level rise, floods and droughts. complementary areas covered under the component, referred to as key elements. In turn, each key element covers a series of topics, referred to as sub elements. 1.3 Specific objectives of the Recovery Gender and disability inclusion are crosscutting issues. Capacity Assessment for the The assessment structure establishes a relational cas- agriculture sector in Guyana cade between the components at policy-making level, their key elements at strategic and programmatic level, The objectives of the SRCA are to: and the sub elements at operational level of each key element. This structure therefore allows addressing » Improve the understanding of the existing capac- key enabling factors for recovery at each level of the ity of the Government of Guyana, its Ministry of framework (figure 3). Agriculture and other key stakeholders in the agri- culture sector to take the necessary actions to pre- Data collection and analysis: The assessment is pare for and undertake fast and efficient climate based on data and information retrieved from a desk resilient, gender-responsive and disability-inclusive review and a consultation process with key public disaster recovery projects. and private stakeholders, who — over the course of » Identify capacity gaps, weaknesses and challenges multiple sessions carried out online —completed the that limit the timely and efficient implementation of SRCA questionnaire, which was designed following recovery projects in Guyana’s agriculture sector. the SRCA framework structure (see Annex 3). When » Identify opportunities for investments to support stakeholders disagreed on the response to specific Guyana’s agriculture sector and institutions in over- questions, the team in charge of the assessment mod- coming recovery capacity gaps, weaknesses and erated discussions, based on evidence whenever pos- limitations (e.g. policy reforms, institutional restruc- sible, until an agreement was reached. Additionally, turing, training and investments), and prioritize inter- where the responses differed from the results of the ventions to be financed by the government as well desk review, the team posed additional questions to as by bilateral and multilateral donors to improve identify the reasons for the mismatch. the sector’s capacity to prepare for recovery. For the analysis of the collected information, the SRCA 1.4 Assessment methodology methodology uses semi-quantitative approaches that enable the translation of qualitative and value The SRCA methodology was designed to evaluate the judgments into numerical values within established conditions and extent to which existing national and ranges. These approaches include a scoring system sectoral capacity enable timely, effective, and coor- that assigns quantitative values to the qualitative dinated gender-informed and disability-inclusive cli- information collected for each of the questions in the mate-resilient disaster recovery in the framework of SRCA questionnaire, including the narrative responses national DRM policy. Specifically, the SRCA assesses that stakeholders provide during consultations (Table the conditions under which recovery considerations 1), and the Recovery Capacity Index (RCI) calculated have been integrated into sectoral policies, plans, insti- from the scores assigned to the responses. Resulting tutions, and administrative, financial, and operative RCI values describe the extent to which the consider- processes, as well as the extent of the integration. ations necessary for effective recovery are taken into account and integrated by the sector as part of stan- Assessment Framework: The SRCA framework consists dard sectoral processes and operationalization of the of three main and interrelated components, namely, (i) country’s DRM policies. SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Introduction FIGURE 3 5 The SRCA framework structure. C1, C2, and C3 are the main and inter-related components of the assessment, each consisting of a set of key elements (KE) and their respective sub elements (SE). The information required for the analysis of components, key elements, and sub elements is provided by answers to a set of questions per sub element (Q) included in the SRCA assessment questionnaire. The yellow and purple circles represent crosscutting issues. The triangles indicate the relational cascade among the different levels of the structure and the dotted circle denotes the interconnectedness of the three main capacity components. Q1, Q2, …, Qn SE1, SE2,…, SEn KE1, KE2, …, KEn r nde lity C1. Governance Ge abi Dis RECOVERY nd C2 ols s a .C To urce n om KE KE pe En o …, 1, es te ,S SE KE 2, .R nc Qn 1, 2,… KE 2, ie C3 SE Q1 s …, …, SE 1, 2,… ,Q KE KE 2, 1, ,Q 2, ,S n SE …, En Q1 Qn TABLE 1 . Scoring system for the quantitative evaluation of qualitative responses to questions in the SRCA questionnaire. Score Type of response to the question Evidence 4 A qualified YES Minor problem / no No need for action or Yes Adequate problem measure 3 In progress Moderate problem Need for action and Partially Acceptable (> 75 percent completed) measure 2 In progress Major problem Need for action and Partially Scarce (> 50 percent completed) measure 1 Planned or started with Severe problem Immediate action and No Minimum minimum actions acute measure 0 A definitive NO Catastrophic problem Immediate action and No None acute measure Introduction SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 6 The RCI values obtained for each level of the assess- timely, inclusive, and resilient recovery — and of those ment are presented in spider charts and a traffic light in need for urgent capacity building or other interven- system categorizes RCI values. This provides a rapid tions — areas with absent or low level of integration of overview of the areas where recovery capacity is factors enabling a timely, inclusive, and resilient recov- strong — high level of integration of factors enabling a ery. Table 2 presents the traffic light system. TABLE 2 Traffic light system used to categorize Recovery Capacity Index (RCI) values. RCI value range Appreciation of the extent to which recovery considerations are integrated in the sector Low or absent Absent integration of recovery considerations across the sector due to specific limiting integration elements. Low level of awareness and knowledge about the importance and added value HIGH 0–24 of recovery integration for sectoral development. Basic or Incipient integration of recovery considerations takes place at different levels of the incipient sector. Some elements are under development, with a certain level of incidence to generate integration an institutional culture. There is a certain level of awareness and knowledge about the 25–49 importance and added value of recovery integration for sectoral development. CAPACITY BUILDING NEEDS Moderated Evident integration of recovery considerations takes place at the majority of levels integration in the sector. An institutional culture that supports and updates recovery factors and 50–74 includes them in sectoral planning processes is identified. A good level of awareness and knowledge about the importance and added value of recovery integration for sectoral development exists. Advanced Evident integration of recovery considerations takes place at most levels in the sector, integration as it is part of sectoral strategic planning processes. Adaptation tools are available to 75– 89 enable the continuity of operations during contingencies, in a coordinated, practical, and documented way. There is also a high capacity to value the impact and contribution of recovery integration to the sector development, and to programmatic efficiency and efficacy. Full integration Integrating recovery considerations at all levels is a working principle, managed as part of 90–100 the sector’s organizational culture. Tools and protocols for the continuous improvement of the sector’s performance and impact are available. LOW SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Introduction 01 02 7 The agriculture sector Introduction in Guyana Unripe pineapple crop. Photo: janiecbros | istock.com 8 Agriculture contributes 17.6 percent of gross domes- in 2017 (USDA 2018). Rice is mainly grown in the tic product (GDP), and accounts for 15.4 per cent of coastal plains, in the irrigated fields of the Pomeroon, employment in Guyana (World Bank 2019). With around Demerara, and Berbice regions and is the largest user 85 percent of Guyana’s land area covered by forests, of agricultural land and a major employer. Rice pro- only approximately eight percent of the nation’s total duction and exports rapidly increased at the beginning land is agricultural. Most of the country’s agricultural of last decade—from 50,000 tons of rice exported in output is derived from a thin stretch of nonforested 1991 to 500,000 tons in 2014—but has declined owing fertile land along the Guyana coast. These coastal to factors such as the loss of the Venezuelan market plains—where 90 percent of the population of around and drought. In 2017, 16,000 rice farming households 760,000 live—are crucial to the economy of the coun- operated in Guyana, of which 93 percent were small try, and support the nation’s capital city, Georgetown, scale farmers with holdings of 30 hectares or less. alongside agricultural areas. However, some of these Rice production and processing is privately owned and lands are reclaimed and mostly lie below sea level at operated (IDB 2017). high tide. Of the agricultural area, 32 percent is irri- gated. Irrigation areas are concentrated in the main The production of sugar is dominated by the state- agricultural zone between the mouth of the Pomeroon owned Guyana Sugar Corporation (GuySuCo), which river and the Corentyne river (see figure 4). Therefore, produces most of the sugar cane and holds exclu- along the Guyana coast, agricultural development on sive rights to import and export of nonrefined sugar. land that was originally swamp, depends on irrigation, GuySuCo had more than 17,000 staff in 2017 and was drainage, and solutions to control seawater intrusion. the largest employer in the country. However, sugar All areas with fully developed drainage and irrigation production is in decline, with yields dropping since facilities are classified as declared drainage and irriga- 2010 because of the removal of sugar from European tion areas (DDIA) (FAO 2015). Union preferences, management deficiencies, and industrial unrest contributing to a decline in the agri- The agriculture sector comprises five principal sub- cultural sector contribution to GDP from 30 percent in sectors, including traditional agricultural commod- 2001 to 21 percent in 2011 (FAO 2015; IDB 2017). ities of rice and sugar industries and nontraditional agricultural commodities such as fruits, vegetables, seasoning and other products; livestock production 2.1 Disasters and their impact on consisting mainly of poultry, cattle, pigs, sheep, and agriculture goats; and fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture 2013). Rice and sugar production occupy most of the agricul- Guyana ranks fourth in the Latin American and tural and irrigated land and, together constitute about Caribbean (LAC) region in exposure to natural disas- 70 percent of the total value of agricultural produc- ters (Garlati 2013). This is primarily due to its high tion (IDB 2017). Within the less populated and more exposure to floods and droughts, which are heavily remote hinterland, cattle ranching takes place in some influenced by the cold and warm phases of the El Niño areas of the savannah—approximately 6 percent of southern oscillation (ENSO). Although the country has Guyana—with some experimental farms, along with a very low risk of volcanic activity and earthquakes subsistence farming for the local Amerindian commu- and lies outside of the Caribbean hurricane belt, it nities. The country is almost self-sufficient in poultry, occasionally experiences storms and high winds. meat and eggs, and the livestock agricultural sector has been identified as having potential for large-scale Guyana was affected by major floods throughout the export (ECLAC 2011). country during May and June 2021 and during the COVID-19 pandemic, which, at the time of this report, Guyana’s rice production is the highest per capita in have affected 51,582 households and caused the loss the world, with over 80,000 hectares double cropped of livestock and crops, as floodwaters have covered SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR The agriculture sector in Guyana FIGURE 4 . 