MIL-OSI United Nations: Calls for Proposals: Strengthening Community Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in the Caribbean Region

Source: UNISDR Disaster Risk Reduction

UNDRR is the United Nations’ focal point for coordinating disaster risk reduction, working closely with countries and a wide range of partners and stakeholders to support the implementation, monitoring, and review of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030. This work is aligned with the 2030 Agenda and other relevant instruments, with the ultimate goal of achieving multi-hazard management of disaster risk in development and significantly reducing disaster risk and losses.

In accordance with UN Financial Regulations and Rules, UNDRR provides grants to apolitical and non-profit-making organizations to facilitate, implement, or carry out activities that align with UNDRR’s and its partners’ mandates and work programs.

To this end, UNDRR is pleased to invite non-profit-making organizations to submit grant proposals that focus on the following project: Strengthening Community Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in the Caribbean Region.

Rationale

As an implementing partner of the Climate Risk and Early Warning Systems (CREWS) Caribbean Initiative, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) recognizes the critical role that strategic partnerships play in enhancing multi-hazard early warning systems (MHEWS) across the Caribbean. The Caribbean’s unique vulnerabilities, including its geographic isolation and dependence on climate-sensitive sectors, make community-based multi-hazard early warning systems a critical component of long-term disaster resilience. Effective multi-hazard early warnings at the community level enable timely evacuations, safeguard livelihoods, and minimize disruptions to essential services, ultimately protecting development gains. A well-funded and coordinated approach to strengthening community MHEWS will ensure that warnings are not only issued but also understood and acted upon, closing the last-mile gap in disaster risk reduction.

Strengthening community-based MHEWS is essential to enhancing disaster resilience in the Caribbean, where vulnerable populations are often the first to experience the impacts of hydro-meteorological hazards. Community MHEWS serve as the frontline of disaster preparedness, ensuring that multi-hazard early warnings are effectively communicated to those most at risk, including marginalized groups, persons with disabilities, and remote communities. By supporting a grant that prioritizes community engagement, capacity-building, and localized risk communication strategies, UNDRR and its regional partners can bridge the gap between national multi-hazard early warning mechanisms and community action. This alignment will foster a culture of preparedness where residents have the knowledge, tools, and networks necessary to respond proactively to disasters, reducing loss of life and property.

Investing in community-driven MHEWS also strengthens the sustainability and effectiveness of broader these systems by integrating local and scientific knowledge. Traditional warning methods, such as the use of community leaders and cultural practices, can complement modern technologies, enhancing the accessibility and trustworthiness of alerts. Additionally, empowering local actors-such as community disaster committees, schools, and civil society organizations-to participate in the co-design of warning messages ensures that information is context-specific and actionable. By establishing this grant, resources can be allocated to expand risk awareness campaigns, improve response, and provide targeted training, all of which are vital to building a robust, inclusive, and people-centered multi-hazard early warning system.

Purpose

Establish a grant between UNDRR and an experienced (sub) regional partner to enhance existing community level disaster preparedness and response capacity including training on community vulnerability assessment.

Outcome

Strengthened MHEWS at the community levels within CDEMA Participating Sates through improved local level disaster risk knowledge, enhanced community disaster response team and improved local level MHEWS strategies.

Outputs and suggested activities

1. Improved and contextualized MHEWS guidelines for addressing vulnerabilities of specific groups in the Caribbean region.
2. Strengthened sub-national coordination mechanisms for MHEWS through supporting the development and implementation of local strategies for disaster risk reduction.
3. Enhanced MHEWS local coordination in the Caribbean through participatory approaches
4. Improved understanding of community vulnerabilities and exposure.
5. Improved community response capabilities.

Suggested activities

1. Output 1: Improved and contextualized MHEWS guidelines for addressing vulnerabilities of specific groups in the Caribbean region
   • Development of a regional workshop with Ministries in charge of addressing gender concerns and the needs of vulnerable groups and last-mile communities, including those with disabilities and Gender Bureaus, to discuss how MHEWS can be more inclusive, gender-responsive and transformative.
   • Development of guidelines, recommendations and commitments that will strengthen MHEWS in at least 3 countries that are inclusive, gender responsive and transformative.
2. Output 2: Strengthened sub-national coordination mechanisms for MHEWS through supporting the development and implementation of local strategies for disaster risk reduction
   • Implementation of the MHEWS addendum of the resilience scorecard in 4 selected Caribbean local government in close coordination with UNDRR and the grantee.
   • At least four local governments have improved sub-national coordination for MHEWS through the developed local resilience plans with the implementation of the MCR2030 MHEWS Addendum and resilience scorecard
3. Output 3: Enhanced MHEWS local coordination in the Caribbean through participatory approaches
   • Facilitate consultation between national, local stakeholders, civil society and community organizations to support the review and alignment of MHEWS strategies within the Caribbean region to improve national level coordination.
   • Develop reports on at least 4 local government areas on consultations aligning MHEWS with community resilience.
4. Output 4: Improved understanding of community vulnerabilities and exposure
   • Facilitate regional training on Enhanced Vulnerability Capacity Assessment (eVCA) for Red Cross-National Societies and National Disaster Risk Management Offices for improved capacity for community engagement and assessment.
   • Improved risk knowledge with one regional baseline survey on knowledge and capacities of Red Cross-National Societies and National Disaster Risk Management Offices in the Caribbean.
   • Strengthened capacity of national stakeholders with one regional training on the Enhanced Vulnerability Capacity Assessment in a selected Caribbean territory with an eVCA and report.
   • A second eVCA conducted in a selected sub-national Caribbean territory with a report being developed.
5. Output 5: Improved community response capabilities
   • Establishment, training and equipping of Community Disaster Response Teams (CDRTs) for prioritized hazards.
   • At least one in-person regional training on community early warning system.
   • Enhanced preparedness and response capacity in countries with at least four Community Disaster Response Teams established and equipped to respond to hazard impacts

