Welcome to CADRIM’s Research Hub
CADRIM is actively working towards the development of evidence, data and research that can inform leadership and help bridge gaps in future projects and programmes being implemented by the IFRC and National Societies through the integration of lessons learnt and best practices. We invite you to take a closer look at some of the exciting research initiatives being undertaken and welcome collaborations.
To find out how your National Society can contribute to our Research Hub:
The Impact of COVID-19 on Volunteerism in the Caribbean
Research Question:
How has COVID-19 impacted the way in which the National Societies interact and manage volunteers in Suriname and St. Vincent and the Grenadines?
Research Rationale
The International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the largest volunteer-based humanitarian organisation in existence, comprising of National Societies in 192 countries with approximately 14 million volunteers. The IFRC and Red Cross staff work together with volunteers in their disaster response, early recovery programmes to build back better and cultivate safer communities by working directly with community members to reduce their risks and vulnerabilities and enhance their capacity to cope before, during and after disasters. In December 2019, the world first learned of COVID-19; an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus originating in China. The first COVID-19 case was reported in the Caribbean in March 2020 and as of 8th March, 2023, there has been over 4 million COVID-19 cases with over 37, 000 deaths in the Caribbean.
This case study would consider the impacts of COVID-19 on volunteerism in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname and would answer the following questions:
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How has the pandemic affected the National Societies’ volunteering policies?
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Were there any changes in the ways in which the National Societies engaged with their volunteers?
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What changes did the National Societies make to ensure the safety of their volunteers?
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What motivated persons to volunteer during the pandemic?
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What reward systems are in place for volunteers?
Countries Targeted:
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St Vincent & the Grenadines
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Suriname
Community Early Warning System Assessment
Research Question:
What types of Early Warning Systems exists within the 13 National Societies within the English and Dutch speaking Caribbean?
Research Rationale
Climate change, lack of proper urban planning, increased urbanization, and increases in population are some of the key drivers of vulnerability in the Caribbean region. These factors contribute to the region being prone to a multitude of hazards including, but not limited to, hydrometeorological (hurricanes and drought), seismic (earthquakes) and biological (vector borne diseases such as dengue and zika). The IFRC and the Caribbean Disaster and Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA) encourages the establishment of early warning systems as a means to enhance national and community disaster resilience. The various national societies within the region participated and implemented EWS projects in their respective countries.
This assessment captured the following:
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Work done by the national societies in the development of community early warning systems (CEWS).
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The names of communities that has an EWS and the types of EWS.
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The national early warning systems (NEWS) in each country.
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The challenges faced and the best practices learnt when developing CEWS.
Countries Targeted:
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Antigua and Barbuda
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Bahamas
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Barbados
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Belize
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Dominica
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Grenada
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Guyana
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Jamaica
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St. Lucia
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St. Vincent and the Grenadines
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Suriname
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Trinidad and Tobago
Community Disaster Response Teams Mobilisation
Research Question:
How do Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRTs) mobilize during a disaster response?
Research Rationale
Persons receiving CDRT training are expected to establish response teams within their communities and assist their local red cross society and/or their local disaster organization before, during and after a disaster. CDRTs are also expected to develop a CDRT plan which includes using effective methods of communicating disaster alerts and warning messages. CDRTs are after all meant to help their communities until assistance can be obtained from emergency personnel or work with disaster response agencies to provide assistance to their impacted communities.
This case study focuses on CDRT mobilization during the response of Hurricanes Eta and Iota in Belize and provides answers to the following questions:
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Are there formal community response teams established in vulnerable communities after CDRT training are conducted?
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Which organisations work with CDRTs and do any of these organizations activities CDRTs?
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Were there any cases of CDRTs self-activating in response to Hurricanes Eta and Iota in Belize?
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What communication methods work best for CDRTs to relay and receive emergency messages or alerts within the team and their communities?
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How can CDRT mobilization improve?
Countries Targeted:
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Belize
Effectiveness of Community Disaster Response Teams
Research Question:
Is the CDRT approach towards community resiliency effective in all phases of the Disaster Management Cycle?
Research Rationale
Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRTs) comprise of community volunteers trained in different elements of disaster risk reduction, thereby enhancing their skills and competencies to prepare for and respond to various emergencies.
This research seeks to provide answers to the following questions:
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Are currently being used and if they being used effectively?
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What are the intended roles of CDRTs in each phase of the disaster management cycle vs their current roles in the different phases?
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What are some of the lessons learnt in keeping CDRTs engaged?
Countries Targeted:
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St. Vincent and the Grenadines
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Grenada
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Suriname
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Belize
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St. Kitts and Nevis
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Dominica
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