9 Approximate location of main agricultural areas along Guyana’s coast. Source: Map Design Unit, World Bank. The agriculture sector in Guyana SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 10 food supplies and crop failures, with salt water from the sea penetrating into inland waterways. The 2009– Climate change projections for 2010 drought affected the entire Caribbean region. Guyana* Although weather forecasts allowed precautionary measures to be taken to reduce impacts on agricul- » Higher mean annual temperatures ture, livestock died, and rice and sugar production (increase by 0.9 to 3.3°C by 2060’s, and 1.4 were highly affected. Similarly, the 2014–2015 drought to 5.0 degrees by 2090’s). affected agriculture production, created water short- » More frequent hot days and hot nights and ages, increased bush fires, dust pollutant levels, and less frequent cold days and cold nights disease outbreaks amongst livestock and humans than at present. In particular, cold nights (UNDP 2018). will become exceedingly rare, possibly dis- appearing by 2090. Major investments have been made to reduce coastal » More rapid rate of warming in the south- flood risk, including 500 kilometers of main irrigation ern, interior regions of the country than in canals, 1,100 kilometers of secondary canals, 500 the northern, coastal regions kilometers of main drainage channels, and 1,500 kilo- » Lower mean annual rainfall by 2060, meters of secondary drainage channels supported by although rainfall intensity could increase kokers and sluices. However, additional investments in the southern parts of the country. in drainage and irrigation are needed and likely to increase production costs (Government of Guyana * Representative concentration pathway (RCP) 8.5 ensemble. 2019). Source: CCKP, 2021a. Ethnicity, migration, poverty levels, and geographic location are other factors affecting the vulnerability of entire farming areas (CDEMA 2021). A complete over- Guyanese communities to climate change and disas- view of losses and damages from this episode will be ters, with communities in the hinterland, particularly available after immediate disaster response needs are Amerindian communities being highly vulnerable to met. However, this situation is not unique. Devastating floods and drought. flood events occurred nearly every year between 2005 and 2015 (UNDP 2018). Guyana’s vulnerability to plu- Guyana’s hinterland holds only around 11 percent of vial flooding is highlighted by the catastrophic floods the population, but this population is among its most of January 2005, which severely affected 37 percent vulnerable from a socioeconomic perspective, with 74 of the population, moderately affected 48 percent, and percent poverty in rural areas—contrasting 19 percent resulted in losses totaling approximately 60 percent of poverty in urban areas. The Indigenous population— GDP (Government of Guyana 2012). Continuous heavy forming 9.2 percent of the total population—mostly rainfall in the hinterland in 2011 resulted in the worst live in the hinterland and experience the highest pov- flooding since 1973 (UNDP 2018). erty incidence in the country of about 78 percent and include one-third of the extremely poor. The hinter- Droughts have also been devastating and recurrent, land population is increasing due to economic migra- particularly in the hinterland—which has one dry sea- tion from other regions in Guyana supporting mining son and one wet season, compared with two wet sea- and logging activities, and with the arrival of eco- sons in the coast—with events recorded in 1997–98, nomic migrants from nearby Brazil and recently from 2009–2010 and 2014–15. The 1997–98 drought was Venezuela— particularly in Region 1 to the northwest. declared a state of emergency following rainfall 75 percent below normal levels. This led to an economic loss of USD 29 million with water rationing, reduced SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR The agriculture sector in Guyana 2.2 Climate change impacts on meters under a very high GHG emissions scenario, rel- 11 agriculture ative to the 1995–2014 level (IPCC 2021). Climate change will worsen extreme events and bring The annual damages caused by coastal flooding owing additional threats to agriculture production. The agri- to sea level rise could increase from 3.11 percent of culture sector in the Caribbean is vulnerable to a range Guyana’s GDP in 2010 to up to 6.94 percent of GDP by of climate change impacts, from lower wet season 2100 under a low emissions scenario of RCP 4.5, or rainfall to higher temperatures, sea level rise, and an 10.25 percent under a high emissions scenario of RCP increase in hurricane intensity and frequency (Knutson 8.5 (Giardino et. al. 2020). Research shows that out et al. 2020). of the LAC countries, the impact of sea level rise and intensified storm surges would be highest in Guyana, Climate change is anticipated to have a large impact exposing 100 percent of the country’s coastal agricul- on agriculture, as traditional agricultural practices ture and 66.4 percent of the coastal urban areas with are climate dependent. Climate change threatens potential losses of coastal GDP projected to exceed Guyana’s agriculture through its direct effects on crop 46.4 percent (Dasgupta et. al. 2009). production and animal viability. The agricultural sec- tor already suffers regularly from severe hurricane Sea level rise, and to an extent storm surges, will also and drought damage and, as temperatures continue exacerbate current coastal erosion processes and to rise, several crops will experience heat stress, and lead to the inundation of coastal areas, saline intrusion lack the ideal climate conditions for maximizing yields into the estuaries used for irrigation and ground water (Piñeiro et al. 2020). sources, and overtopping of existing sea defenses with catastrophic consequences for food production Increasingly higher temperatures will affect crop (CCKP 2021b). growth and nutritional value, as well as the number and types of pests, disease, and weeds. Changing Figure 5 shows the areas affected by SLR under a high rainfall intensity, duration, and occurrence will alter the climate change scenario (RCP 8.5). Other inundation growing season, and affect water availability, with scenario maps for Guyana are presented in Annex 2. increasing storm intensities leading to increased flood risk during heavy rains as well as increased soil erosion. Changing rainfall patterns and rising tem- 2.3 Flood and drought defense peratures will also lead to more severe drought epi- infrastructure along the coast sodes causing water stress. Water quality may also be reduced due to seasonal lack of water availability Flooding along the coastal plain is due to several fac- and salt-water intrusion due to excessive groundwater tors. Pluvial flooding derives from the high rainfall extraction, especially along the coast. intensities combined with the lack of gradient of the low-lying land meaning that floodwaters are not able to However, the largest threat to the population, econ- drain away quickly enough, particularly as large parts omy and agricultural production in Guyana comes of the coastal area are below sea level, especially at from coastal flooding caused by sea level rise, as the high tides. Drainage along the coast is a complex and country’s coastal plains, which in some areas are two poorly maintained gravity based drainage system, with meters below sea level, are home to the vast major- polders, canals, and sluices originally constructed for ity of the population, three quarters of the economic agricultural purposes on an ad hoc basis over a hun- activities, and almost all agricultural production. The dred years ago. Gravity drainage is only possible at low global mean sea level is projected to rise between tides and therefore the drainage system is largely sup- 0.28 to 0.55 meters by 2100, under a very low green- ported by fixed and mobile pumping stations along the house gas (GHG) emissions scenario, and 0.63 to 1.01 coast (ECLAC 2011a). The natural drainage window The agriculture sector in Guyana SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 12 FIGURE 5 . Areas affected by sea level rise in Guyana by 2100 under a high climate change scenario (RCP 8.5) is shrinking however, due to increasing sea levels, To combat water shortages, a series of freshwater increasing the reliance on mechanical pumps. Fast conservancies or shallow reservoirs were constructed growing vegetation, sedimentation, and indiscriminate inland of the coastal agricultural areas. They serve as disposal of solid waste into the drainage system also water storage areas for agricultural irrigation waters reduce the system’s drainage capacity both in urban and drinking water supply, and as flood control, hold- and agricultural areas. Maintenance of the system is a ing back inland flood waters from urban and agricul- constant drain on Guyana’s economic resources. tural areas. During the 2009–10 drought, the East SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR The agriculture sector in Guyana Demerara Water Conservancy (EDWC) had insufficient USD 123 million in required investments including: (i) 13 water storage with water levels falling below the des- upgrading of the EDWC dam; (ii) improving the drain- ignated safe level for irrigation, which also caused an age and operation of the EDWC; and (iii) improving increased incidence of diarrhea attributable to the use drainage in the coastal area. Following the recom- of unsafe drinking water. mendations from the CAP, the flood risk management project (P147250) of USD 11.9 million between 2014– The reclaimed lands are supported by a coastal flood 2020 and additional financing of USD 26 million are defense system that prevents water from the Atlantic financing the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure to Ocean from inundating the land. At present, about 25 reduce the risk of flooding in the low lying areas of the percent of the coast is protected by a 280- kilome- East Demerara area. The funding covers rehabilitation ter-long concrete sea wall, rock riprap, and earthen of part of the EDWC dam. As part of Guyana’s Low embankments. In addition, 60 percent of the coast Carbon Development Strategy 2010, adaptation ini- is protected by mangrove forests; however, degrada- tiatives financed by the Global Risk Financing Facility, tion and loss of mangroves have resulted in increased a complementary Cunha Canal Rehabilitation Project coastal flooding, saltwater inundation, and loss of agri- (P132408) of USD 3 million contributed to improving cultural land. The remaining 15 percent is protected by drainage in the EDWC. Nevertheless, more financing natural sandbanks. is required, particularly to support the reconstruc- tion of the remainder of the EDWC dam most at risk Major investments have been made to reduce coastal of breaching, and additional investments in drainage flood risk, including 500 kilometers of main irrigation and irrigation are needed to increase agricultural pro- canals, 1,100 kilometers of secondary canals, 500 duction but are likely to increase production costs kilometers of main drainage channels, and 1,500 (Government of Guyana 2019). kilometers of secondary drainage channels sup- ported by kokers and sluices. The 2010 Low Carbon Continued investment is required to maintain and Development Strategy (Office of the President 2010) strengthen the existing drainage and irrigation infra- costed the upgrading of: existing drainage and irriga- structure, including continued investment in natu- tion infrastructure at USD 225 million; conservancies ral mangrove and seawall infrastructure defenses. at USD 410 million; seawall outside of priority regions Constructing and maintaining coastal defense infra- at USD 15–60 million; and expanding the drainage structure and mangroves, and beach restoration and and irrigation network at USD 119 million—a total of retreat have been proposed as strategies for coping USD 814 million. Additionally, under the 2030 Low with coastal erosion and the damage caused by floods Carbon Development Strategy USD 7 million is being associated with sea level rise to critical infrastructure, invested for the upgrade of smart healthcare facilities housing, and agriculture. The Economic Commission and existing disposal facilities, the upgrade of green- for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) assessed houses as well as of drainage and irrigation systems that existing hard structures such as sea walls and across the capital, the incorporation of safeguards mud embankments may need to be strengthened and against climate events, and other major public and pri- elevated repeatedly over the next 100 years (ECLAC vate sector investments in new building stock (Office 2011b). of the President 2022). The existing World Bank proj- ects support these infrastructure initiatives in Region 4. The World Bank Conservancy Adaptation Project 2.4 Gender, agriculture, climate change (CAP) (2008–2013) of USD 3.8 million was prepared and disasters following the catastrophic 2005 floods. It financed the development of the technical foundation for a master- The International Labour Organization reports that plan of future investments within the EDWC and low- nine percent of Guyanese women are employed in land drainage system in Region 4. The project identified agriculture, compared to more than 22 percent of The agriculture sector in Guyana SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 14 Rice field in Guyana’s coastal