Resources

Elements specific to the project that the grantee should know

1. All International, (sub) regional and national non-governmental organizations that wish to be considered for partnership opportunities with UNDRR will need to register and create a profile on the United Nations Partner Portal (UNPP).
   1. Following verification of the profile information, partners will be eligible to apply to partnership opportunities with UNDRR as well as the UN Secretariat and all other participating UN Organizations.
   2. We encourage you to start the registration as soon as possible to avoid delays. Only registered organizations whose profile has been successfully verified will be considered eligible partners to apply for grant opportunities with UNDRR.
   3. For more details on registration procedures please visit the UN Section of UNPP (https://www.unpartnerportal.org/registration)
2. Furthermore, the United Nations system requires all partners to be assessed regarding their capacity to prevent and respond to sexual exploitation and abuse. UNDRR encourages implementing partners to use the Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) module in the UNPP. PSEA Module User Guide CSO Partner Members
3. The grantee must have a proven track record in working with government authorities, both at the national and local levels with experience in risk data aggregation to improve early warning and impact-based forecasting [Mandatory].
   1. Applicant to confirm that it has expertise in disaster risk reduction and community resilience sector and to provide certificates or qualifications of persons implementing the grant.
   2. Applicant to confirm that it has a minimum 20 years’ experience in disaster risk reduction and community resilience sector, demonstrated with clear examples of at least 10 programmes/projects of similar scope.
   3. Applicant is expected to provide relevant information of their local expertise, including experience of working with regional and local key stakeholders, and established consultation and feedback mechanisms with local communities
4. For all training, workshops, consultative meetings, etc., grantee must provide a summary outcome of the events, list of participants with disaggregate information including names, affiliation, gender, email address, city, and country of representation. All events must be accompanied by relevant reports with photos as proof of evidence. [Mandatory].

Budget and administrative-related aspects

The duration of the proposed project cannot exceed December 31st 2026. The maximum amount requested from UNDRR for the implementation of this project cannot exceed USD$315,000.00. The project proposal must not exceed 10 pages (attachments such as scanned copies of entity’s registration, CVs of staff etc. do not count).

For this purpose, please fill in duly all the sections of the application form, include the required documents (scanned copy of NGO/IGO’s registration certificate, CVs of staff etc.) and budget excel sheets, and send the complete application package (application form, budget excel sheets, entity registration certificate, CVs of staff, etc.) to the following email address: [email protected] cc: [email protected] and [email protected]

Reference: UNDRR CfP 2025/003Call for Proposals – Strengthening Community Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems in the Caribbean Region

Deadline for applications: May 9th 2025 midnight New York, USA EST (Eastern Standard Time). Incomplete and/or late applications will not be considered.

Projects’ activities can include, amongst others, the following:

• seminars, workshops, trainings;
• capacity building activities;
• institutional strengthening activities and
• advocacy

The following types of activity will not be covered:

• capital expenditure, e.g. land, buildings, equipment and vehicles;
• individual scholarships for studies or training courses;
• supporting political parties; and
• sub-contracting

Due to the number of applications, only short-listed applicants will be notified.

Please note that UNDRR may publish information about the grant agreement. Please note that the grant payment schedule will be determined with the selected grantee when finalizing the agreement. UNDRR standard practice is: not to exceed 40% of the requested amount upon signature of the grant agreement; remaining payments made based on a schedule of payments linked to production of project milestones and the final payment, 20%, will be paid after the end of the project, once final documents have been received, verified and approved by UNDRR.

Refund of grants: UNDRR may request organizations to refund, either in part or in whole any amounts paid in respect of a grant when:

• the project was not implemented in full or in part;
• the grant was spent for ineligible expenditures other than those mentioned in the budget proposal submitted to, and approved by UNDRR;
• no narrative, financial or audit report was submitted within the deadline established by the grant agreement;
• a narrative report and/or a financial report submitted was determined to be unsatisfactory;
• a negative evaluation of the project by UNDRR;
• any other valid reason provided by the UNDRR.

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