The Caribbean is one of the most climate vulnerable regions in the world. Nearly two-thirds of the 511 disasters to hit Small Island Development States since 1950 have occurred in the Caribbean. Some of these events have caused losses of more than 200% of countries’ GDP. Affordable  and adequate financing needed to strengthen the climate resilience, is still not available to most Caribbean SIDS, who in spite of multiple vulnerabilities are considered high and middle income states. Gender inequality is expensive. The World Bank Group reported that the world could achieve a ‘gender dividend’ of $172 trillion by closing gaps in lifetime labor earnings between women and men. Despite decades of academic over-achievement by Caribbean women and girls, this has not translated into higher female labour force participation as entrepreneurs or employees or increased earnings. The private sector creates at least 70% of jobs in the Caribbean, with the majority of Caribbean firms being micro, small and medium enterprises.

What do these facts all have in common? Is there a way for us to address them at the same time?

Gender lens investing stands at the nexus of these issues, offering the opportunities for better, more innovative global climate financing models for the good of all Caribbean people.

Join CDB and UN Women MCO Caribbean at COP 27 in the Caribbean pavilion on November 10 for our panel ‘Gender Lens Investing for Caribbean Resilience’ to hear more about how we can leverage gender smart climate investment to build resilience, reduce financial barriers and create opportunity.

Moderator

Ms. Patricia Francis

Panellists

• Hon. Penelope Beckles, Minister of Planning and Development, Trinidad and Tobago
• Mr. Isaac Solomon, Vice-President (Operations), Caribbean Development Bank
• Ms. Anita Bhatia, Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy Executive Director, UN Women
• Mr. Doug Hewson, Managing Director, Portland Private Equity Caribbean 
• Ms. Sumayyah Cargill, Strategic Development Manager, Bahamas Development Bank
• Mr. Daniel Best, Director of Projects, Caribbean Development Bank