plains. Credit: Tracey Dos Santos, Wikimedia Commons men (ILO 2018). Men dominate the agriculture sector access to insurance or loss protection, if they do not in land and farming ownership and more physically own the land or do not have formal documentation of intense work in agriculture, whereas women engage income or losses (UNDP 2021). However, men tend to as vendors, processors, and small scale cultivators face the greatest direct economic impact of disasters for livelihood. Women are often unpaid family work- in Guyana due to their higher participation levels and ers who are also involved in housework and care work, dominance in the agriculture sector (UNDP 2020). For thus experiencing greater vulnerability, less access men, disasters can lead to livelihood displacement, to resources, and lower productivity than their male loss of incomes, and other socioeconomic impacts counterparts. Women may also face a disadvantage such as debt, which in turn might lead to psychoso- in knowledge, skills, and relevant information to thrive cial issues such as anxiety and depression (UNDP, in the agriculture sector (UNDP 2021). “Sexual harass- 2020). Male farmers enjoy better access to financial ment and gender-based violence against women services—including loans and insurance—owing to remain an issue, along with forced marriages, partic- land ownership and better income levels than female ularly in remote rural and Indigenous communities farmers, vendors, and processors. Male farmers there- dependent on agriculture” (Walters and Viteri 2018). fore, may be more resilient to the increasing impacts of climate change. In addition, in their role as primary Gender differentiated roles and constraints affect the caregivers, responsible for feeding the household, shape of activities in the agricultural sector and the women are likely to be more affected than men by impacts of disasters. Women can be significantly shortages of water, waterborne diseases, and spikes affected by disasters, due to their social roles and in food prices. In the past, this has resulted in women occupation as well as their limited access to assets, spending a greater portion of their income and time to finance, and services (UNDP 2021). Women involved secure food and water for the household in addition to in agriculture-based livelihoods tend to have limited their other responsibilities (UNDP 2021). SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR The agriculture sector in Guyana 03 15 The Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessment implementation process in Guyana Agricultural fields with water channels. Photo: Victor Zherebtsov | Dreamstime.com 16 In Guyana, the Civil Defence Commission (CDC) bears implementation followed the process presented in the institutional responsibility for disaster manage- Figure 6. The process started with a briefing to the ment. The CDC works closely with and supports the CDC on the methodology and a desktop review. The work of ministries, line agencies and other actors in Ministry of Agriculture completed the assessment risk management at the national and sectoral level. questionnaire and coordinated a consultation, involv- This The Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessment ing both private and public sector stakeholders, to has been implemented in Guyana under the leader- confirm, complement and discuss the responses pro- ship of the Ministry of Agriculture and the CDC. The vided in the questionnaire. FIGURE 6.. Diagrammatic representation of the assessment process ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR RESILIENT RECOVERY Governance Competencies Resources and Tools COLLECTION DATA ANALYSIS OF RECOMMENDATIONS OF DATA AND ANALYSIS RESULTS FRAMEWORK INFORMATION Desktop review Data analysis Analysis of Gaps Technical Assistance and constraints Assessment Results Country resources questionnaire visualization Identification of solutions and recommendations Semi-structured Identification of Other investments interviews and constraints stakeholder Reporting consultations Data verification Gaps identification Results validation The Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessment SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR implementation process in Guyana 04 17 Results overview Ministry of Agriculture building in Georgetown, Guyana. Photo: mtcurado | istock.com 18 4.1 General findings established. Knowledge and skills for the implementa- tion of resilient agriculture recovery projects also need The analyses assessed the capacity of Guyana’s agri- to be created and sustained. culture sector to implement gender- and disability- inclusive, resilient recovery projects in a timely, efficient In general, capacity building interventions are required and effective manner as incipient, with a sector-level to: RCI of 45 (figure 7). Sectoral recovery is enabled, to a certain extent, by the resources and tools available » Establish mechanisms or institutional mandates for (RCI of 50). However, weaknesses in Governance (RCI sectoral authorities to develop and coordinate the of 47) and, particularly, in the knowledge and skills implementation of recovery strategies and plans. available within the sector (RCI of 34) limit the plan- » Increase general DRM knowledge and basic DRM ning and implementation of resilient recovery projects. implementation capacity, with a focus on gender and disability inclusive recovery frameworks, across The above findings are supported by the analysis of key actors in the agriculture sector. This can facili- results at the key element level (figure 8). However, it tate recovery planning before a catastrophic event should be noted that while this more in-depth analy- and enable better communication on the topic sis suggests that a moderate capacity exists within within the sector and across government agencies. the sector for planning and implementation of recov- » Strengthen and streamline strategic and planning ery project portfolio activities, which obtained RCI processes for recovery in the agriculture sector; values of 69 and 55 respectively, these have been including ex ante definition of institutional arrange- guided by international organizations supporting ments for the development, coordination, and imple- the Government of Guyana. Investments are there- mentation of inclusive recovery strategies and plans. fore necessary to build national and sectoral capac- » Strengthen the generation and management of ity to operationalize the enabling policy environment, hazard data and risk information and its use in the ensuring that tools and resources are available and design of resilient and inclusive recovery projects. that a strong coordination mechanism for recovery FIGURE 7 Recovery Capacity Index for the components assessed in the sector: Governance, Competencies (operational capacity) and skills, and Resources and tools. Capacity levels are indicated by colored dots. Sector RCI: 45 Low or absent (0-24) 1. Governance Basic or 100 Recovery Capacity Index incipent (25-49) 80 60 Moderate 47 (50–74) 40 20 Advanced (75–89) 0 34 50 Full (90-100) 3. Resources 2. Competencies and Tools (operational capacity and skills) SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Results overview FIGURE 8 19 Recovery Capacity Index for the key elements assessed: Policies and legal framework; Strategies and plans; Institutions and coordination; Workforce; Capacity (knowledge and skills); Human resources, Profile suitability; Natural-hazard data and risk information; Post-Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) and Project portfolio planning; Resilient recovery project design; Financing; and Project implementation. Capacity levels are indicated by colored dots. Component 3: Component 1: Resources and tools 1.1. Policies and Legal Governance Low or Framework absent 100 (0–24) 3.5. Project 90 1.2. Strategies and Plans Implementation 80 Basic or 70 Recovery Capacity Index incipent 60 59 (25–49) 3.4. Financing 55 50 1.3. Institutions and 40 Coordination 30 25 Moderate 20 34 (50–74) 36 10 0 3.3. Resilient recovery 44 33 2.1. Workforce Advanced project design (75–89) 35 34 69 43 Full 3.2. PDNA and Project (90-100) 2.2. Capacity (knowledge portfolio planning and skills) 3.1. Natural-hazard data 2.3. Human resurces, and risk information Profile suitability Component 2: Competencies » Improve and more widely disseminate informa- (RCI of 59), its operationalization through actionable tion on funding sources, opportunities, and access strategies and plans for the sector is incipient (RCI of mechanisms for recovery in the sector. 25), as there are no tools, mechanisms or institutional » Strengthen gender and disability inclusive DRM mandates for sectoral authorities to develop and coor- and climate change integration in project design dinate the implementation of recovery strategies and and implementation. plans and, to date, DRM and recovery activities for the sector are coordinated between sectoral agencies and The following sections offer a more detailed analysis the CDC to a limited extent only (RCI of 34). At the sub of the results obtained for each of the components element level (figure 10), the assessment highlights assessed. Section 5 provides key recommendations that the enforcement of legislation relevant for DRM and Annex 2 offers more detailed recommendations, and recovery is still incipient, particularly in terms including capacity building interventions. of building codes and gender integration. (figure 6). Building codes exist and include essential accessibility provisions for persons with disabilities, but there is no 4.2 Findings for Governance effective application or mechanisms for regulating or promoting their enforcement beyond public buildings The capacity and enabling factors for recovery at the (RCI of 29), which reduces their perceived relevance Governance level of the agriculture sector in Guyana is for stakeholders in the sector. assessed as basic, with an RCI of 47 (figure 9). Although the national policy and legal framework enables the Important findings from the policy and legal frame- implementation of gender-inclusive recovery projects work enabling resilient recovery: Results overview SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 20 FIGURE 9 Recovery Capacity Index for the key elements of Component 1: Policies and Legal Framework, Strategies and Plans, and Institutions and Coordination. Capacity levels are indicated by colored dots. Component 1 Low or Governance RCI: 47 absent 1.1. Policies and (0-24) Legal Framework 100 Basic or Recovery Capacity Index incipent 80 (25-49) 59 60 Moderate (50–74) 40 20 Advanced (75–89) 0 25 34 Full (90-100) 1.3. Institutions 1.2. Strategies and and Coordination Plans FIGURE 10 Recovery Capacity Index for the sub elements of Component 1: Policies, Legal Framework, Foundations for recovery, Mainstreaming DRM & Climate Change Adaptation (CCA), Gender and disability inclusion in policy, Building codes and regulation mechanisms, Strategies and Plans, Build Back Better, Gender and disability inclusion in planning, Institutions, Coordination, Building codes and regulation compliance, and Gender and disability coordination mechanisms. Capacity levels are indicated by colored dots. 1.3 Institutions and 1.1 Policies and Legal Coordination Framework Low or 1.1.1. Policies absent 1.3.4. Gender and disability 100 (0–24) 90 1.1.2. Legal Framework coordination mechanisms 80 Basic or 70 59 Recovery Capacity Index 1.3.3. Building codes and 1.1.3. Foundations for incipent 60 53 (25–49) regulation compliance 88 recovery 50 50 40 30 Moderate 25 20 1.1.4. Mainstreaming (50–74) 1.3.2. Coordination 42 10 70 DRM&CCA 0 25 50 Advanced 25 29 (75–89) 25 25 1.1.5. Gender and disability 1.3.1. Institutions inclusion in policy Full 1.1.6. Building codes and (90-100) 1.2.3. Gender and disability inclusion in planning regulation mechanisms 1.2.2. Build Back Better 1.2.1. Strategies and Plans 1.2 Strategies and Plans SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Results overview » The DRM Policy was issued in 2013 and clearly everyone with courtesy regardless of gender and 21 defines institutional mandates for DRM in Guyana. sexual orientation. It designates the National DRM Platform as the » The Green State Development Strategy (GSDS): main multisectoral institutional mechanism to Vision 2040 (Government of Guyana 2019) and the lead all phases of DRM. It includes recovery and Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) (Office identifies the national public and private agencies of the President 2022 and 2010). These documents involved in DRM. The policy takes a human rights guide Guyana’s medium term development and approach, which mainstreams elements of equal- integrate climate change and DRM considerations, ity, disability, and gender issues. Moreover, the pol- although they do not specifically address recovery icy states the need for improved coordination of the and gender issues adequately. They introduce resil- responsibilities and roles of each institution with ient infrastructure across sectors as a priority for respect to DRM and gender within the institutional future development and for achieving economic system. The DRM Policy includes, “Undertaking resilience. The GSDS discusses the need for rein- post disaster recovery and reconstruction as an forcing and improving first line sea defenses as a opportunity to build back better,” as a strategic priority for development, and the LCDS proposes objective and contemplates the elaboration of an strategic public and private investments on drain- integrated DRM agriculture or environment plan, age, irrigation, road construction, and off-grid power inclusive of recovery. infrastructure for supporting the growth of high » The draft DRM Bill (DRM Act 2020) provides a potential low carbon agricultural production for comprehensive framework for DRM, designed to export in locations distant from vulnerable coastal provide legal authority to Guyana’s national DRM areas and without adding pressure on forests. system, which under the authority of CDC, con- sists of national level systems, such as the national Opportunities identified for strengthening recovery early warning system, as well as regional and local capacity at the governance level include: level systems whereby each regional democratic council establishes for its region a regional DRM » Establishment of an effective process or mecha- committee and develops regional DRM plans. The nism for updating national and sectoral policies, to draft DRM Bill also provides guidance on the dec- integrate both gender and disability inclusive recov- laration of emergencies, the designation of vul- ery considerations and elements for their opera- nerable areas, and the establishment of a national tionalization and coordination at the sectoral level. DRM fund to support the adoption of comprehen- This mechanism is lacking. sive risk management in Guyana, and serve as a » Use of mechanisms—including ongoing and planned contingency fund for disasters, emergencies and policy, strategic and planning processes—to enable recovery. However, the Bill provides little prescrip- the operationalization of gender responsive and dis- tive guidance on defining and managing vulnerable ability inclusive recovery enabling policies. sectors within the population, although it includes » Formulation of a recovery strategy for the agricul- the establishment of the natural resources and ture sector to guide and facilitate the elaboration of environment cabinet subcommittee to advise and sector specific recovery plans that are gender and recommend the cabinet on gender issues related disability inclusive in their design and the devel- to DRM and climate change. It provides for the opment and implementation of resilient recovery education and training of government person- investments, following a BBB approach. nel, financial institutions, and local government » Strengthening and enforcing building codes at the in emergency response and preparedness, with sector level to reduce vulnerability, in particular, for a strong focus on gender responsiveness. It also persons living with disabilities (PwDs). includes a code of conduct for volunteers to treat Results overview SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 22 » Integration of elements to operationalize the BBB in the use of DRM methods and tools, and on the approach in sectoral recovery policy, strategic, and application of the BBB approach. Gender and disabil- programmatic processes. ity inclusion are generally poorly integrated in project planning and implementation. There are also knowl- edge and skill gaps in various areas of the project cycle 4.3 Findings for Competencies management (PCM), including monitoring and evalua- tion. Training and public recruitment in these areas is The capacity and skills existing in Guyana’s agriculture urgently required, along with mechanisms to ensure sector are basic and insufficient to design and imple- long-term DRM and recovery knowledge transfer. ment gender-sensitive and disability-inclusive resilient recovery projects. This is indicated by the RCI of 34 The assessment of competencies indicates the obtained for the Competencies component (figure following: 11) and reflects that institutional limitations affect the effective consideration and integration of DRM and » There is a general shortage of government and recovery in relevant sectoral processes. These limita- other professional staff working in the agriculture tions take place at the level of the existing workforce sector. The working conditions for existing teams, (RCI of 33), their knowledge and skills (RCI of 35), and in terms of connectivity, equipment, software, etc. the recruitment of staff with required profiles, that pre- are inadequate, with some exceptions (e.g. the vents public agencies in the agriculture sector from Hydromet service). acquiring and maintaining the capacity needed (RCI » Building capacity of government agencies on of 34). DRM and recovery has not been part of the sec- tor development agenda. At present, public recruit- The results obtained at the sub-element level (figure ment protocols, such as ToRs, do not include a 12) clarify these findings and indicate that: , there is minimum DRM or gender integration knowledge in a shortage of professionals in public positions within their criteria. This, and other factors, such as work the sector who have knowledge, skills and experience opportunities abroad that attract national qualified FIGURE 11.. Recovery Capacity Index for the key elements of Component 2: Workforce, Capacity (knowledge and skills) and Human Resources, Profile suitability. Capacity levels are indicated by colored dots. Component 2 Low or Competencies RCI: 34 absent 2.1. Workforce (0-24) 100 Basic or 80 Recovery Capacity Index incipient (25-49) 60 40 33 Moderate (50–74) 20 0 Advanced (75–89) 34 35 2.3. Human 2.2. Capacity Full Resources (HR), (knowledge and (90-100) Profile suitability skills) SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Results overview FIGURE 12 23 Recovery Capacity Index for the sub elements of Component 2: Workforce; Gender; Private sector; Skills; Training activities; Proven capacities; and Human Resources, profile suitability. Capacity levels are indicated by colored dots. Key element 2.3 Human Key element 2.1 Workforce Resources (HR, Profile Low or suitability) 2.1.1. Workforce absent 100 (0–24) 90 2.3.1. Human 80 Basic or Resources, profile Recovery Capacity Index 70 2.1.2. Gender incipient suitability 60 (25–49) 50 40 23 Moderate 34 30 25 (50–74) 20 10 30 0 63 Advanced 2.2.3. Proven (75–89) 2.1.3. Private sector capacities 29 47 Full (90-100) 2.2.2. Training 2.2.1. Skills activities Key element 2.2 Capacity (knowledge and skills) individuals, limits the possibility of strengthening geo-referenced information systems. Although recovery competencies in a sustained manner. technical persons working in the sector under- » At present, to fill capacity limitations, the sector stand the basics of DRM and can use hazard relies on an adequate number of qualified exter- maps to a certain extent, they lack the capac- nal private contractors and technical assistance ity to undertake the elaboration of PDNAs and by international agencies, including the Food and translate their results into actionable projects. Agriculture Organization of the United Nations This is currently achieved with international (FAO), the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation technical support. There are also limitations in on Agriculture (IICA) and the Pan American the inclusion of resilience measures into invest- Organization (PAHO), among others. Limitations ment projects. are recognized and include: > Low level of training and skills on project man- > Lack of gender specialists to fill the needs of the agement cycle-related issues across the sector, sector and absence of technical staff trained on which constraints the design and implementa- gender responsiveness and disability inclusion. tion of resilient recovery projects. > Low number of professionals in public agencies > Lack of knowledge and technical capacity on involved in agriculture with the knowledge and the BBB and lack of mentoring or advisory ser- experience required to identify, plan, design, vices on this subject, applicable to the sector. implement and oversee recovery projects. > Absence of agreements on knowledge trans- > Lack of staff with the necessary expertise and fer between the private sector and government knowledge of DRM methods and tools, such agencies involved in agriculture to strengthen as disaster risk assessments and the use of sectoral initiatives and investments. Results overview SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 24 The need for building and strengthening competen- its DRM capacity, for example in BBB approaches, cies for resilient and inclusive recovery within the sec- and to enable resilient and inclusive recovery tor is recognized. Opportunities to build the necessary through actions such as imports of improved crop knowledge and skills within public sectoral agencies varieties and developing insurance and microinsur- include the following: ance programs suitable to Guyana’s agricultural context. » Tailor existing DRM and project management » Include, in the recruitment protocols of public trainings for post-graduate students, and for pub- agencies involved in the agriculture sector, spe- lic servants to the needs of the agriculture sector. cific requirements to ensure new staff can sys- For example, a government partnership with the tematically and sustainably cover the limitations Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for in knowledge and skills that affect the planning the provision of valuable training in areas related to and execution of recovery projects. These should DRM and infrastructure has been established, but include basic experience on the use of DRM tools the local capacity built has not reached the agricul- and social inclusive methodologies. ture sector directly. » Encourage international partners to contribute to closing major capacity gaps in countries with 4.4 Findings for Resources and Tools constraint workforce, including Guyana, by provid- ing technical experts to work hand-in-hand with The resources and tools available for resilient recovery national and sectoral public institutions and by cre- in Guyana’s agriculture sector are assessed as moder- ating more frequent opportunities for knowledge ate with an RCI of 50 (figure 13). Three main factors sharing and technology transfer, including through influence this index value. The first factor relates to lim- the institutionalization of a capacity building com- itations in the availability, generation and use of natural ponent within each support intervention. The pri- hazard and risk information (RCI of 43), specifically of vate sector can also be encouraged to strengthen functional and useful information to plan, design and FIGURE 13 Recovery Capacity Index for the key elements of Component 3: Natural hazard data and risk information, PDNA and Project portfolio planning, Resilient recovery project design, Financing, and Project implementation. Capacity levels are indicated by colored dots. Component 3. 3.1. Natural Hazard Data Resources and Tools RCI: 50 and Risk Information Low or absent 100 (0–24) 80 Basic or Recovery Capacity Index incipient 60 43 (25–49) 3.5. Project 40 3.2. PDNA and Project Moderate Implementation 55 69 Portfolio Planning (50–74) 20 0 Advanced (75–89) 36 44 Full (90-100) 3.4. Financing 3.3. Resilient recovery Project Design SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Results overview FIGURE 14 25 Recovery Capacity Index for the sub elements of the key elements of Component 3: Data collection and management, Use of risk information in the sector, PDNA mechanisms, Planning of recovery priorities, Gender and disability inclusion in PDNA, Availability of BBB tools, Use of risk information for recovery, Building codes and regulations in project design, Gender and disability inclusion in project design, Availability of sources of funding, Accessibility to recovery funds, Budget for recovery, Resources, Project management, Building code implementation resources and M&E at project level. Capacity levels are indicated by colored dots. Key element 3.5 Key element 3.1 Natural Hazard Data and Risk Information Key element 3.2 Project implementation PDNA and Project Portfolio 3.1.1. Data collection and Planning management 3.5.4. M&E at project level 100 3.1.2. Use of risk information 90 in the sector Low or 80 absent 3.5.3. Building codes 67 3.2.1. PDNA mechanisms (0–24) 70 60 50 63 Basic or 3840 3.2.2. Planning of recovery Recovery Capacity Index 3.5.2. Project management incipient 33 30 25 75 priorities (25–49) 63 20 10 3.2.3. Gender and disability Moderate 3.5.1. Resources 83 0 75 inclusion in PDNA (50–74) 25 25 50 38 3.3.1. Availabilities of BBB tools Advanced 3.4.3. Budget for recovery (75–89) 44 50 58 3.3.2. Use of risk information 3.4.2. Accessibility to recovery funds for recovery Full (90-100) 3.4.1. Availability of sources 3.3.3. Building codes and regulations of funding in project design 3.3.4. Gender and disability inclusion in project design Key element 3.4 Key element 3.3 Financing Resilient Recovery Project Design implement risk-based projects and resilient recovery are practically missing. The results of the assessment interventions in the sector. This encompasses data at the sub-element level (figure 14) support these find- and information that is of high quality and systemati- ings and additionally highlight the need of M&E tools cally collected or generated, at a frequency and scale for improving project implementation (RCI of 38) and that can be used for agricultural investments and proj- the importance of strengthening the enforcement of ects, including gender and disability disaggregated building codes and extending their use to agricultural data. The second factor relates to the incipient level investments, as a tool for resilience building. of adoption and use of resources and tools tailored for the systematic and effective integration of resilience Detailed findings of the assessment include the into the sector’s day-to-day procedures and opera- following: tions, including project design and implementation (RCI of 44). The third factor is the basic level of infor- » National mechanisms are in place for the collection mation about and access to recovery financing oppor- and management of natural-hazard data and risk tunities at the sector level (RCI of 36). Procedures for information. These include the National Emergency institutionalizing resources for recovery into the sec- Management System (NEMS) and established tor’s annual budgets and for facilitating direct access processes for risk assessments at the commu- by the sector to recovery funding after emergencies nity and regional levels. However, data quality Results overview SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 26 and consistency control systems are missing and This takes place mostly in donor-driven initiatives existing data management systems, including but has not led to the establishment of protocols databases, require strengthening. A cross-sectoral for the sector to be used in governmental day-to- agreement on the desired tools and systems to day operations. be used for risk data management is also needed. » Building codes for construction exist and are inte- This is particularly important as the policy for grated into public building designs. However, there National Early Warning Systems will soon be imple- is no monitoring body in place for their enforcement mented following a human rights-based approach, and it is uncertain whether they are sufficiently with works underway to develop a shared database enforced in private projects. Building codes for agri- platform. National-level risk data and information cultural infrastructure that integrate risk reduction, are readily available for use but information sharing resilience measures and support agricultural proj- between agencies is poor. ect planning and design are needed. » No sectoral multi-hazard maps exist for the sector, » The Ministry of Agriculture does not have a budget and although hazard maps have been elaborated line earmarked for recovery. Sectoral stakeholders for Guyana, they are outdated and at a scale that are aware that international funding sources for is not useful for agricultural purposes. There is no recovery interventions are available when required. sector-specific risk data and information repository However, it is unclear to them how to access these and, most projects taking place in the sector are funds directly and they perceive that fund disburse- not risk-based. ment is a difficult and lengthy process. » The lack of flood modelling in coastal areas is » The National Procurement Act allows for emer- recognized as a major limitation for DRM, and gency procurement. The agriculture sector has an thus recovery, in the country and sector. However, inventory of qualified implementing contractors, undertaking this modelling requires technical skills updated yearly by individual sub-sector agencies. and knowledge unavailable in Guyana. There are established relationships with provid- » Due to low national and sectoral capacity, PDNAs ers, which allows for fast-tracking the purchase of are elaborated by international agencies, follow- material for construction when required. However, ing international protocols that include the collec- construction materials used in recovery projects tion of gender-, age- and disability-disaggregated often do not meet accreditation standards. data. PDNAs are coordinated through the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) mechanism, The assessment identified the following opportunities with roles and responsibilities clearly defined in the to strengthen the resources and tools available for National Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis recovery in Guyana’s agriculture sector: (DANA) Framework. » Recovery project portfolios and, to some extent, » The inclusion of risk data collection as a key ele- development projects, use the recommendations ment of the planned Agriculture Census to be led provided by PDNAs but fail to systematically inte- by FAO (delayed due to COVID-19). This census grate risk considerations in their design. will collect information on the location and type of » The sector lacks the necessary tools to ensure that farms existing in the country as well as the gender project designs take in consideration the needs of distribution of farming communities and farmers. persons with disabilities, women, men, girls and » The inclusion of hazard and risk data required by boys systematically. Currently only some specific investment projects in agriculture, at an appro- projects have gender specialists. priate scale and usable formats, in Early Warning » There are no tools or processes in place to incor- Systems and other relevant data, information and porate the BBB approach into national and sectoral knowledge management initiatives currently being projects. At present some standards are applied to planned or under development at the national level. ensure resilience is integrated into project designs. SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Results overview » To use the opportunities presented by new devel- 4.5 Findings for the inclusion of gender 27 opment projects, funded by international donors, and disability in recovery processes to build through technical assistance, national and sectoral capacity to generate, manage and use In general, the capacity of government agencies to hazard and risk information. integrate gender and disability considerations into » To embed elements of the DRM approach (haz- the design and implementation of recovery projects is ards, risk assessments and measures) in all project incipient. The needs of women, girls, men, boys and cycle management protocols used in the sector. persons with disabilities have been included directly This is a major opportunity, in view of the current and indirectly in the DRM policy and legal framework, high demand of resilient projects and investments. as shown by the RCI of 43 and 63, respectively (figure » To include sectoral DRM allocations in the budget 15). However, the sector’s agencies lack the expertise construction and planning processes of the coun- required on a permanent basis for mainstreaming of try and donors. gender and disability inclusion into the agencies’ oper- » To increase the visibility and awareness of recovery ations, including into strategic planning and project financing options for the sector and build requisite implementation processes (RCI of 42 and 25 respec- capacity on access protocols and criteria. tively). The level of resources and tools available for » To improve access of agricultural smallholders integrating gender considerations into recovery pro- (including fisheries and forestry) to insurance in cesses was assessed as moderate (RCI of 54) while order to enhance their resilience to future shocks existing resources and tools for disability inclusion in and stresses. recovery are only basic (RCI of 38). » Strengthening and updating building codes to fol- low the BBB approach and include specific DRM Gender equality, though an increasing priority, is still and recovery components. The updated building largely an abstract concept in Guyana’s agricultural codes should be applicable to a wide range of sec- sector. As documented in a recent United Nations tors and enforced, from the design phase, in all (UN) Report on Guyana’s gender-based climate resil- national and sectoral development projects and ience, there is a lack of understanding of how to oper- investments. ationalize gender-responsive processes and a lack of » Integrate the BBB approach as a requirement in the financing to support this, and many processes and planning and design of national and sectoral strat- interventions remain gender-blind (UNDP, 2021). egies, plans and budgets, particularly those related to recovery. Despite the advances made in creating an enabling » Compliance with updated building codes should be policy environment for gender mainstreaming in the integrated as a requisite for the design and imple- priority sector and beyond, there remain significant mentation of development projects and other sec- areas for improvement for effective and inclusive cli- toral investments. mate change adaptation and resilience building. » Create M&E systems that are complementary to donor M&E requirements by upgrading and Policies, legal frameworks, strategies and plans for strengthening the tools currently used for this pur- DRM governance, on the national level, mention pose (e.g. Excel formats) and integrating DRM, gender equality and the social inclusion of the indig- recovery and resilience indicators. enous groups as goals, but there are no gender-spe- » Use post-disaster project and investment planning cific actions, budget, institutional capacity, or M&E for as the best scenario to generate and use M&E sys- implementation. tems to track the efficiency and effectiveness of projects along their entire cycle. The Agricultural DRM Plan 2013-2020, which is the strategy for mainstreaming DRM in the agricultural Results overview SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 28 FIGURE 15 Recovery Capacity Indexes for a. Gender and b. Disability inclusion at the level of the components assessed: Governance, Competencies (operational capacity) and Skills, and Resources and Tools. Capacity levels are indicated by colored dots. a. Gender 1. Governance 100 80 60 43 40 20 Low or absent 0 (0-24) Basic or 42 Recovery Capacity Index 54 incipent 2. Competencies (25-49) 3. Resources and (operational capacity) Tools and Skills Moderate (50–74) b. Disability inclusion 1. Governance Advanced 100 (75–89) 80 63 Full 60 (90-100) 40 20 0 25 38 2. Competencies 3. Resources and (operational capacity) Tools and Skills sector mentions creating opportunities for women coordinated by the National DRM Coordination and youth but no specific actions. Platform. » Gender and disability data and information have There is currently limited data and understanding of been collected by international agencies as part gender-specific actions outlined in national and sec- of PDNA processes following the ECLAC meth- toral plans and policies. odology. The upcoming FAO agricultural census will update information on the gender distribution There are nonetheless several positive achievements: of communities and farmers and, currently, the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with » The Draft DRM Bill emphasizes equality and non-dis- Disabilities is developing a national register of per- crimination on a gender- and disability-basis and sons with disabilities with information collected includes vulnerable populations, including Persons and confirmed through house-to-house surveying. Living with Disabilities (PLWDs), as a theme. These data collection efforts need to be sustained » Gender agencies, women’s networks and youth over time and with support from the Ministry of groups are involved in DRM activities led and Agriculture, to ensure gender responsiveness and SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Results overview FIGURE 16 29 Recovery Capacity Index for Gender and Disability inclusion in recovery processes at the level of the key elements assessed: Policies and legal framework; Strategies and plans; Institutions and coordination; Workforce; Capacity (Knowledge and skills); Human resources, profile suitability; Natural hazard data and risk information; PDNA and project portfolio planning; Resilient recovery project design; Financing; and Project implementation. Capacity levels are indicated by colored dots. Component 3: Component 1: Resources and tools 1.1. Policies and Legal Governance Framework 3.5. Project 100 Low or implementation 90 1.2. Strategies and Plans absent 80 (0–24) 70 60 50 Basic or 1.3. Institutions and Recovery Capacity Index 50 incipient 3.4. Financing 40 Coordination (25–49) 2530 25 50 25 20 Moderate 10 (50–74) 44 0 25 3.3. Resilient recovery 2.1. Workforce project design 25 25 Advanced 45 (75–89) 75 3.2. PDNA and Project 2.2. Capacity (knowledge Full portfolio planning and skills) (90-100) 3.1. Natural-hazard data 2.3. Human Resources, Component 2: and risk information Profile suitability Competencies disability inclusion are well-targeted and monitored Recommended ways forward include: in its projects and programs. » Recruiting dedicated staff and adjusting HR pro- However, as outlined above, there are major short- cesses in order to build and retain in-house capacity comings, including that currently: on gender and disability inclusion. At present, mini- mum knowledge of these issues is not included as » Gender needs are not consistently integrated in the requisite in public recruitment processes. design of projects in the sector. » Integrate gender and disability inclusion in the » Gender integration takes place mainly as a response enabling policy and legal framework for recovery. to funding opportunities and donor requirements. » Review data needs in greater depth to inform » The basic needs of persons with disabilities are efforts to build sustainable capacity for data col- only partly integrated in project design and under lection and analysis to allow meaningful under- specific project requirements, with the correspond- standing and tracking of progress on gender and ing activities undertaken by expert international disability. consultants, without developing local capacity. Results overview SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 05 30 Recommendations Cultivation of dioscorea alata known as purple yam n Guyana. Photo: JBShots | Dreamstime.com The following points summarize the recommenda- requires a survey to identify and prioritize the 31 tions of this assessment, which are detailed in Annex coastal defense infrastructure to reconstruct and 2. They are made with the objective of building and rehabilitate and interventions to separate urban strengthening the capacity of Guyana’s agriculture and agricultural drainage in high-risk areas. Based sector to prepare for the implementation of resilient on the findings of the survey, elaborate an updated and inclusive recovery projects, well before disasters project portfolio of priority resilient infrastructure strike. These recommendations respond to the capac- investments. ity needs for recovery identified in this assessment, existing opportunities and recommendations made b) Equipment, systems and financial resources: by the consulted stakeholders, as well as by sectoral » Invest in key data collection efforts, including agri- experts, and gender and disability inclusion special- cultural censuses and periodic household surveys ists. These recommendations principally target cen- to develop a baseline that enables rapid damage tral government ministries, the Ministry of Agriculture, assessment in the event of hazard impacts and CDC, CDEMA, and donor agencies involved in DRM supports the design and targeting of recovery and resilience building processes in the country. operations. » Strengthen the generation, management and use of recovery-relevant data by creating a data and infor- Policy and strategic recommendations: mation portal for sectoral stakeholders to access hazard, risk, and other data and information rele- » Strengthen the enabling national and sectoral vant to disaster management and recovery, devel- policy and regulatory environment for recovery oping flood models for coastal areas under SLR through the development of the National Recovery and integrating gender and disability-inclusive DRM Policy, the National Recovery Strategy and regula- considerations in the upcoming agriculture census, tions that integrate resilient and inclusive recovery among other measures. Internet connectivity chal- for each of the agriculture sub-sectors. lenges need to be addressed for the portal to be of » Establish, mechanisms or institutional mandates for maximum value. sectoral authorities to develop and coordinate the » Ensure the necessary equipment and tools are implementation of recovery strategies and plans. available for large-scale recovery interventions » Establish mechanisms for the operationaliza- through a capacity assessment of the adequacy of tion of recovery-related policies by elaborating an existing equipment across parastatal agencies. updated integrated DRM Agriculture/Environment » Strengthen sectoral budgets for DRM and recov- Plan, completing the Caribbean Regional Efficiency ery by accelerating Cabinet approval of the DRM Building Code upgrading and developing recovery Bill that will enable the establishment of the DRM guidelines for the implementation of the Country Fund and, conducting a needs assessment of the Work Program for Comprehensive Disaster sector’s budget, including the need for a contingent Management 2021-2025. annual recovery allocation. » Ensure legislation and procedures enable the rapid reallocation of annual budgets to support recov- Physical investments: ery efforts in the aftermath of both, major disas- ters and chronic small events which add burden to a) Infrastructure smallholder farmers overtime. » Upgrade and retrofit coastal and river flood defense » Establish mechanisms to improve access to insur- infrastructure, and strengthen drainage and irriga- ance and microinsurance for agricultural small- tion systems to reduce the risk of flooding due holders (including fisheries and forestry), and to extreme weather events and sea level rise on actors associated to agriculture value chains and food production systems. Progress in these areas Recommendations SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 32 operating in the informal sector, to enhance their » Build and sustain the required knowledge and skills resilience to future shocks and stresses. for the implementation of resilient and inclusive recovery projects in the sector through the recruit- ment of specialized staff in areas specific to DRM Capacity strengthening: and project management; the institutionalization of training in DRM, disaster cycle management, recov- » Raise awareness, at the strategic and operational ery and gender analysis and integration; establish- levels, of the added value of acquiring and sus- ing collaboration with academic institutions for the taining DRM and inclusive recovery capacity for delivery of programs on project design and man- the sector’s development. This can be achieved agement, gender and DRM, tailored to the needs of through well-designed awareness-raising cam- the sector; and the improvement of public recruit- paigns and events for public officers. ment protocols, among other measures. SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Recommendations 06 33 Conclusions Pile of purple sweet potatoes in market. Photo: Irina274 | Dreamstime.com 34 The analyses conducted in this assessment deter- a National DRM Fund. However, it provides little pre- mined that the capacity of Guyana’s agriculture sector scriptive guidance on defining and managing vulner- to implement gender- and disability- inclusive, resil- able sectors within the population. The Green State ient recovery projects in a timely, efficient, and effec- Development Strategy (GSDS): Vision 2040 and the tive manner as incipient, with a sector-level RCI of 45. Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) integrate The resources and tools available (RCI of 50) enable climate change and DRM considerations and prioritize to a certain extent sectoral recovery. However, weak- resilient infrastructure across sectors and propose nesses in Governance (RCI of 47) and, particularly, in strategic public and private investments in drainage, the knowledge and skills available within the sector irrigation, road construction, and off-grid power infra- (RCI of 34), limit the planning and implementation of structure for supporting the growth of high-poten- resilient recovery projects. tial low-carbon agricultural production for export in locations distant from vulnerable coastal areas and This assessment sought to identify gaps and oppor- without adding pressure on forests, but fail to ade- tunities as well as to provide recommendations for quately address recovery and gender issues. Overall, strengthening national and sectoral capacity to nav- while Guyana has taken significant steps towards igate and implement climate resilient and inclusive institutionalizing DRM, there is still a need to address recovery projects. The results complement existing recovery and gender issues and provide prescriptive reports, including the Second National Communication guidance on managing vulnerable sectors within the to the United Nations Framework Convention on population. The focus on resilient infrastructure and Climate Change (Government of Guyana, 2012), the strategic public and private investments is commend- Analysis of Agricultural Policies in Guyana (IDB 2017), able and aligns with international best practices. the draft Climate Resilience Strategy and Action Plan for Guyana (Ministry of the Presidency, 2015), and the National Drought Mitigation and Adaptation Plan Competencies (Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, 2020). When it comes to competencies, the agriculture sec- tor in Guyana is facing a shortage of professional Governance staff, with inadequate working conditions for existing teams. Building capacity on DRM and recovery has not In terms of governance, the findings underscore that been a priority in the sector’s development agenda, and Guyana has made significant progress in institution- public recruitment protocols do not include minimum alizing disaster risk management (DRM) by issuing criteria for DRM or gender integration knowledge. To a DRM policy in 2013, which designates the National address capacity limitations, the sector relies on exter- DRM Platform as the main multi-sectoral institutional nal private contractors and technical assistance from mechanism to lead all phases of DRM, including recov- international agencies, but there are limitations in ery. However, there is a need for improved coordination terms of gender specialists, professionals with knowl- of responsibilities and roles of each institution with edge of DRM methods and tools, and training on proj- respect to DRM and gender within the institutional ect management cycle-related issues. There is also a system. The Draft DRM Bill (DRM Act 2020) provides a lack of knowledge and technical capacity on BBB and comprehensive framework for DRM, designed to pro- no agreements on knowledge transfer between the vide legal authority to Guyana’s national DRM system. private sector and government agencies involved in It establishes national, regional, and local level sys- agriculture. These limitations need to be addressed to tems, provides guidance on emergency declaration ensure the development of resilient recovery projects and designation of vulnerable areas, and establishes and strengthen sectoral initiatives and investments. SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Conclusions Resources and tools agricultural infrastructure that integrate risk reduction 35 and resilience measures are needed. The Ministry of Finally, regarding resources and tools for natural haz- Agriculture does not have a budget line earmarked for ard data collection and management, while Guyana recovery, and stakeholders perceive accessing inter- has national mechanisms in place there is a lack of national funding sources to be a difficult and lengthy consistency and quality control systems for data process. Finally, while emergency procurement is management. The absence of sector-specific risk allowed, construction materials used in recovery proj- data and information repository and outdated hazard ects often do not meet accreditation standards. maps hinder risk-based planning and recovery. PDNAs are elaborated by international agencies due to low This assessment calls for investments in resilient infra- national and sectoral capacity, but recommendations structure to reduce disaster risks in Guyana’s agricul- are not systematically integrated into project designs. ture sector in the face of increasingly frequent extreme There is a need to incorporate gender and disability events and the impacts of climate change, including considerations into project designs and to develop rising sea levels. It is expected that the results and rec- tools and processes to incorporate the BBB approach ommendations made in this report will be taken into into national and sectoral projects. While building consideration and implemented by national and inter- codes exist for construction, they are not sufficiently national agencies supporting Guyana’s efforts to build enforced in private projects, and building codes for resilience. Conclusions SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR References 36 Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency publications.iadb.org/publications/english/doc- (CDEMA). 2021. Flooding in Guyana, Situation Report ument/Climate-Change-and-Extreme-Weather- No. 3. Available online at: https://reliefweb.int/sites/ Events-in-Latin-America-An-Exposure-Index.pdf reliefweb.int/files/resources/CDEMA_Situation_ Giardino, A. et al. (2020). Assessing the Impact of Sea Report_3_GuyanaFlood_28_June_2021.pdf Level Rise and Resilience Potential in the Caribbean: Dasgupta, S., Laplante, B., Murray, S. and Wheeler, D. 360° Resilience Background Paper. World Bank, 2009. Sea-Level and Storm Surges: A Comparative Washington, DC. Available online at: https://open- Analysis of Impacts in Developing Countries. Policy knowledge.worldbank.org/handle/10986/36417 Research Working Paper No. 4901. The World Bank. 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Available online country/guyana/vulnerability Accessed on April at: https://ebrary.ifpri.org/digital/collection/ 21, 2021. p15738coll2/id/134084 References SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Annex 1. 38 Specific recommendations to strengthen the capacity of Guyana’s agriculture for resilient and inclusive recovery GOVERNANCE: Recommendations and potential actions to strengthen the policy and regulatory framework for gender inclusive and climate resilient recovery Recommendations Actions Strengthen the enabling » Facilitate the integration of resilient and inclusive recovery considerations into the national and sectoral national and sectoral policy framework. Specifically: policy and regulatory » Develop the national recovery policy including specific guidance for implementation at environment for recovery the sectoral level (CDC in collaboration with the Office of Climate Change). » Establish, mechanisms or institutional mandates for sectoral authorities to develop and coordinate the implementation of recovery strategies and plans. Establish mechanisms that enable the operationalization of recovery-enabling policies. Specifically: » Develop a national recovery strategy that integrates measures that build resilience, gender and disability considerations and guidance for the implementation of the BBB approach and ensure that strategic outputs are affordable and inclusive for the sector beneficiaries. » Elaborate an updated Integrated DRM agriculture or environment plan, as instructed by the DRM Policy. » Elaborate recovery guidelines, including on gender integration to facilitate and strengthen the implementation of the Country Work Program for Comprehensive Disaster Management 2021–2025 being finalized, which identifies priority sectors for DRM. » Develop regulations that integrate gender, disability, and recovery considerations for each of the agriculture sub-sectors. » Complete the Caribbean Regional Efficiency Building Code upgrades, to include climate change, gender, disability inclusion, and recovery considerations and of an implementation strategy and plan. » Integrate gender and disability inclusive recovery considerations in the Agricultural Strategy (2021–2030). That is being drafted and includes a section on environment and DRM. SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Annex 1 COMPETENCIES: Recommendations and potential actions to build the required competencies (knowledge 39 and skills) required for resilient and inclusive recovery Recommendations Actions Raise awareness, » Organize events for public officers on the importance of preparing for inclusive recovery at the strategic and as a mechanism to strengthen resilient development efforts, placing specific focus on operational levels, of the the need to integrate recovery considerations in policies, strategies, plans, programs, and added value of creating projects to reduce losses and damages from disaster events. and sustaining DRM and » Develop awareness raising campaigns that are gender and disability informed, including recovery capacity for the events and materials, to highlight the risks associated with climate change on the sector’s development agriculture sector and provide recommendations for impact reduction. Build and sustain the » Recruit skilled staff specialized in areas specific to DRM, specifically, disaster cycle required knowledge management and recovery and gender analysis and integration, to cover urgent gaps. and skills for the » Institutionalize and implement training of sectoral staff in DRM, disaster cycle implementation of management and recovery and gender analysis and integration, to ensure requisite gender responsive knowledge and skills are developed and sustained. and disability inclusive » Include in public recruitment protocols specific requirements to ensure new staff can climate resilient systematically and sustainably cover the limitations in knowledge and skills that affect recovery projects in the the planning and execution of recovery projects. These should include basic experience sector on the use of DRM tools and methodologies and gender and disability analysis. » Create alliances with donor agencies and programs, such as CRF and FAO to cover urgent capacity gaps through direct technical assistance to government agencies, as well as to fund training programs for sectoral staff in the areas required and strengthen knowledge sharing and technology transfer. » Train sectoral staff in requisite tasks for the implementation of resilient recovery projects. This includes training in: > Project cycle management (including M&E) > PDNA, to enhance the translation of PDNA results into actionable projects > GIS and remote sensing > Hazard risk management > BBB approaches > Disability inclusion > Gender analysis and integration » Articulate existing capacity building opportunities with sectoral needs by creating or tailoring academic programs and other training opportunities to the sector. This may include: > Establishing a collaboration agreement with the University of Guyana to tailor and deliver their current project management course (MSc) to the government agencies involved in agriculture. > Establishing a collaboration agreement with the Guyana School of Agriculture to provide a mentoring and advising program or process for BBB. > Establishing, in the framework of recovery mainstreaming, a collaboration agreement with the Guyana School of Agriculture to provide ongoing support for an agri-ability program of activities that builds capacity in persons living with disabilities to recover from hazard impacts and improve their wellbeing and livelihoods through hands-on experience with farming, and agri-related processing and methods. > Establishing a collaboration agreement with the University of the West Indies to tailor and deliver their existing gender responsive DRM certificate course program for government agencies involved in agriculture » Create alliances with the Guyana Council of Organisations for Persons with Disabilities and the National Commission on Disability to build a capacity for direct engagement with persons with disabilities in the sector and across DRM. Annex 1 SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 40 RESOURCES AND TOOLS: Recommendations and potential actions to ensure the sector has the resources and tools required to undertake resilient and inclusive recovery projects Recommendations Actions Strengthen the generation, » Invest in key data collection efforts, including agricultural censuses and periodic management, and use of household surveys to develop a baseline that enables rapid damage assessment in the recovery relevant data event of hazard impacts and supports the design and targeting of recovery operations. » Integrate key DRM considerations specific to recovery (and that are gender and disability inclusive), into the agriculture census planned by FAO. » Undertake a study and a consultative cross-sectoral process to reach an agreement on the simplest and most efficient tools and systems to be used for risk data collection and management relevant for the agriculture sector. » Create a data and information portal for sectoral stakeholders to access hazard, risk, and other data and information relevant to disaster management and recovery that is developed and managed with internationally agreed interoperable data management standards and protocols, to support the improvement of datasets, avoid redundancies and facilitate project design and monitoring. This is contemplated in the National Geospatial Policy that is being developed. The Ministry of Agriculture recognizes the creation of data infrastructure as a priority for sectoral development. » Develop a system of collection and management of sea level rise data that can be used for land use planning and decision making on flood mitigation infrastructure. » Develop flood models for coastal areas under sea level rise scenarios as a step to enable the protection of its coastal plains and their agricultural fields from inundation. Invest in protecting » Reduce agricultural loses caused by flooding due to extreme weather events and sectoral production sea level rise by investing in coastal protection and flood mitigation infrastructure as and infrastructure from specified in the Green State Development Strategy Vision 2040. Specifically: shocks > Undertake a survey to identify and prioritize the specific sea and river defense reconstruction, rehabilitation and maintenance works required3 and their material needs. Consider complementary defense techniques, including offshore breakwater, wave attenuators and groynes. > Protect and restore mangrove areas > Separate urban and agricultural drainage in high pressure areas, procure new pumps and construct new outlets and canals;4 > Improve mechanical drainage by increasing the pump capacity on the East Coast of Demerara.3 Ensure the necessary » Undertake a capacity assessment of the adequacy of existing equipment (heavy equipment and tools are machinery) across parastatal agencies for the implementation of large recovery available for large-scale projects. recovery interventions 3 In the “Guyana’s sea defence enhancement and maintenance” concept note included in the Climate Resilience Strategy and Action Plan for Guyana (2015), relevant coastal protection infrastructure investments are presented and costed. 4 The “Strengthening drainage and irrigation systems” concept note included in the Climate Resilience Strategy and Action Plan for Guyana (2015) presents and costs relevant drainage and infrastructure investments. SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Annex 1 41 Recommendations Actions Strengthen sectoral » Conduct a needs assessment of the sector’s budget, including the need for recovery budgets for DRM and budget allocation. recovery » Accelerate Cabinet approval of the DRM Bill to enable the establishment of the DRM Fund, inclusive of recovery funding. » Ensure legislation and procedures enable the rapid reallocation of annual budgets to support recovery efforts in the aftermath of both, major disasters and chronic small events which add burden to smallholder farmers overtime. » Facilitate access to and » Establish mechanisms to improve access of agricultural smallholders (including adoption of agricultural fisheries and forestry) to insurance in order to enhance their resilience to future shocks insurance and stresses. Annex 1 SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Annex 2. 42 Inundation scenario maps for Guyana a. Coastal flooding scenarios for a 100-year return period and for a high-level climate change scenario (RCP 8.5) by 2100 SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Annex 2 b. Inland flooding for a 100-year return period. 43 Annex 2 SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Annex 3. 44 Sectoral Recovery Capacity Assessment Questionnaire COMPONENT 1: GOVERNANCE Key elements Sub elements Questions 1.1 Policies and 1.1.1 Policies 1 Is there a National Disaster Risk Management (DRM) policy? Legal Framework 2 Are institutional mandates clearly defined in the existing DRM policy? 3 Does the main sectoral development policy integrate recovery considerations when addressing DRM and CCA? 4 Is there an effective process to update recovery considerations into national/sectoral policies? 1.1.2 Legal 5 Is there a national disaster risk management (DRM) legal framework framework? 6 Is there an effective institutionalized process to deliver timely updated legal frameworks? 7 Are institutional mandates clearly defined in the existing DRM legal framework? 8 Are recovery considerations integrated in the main sectoral laws and regulations that address DRM and CCA? 1.1.3 Foundations 9 Do the national DRM policies and legal framework include for recovery preparedness (risk management ex ante) and Recovery (disaster management ex post) considerations? 10 Does the government have a clear vision for recovery? (for example, national/centralized; sectoral/decentralized, focused on a specific sector, focused on building back better)? 11 Does any policy, law, regulation, program or project at the national or sectoral level addresses the possibility of dealing with the impacts of more than one hazard at a time (e.g., COVID-19 and hurricane season) 1.1.4 12 Is climate resilience considered in the National disaster risk Mainstreaming management policies and legal framework? DRM&CCA 13 Does the sector participate in the elaboration of DRM or recovery policies and legal framework? SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Annex 3 45 COMPONENT 1: GOVERNANCE Key elements Sub elements Questions 1.1 Policies and 1.1.4 14 Do all, the private sector, academia, NGOs, local communities, and Legal Framework Mainstreaming parastatal organizations, participate in the elaboration of DRM (cont.) DRM&CCA (cont.) policies or legal frameworks? 15 Do the DRM policies and legal frameworks require sectoral ministries to formulate and implement sectoral resilient recovery plans? 16 Have DRM protocols been adapted to integrate pandemic-related (e.g., COVID-19) considerations in recovery operations? 1.1.5 Gender and 17 Do the recovery policies take into account gender (men and disability inclusion women, and boys and girls) capacities and their different recovery needs? 18 Do the recovery laws and regulations take into account gender (men and women, and boys and girls) capacities and their different recovery needs? 19 Do the recovery laws and regulations take into account the needs of persons with disabilities? 20 Are there laws mandating that recovery efforts benefit men and women, and boys and girls equitably? 1.1.6 Building 21 Do most of the sector’s constructions conform with building codes codes and regulations? regulations 22 Does the government have a review and evaluation process for its building codes regulations which includes climate change considerations? 23 Are mechanisms for regulating compliance with building codes in place? Recommendations: What would you recommend to improve the integration of recovery factors into sectoral policies and legal frameworks. Annex 3 SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 46 COMPONENT 1: GOVERNANCE Key elements Sub elements Questions 1.2 Strategies and 1.2.1 Strategies 24 Does the sector have a recovery strategy? Plans and plans 25 Has the sector developed recovery plans? 26 Are the sectoral recovery strategies and plans aligned with national development objectives? 27 Is there an effective institutionalized process to deliver timely updated recovery strategies and/or plans at the sector level? 28 Are there financing mechanisms for recovery in place (e.g., recovery funds)? 1.2.2 Building 29 Do the recovery strategies and plans include provisions for back better (BBB) integrating measures that build resilience? 1.2.3 Gender and 30 Are the outputs of the recovery strategies and plans affordable and disability inclusion inclusive for the sector beneficiaries? 31 Do the recovery plans take into account gender (men and women, and boys and girls) capacities and gender-differentiated recovery needs? Recommendations: What would you recommend to improve issues related to recovery strategies and plans? 1.3 Institutions and 1.3.1 Institutions 32 Is the development of recovery plans at the sector level led by one Coordination or more institutions with authority and autonomy? 33 Are the roles and responsibilities to implement the recovery plans clearly defined within the sector? 1.3.2 Coordination 34 Is there a coordination mechanism (formal or informal) between sectors to implement the national recovery plan? 35 Does the sector coordinate recovery activities with the National Disaster Management Office? 36 Are concrete activities being coordinated between the sector and the National Disaster Management agency? 37 Is there any coordination between the sector and CDEMA during the recovery process? 1.3.3 Building 38 Are there, within the legal framework of the country, stakeholders codes and who are responsible, accountable, and liable for assuring regulations compliance with building-related legislation? 39 Is there a sufficient budget approved for enforcing building codes? SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Annex 3 47 COMPONENT 1: GOVERNANCE Key elements Sub elements Questions 1.3.4 Gender and 40 Are there mechanisms in place for the coordination of recovery disability inclusion between the DRM agencies, gender agencies and women’s networks? Recommendations: What would you recommend to improve institutional coordination issues? COMPONENT 2: COMPETENCIES Key elements Sub elements Questions 2.1 Workforce 2.1.1 Workforce 41 Are there sufficient technical persons working in the sector? 42 Are there sufficient DRM specialists for the needs of the sector? 43 Are all projects being implemented in the sector overseen by at least one DRM specialist? 44 Is there sufficient staff to implement the sector’s current portfolio? 45 Do technical teams have the necessary working conditions to fulfil their tasks (e.g., connectivity, equipment, software)? 2.1.2 Gender 46 Is there a sufficient number of gender specialists to fill the needs of the sector? 2.1.3 Private 47 Does the sector have an adequate number of qualified sector implementing contractors based in the country? 48 Are international contractors in charge of implementing only a minimum proportion of the recovery projects in the sector each year? Recommendations: What would you recommend to improve institutions and coordination issues? Annex 3 SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 48 COMPONENT 2: COMPETENCIES Key elements Sub elements Questions 2.2 Capacity 2.2.1 Skills 49 Are there sufficient national professionals to fill all the sector’s (knowledge and demands? skills) 50 Are there sufficient professionals in the sector with expertise to implement resilient recovery projects? 51 Are there sufficient national experts in the sector with knowledge of DRM methods and tools such as integrating hazard risks, geo-referenced information management systems (GIS, remote sensing)? 2.2.2 Training 52 Are there frequent opportunities to enhance the technical skills activities that ensure resilient reconstruction of infrastructure/buildings? 53 Do all genders have the same opportunities for DRM training? 54 Are technical persons trained on gender responsiveness and disability inclusion? 55 Is there a mentoring and advising program/process for building back better? 56 Are there sufficient people with the technical capacity to implement PCM activities, with a climate resilience focus, in the sector? NOTE: PCM includes, at least the following activities: management of sector portfolio; execution of PFM procedures; project management; M&E; mainstreaming climate and disaster resilience into projects; coordinating recovery activities with other relevant sectors; performing quality control projects and inspections of building codes compliance during and after design and construction of buildings and infrastructure. 2.2.3 Proven 57 Do technical persons in the sector have the capacity to translate capacity PDNA results into actionable projects? 58 Do technical persons in the sector understand the basics of DRM and are able to use hazard maps? 59 Can technical persons in the sector produce recovery plans that are aligned with the existing legislation, policies, and strategies? 60 Do the technical persons have the knowledge and necessary training to formulate quality ToRs for projects implementation? Recommendations: What would you recommend to improve capacity (skills, training opportunities)? SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Annex 3 49 COMPONENT 2: COMPETENCIES Key elements Sub elements Questions 2.3 Human 2.3.1 Human 61 Is there an HR recruitment plan that includes recovery activities? Resources (HR), resources (HR), Profile Suitability profile suitability 62 Does the sectoral hiring process follow the recruitment plan? 63 Are there ToRs for recovery-related positions? 64 Is there an employee induction process? Recommendations: What would you recommend to improve human resources, profile suitability? COMPONENT 3: RESOURCES AND TOOLS Key elements Sub elements Questions 3.1 Natural 3.1.1 Data 65 Are there mechanisms in place for the collection and management of hazard Data and collection and natural hazard data and risk information? Risk Information management 66 Is there a national and sectoral online repository for risk data and information? 67 Is the existing risk data and information accessible to technical people in the sector? 3.1.2 Use 68 Does the sector use multihazard risk maps?  of risk information 69 Are hazard maps regularly updated? 70 Does the sector share multihazard risk maps? 71 Is a participatory approach used in the development and preparation of hazard maps? 3.2 PDNA and 3.2.1 PDNA 72 Is there a PDNA including specific methodologies and plans for recovery Project Portfolio mechanisms in the sector? Planning 73 Is there an efficient and effective PDNA coordination mechanism? 74 Are there focal points with clear roles and responsibilities assigned within the sector to carry out a PDNA? 75 Have “lessons learned” from postdisaster assessments and DANAs been integrated into PDNA planning or used to adjust the methodology after previous disasters? 3.2.2 Planning 76 Have the results of the PDNA been used for recovery purposes and of recovery development across institutions and sectors? priorities Annex 3 SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR 50 COMPONENT 3: RESOURCES AND TOOLS Key elements Sub elements Questions 3.2 PDNA and 3.2.3 Gender 77 Does the government have criteria to define the priority sectors for Project Portfolio and disability recovery support? Planning (cont.) inclusion 78 Has the government used the results of PDNA to prioritize recovery projects? 79 Does the PDNA methodology require the collection of gender, age, and disability disaggregated data? Recommendations: What would you recommend to improve PDNA and Project portfolio planning? 3.3 Resilient 3.3.1 80 Does the sector have the necessary tools (e.g., best practice, software, Recovery Project Availability of check lists, cost benefit analysis for resilience measures available to Design BBB tools ensure project designs incorporate the Build Back Better approach? 3.3.2 Use 81 Do the sectors use risk information to design resilient recovery projects? of risk information 82 Is risk information available and accessible, at the required resolution and geographic coverage for sectoral project planning and implementation? 3.3.3 Building 83 Are building codes and land use planning guidelines integrated into codes and project design? regulations 3.3.4 Gender 84 Do project designs take into account gender-based needs? and disability inclusion 85 Do project designs take into account the basic needs for the conditions of persons with disabilities? Recommendations: What would you recommend to improve Resilient design of project? 3.4 Financing 3.4.1 86 Are there identified and accessible funding sources for recovery Availability interventions in the sector (e.g., National MDB, bilateral, others)? of funding sources 87 Are the mechanisms for accessing funding for recovery actions clear and widely known to people working in the sector? 88 Has the government used international funding for recovery in the past? 3.4.2 Access 89 Is it easy to access to recovery funding? to recovery funding 90 Do the eligibility criteria for recovery funding reflect the PDNA results for the most affected sectors? 91 Is the disbursement of international funding for recovery rapid? 92 Is the recovery funding process fast (from application by the government to disbursement)? SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR Annex 3 51 COMPONENT 3: RESOURCES AND TOOLS Key elements Sub elements Questions 3.4 Financing 3.4.3 Budget 93 Does the sector’s budget have a line item earmarked for recovery? (cont.) for recovery 94 Does the sector have a sufficient actual or estimated annual budget for recovery? Recommendations: What would you recommend to improve access to financial mechanisms for recovery? 3.5 Project 3.5.1 95 Does the sector have an inventory of qualified implementing contractors Implementation Resources relevant for the sector’s operations? 96 Is there sufficient material for construction available to implement recovery projects? 97 Does the sector or the government have the necessary equipment to implement large recovery projects? 3.5.2 Project 98 Does the sector (or reconstruction projects) have access to and use management project management tools? 99 In general, does the expenditures of project activities in the sector follow the original planning? 3.5.3 Building 100 Do the construction materials used in recovery projects meet codes accreditation standards (e.g., strength, testing, quality)? 101 Does the sector have the resources and tools to comply with building codes? 102 Does the regulatory body have the resources and tools to enforce compliance with building codes? 3.5.4 M&E at 103 Does the sector have in place and actively use a monitoring and project level evaluation (M&E) system for projects? 104 Have the most common M&E recommendations been used to improve project planning and implementation across the sector? Recommendations: What would you recommend to improve project implementation? Annex 3 SECTORAL RECOVERY CAPACITY ASSESSMENT REPORT FOR GUYANA’S AGRICULTURE SECTOR