Open KE Fellowship to support evidenced-based policymaking for resilient recovery in the Caribbean

在2017年飓风季期间，加勒比地区的几个岛屿遭受了相当大的破坏，特别是多米尼加、巴布达、英属维尔京群岛、多米尼加共和国、圣基茨和尼维斯、圣马丁、古巴、特克斯和凯科斯群岛以及波多黎各。这些破坏性影响严重损害了该区域的积极发展轨迹。面临的风险是极端的，经济脆弱、治理薄弱和社会不平等加剧了灾害的影响。灾害发生后的这段时期，政治上的注意力得到加强，正在就灾后恢复作出重要决定，这可能是一个从根本上减少未来风险的机会。灾害可以摧毁几十年的发展成果，但也为增强复原力提供了机会。在加勒比地区，参与彻底变革的政治意愿很强，特别是在多米尼克，该国总理斯凯里特已经确立了他的雄心，希望多米尼克成为第一个气候适应国家。在灾后环境中实现这一愿景将需要持续的政治支持，资金，最重要的是，对于KE奖学金，使用NERC科学。目前正在作出资本投资决定，以恢复自然和人造环境;正在考虑在恢复期间采取新政策，促进经济复原力（风险是这些措施不能解决生态系统恢复和可持续性问题）;正在开发风险融资产品（可能不考虑与气候无关的风险）;促进风险评估、备灾和预警系统的新举措正在纳入恢复规划。NERC科学可以在为这些决策提供信息方面发挥关键作用，但它需要以正确的形式进入决策者手中，并满足他们的具体需求。政策制定者、研究人员和从业人员（包括私营部门）之间需要合作，以规划长期复苏并更好地重建。英国在该地区的合作研究方面有着良好的记录，但目前这与困扰小岛屿发展中国家的无数问题一样分散，特别是加勒比小岛屿。然而，英国研究界非常愿意花时间了解该地区已经嵌入的项目网络，与加勒比利益相关者合作和参与，以了解和解决关键的知识差距。通过知识交流奖学金，我将回应加勒比各国政府和区域利益相关者提出的更多利用科学更好地重建的需求;以及英国通过需求驱动的研究支持复苏的兴趣日益增长。

During the 2017 Hurricane season, several islands in the Caribbean sustained considerable damage, particularly Dominica, Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominican Republic, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Sint Maarten, Cuba, Turks and Caicos, and Puerto Rico. These devastating impacts seriously compromise positive development trajectories in the region. Exposure to risk is extreme and disaster impacts deepened by economic fragility, weak governance and social inequalities. The period following disaster events, when political attention is heightened and key decisions are being made on rehabilitation, can be a chance to radically reduce future risk. Disasters can destroy decades of development gains, but they also offer an opportunity for increasing resilience. Political willingness to engage with radical change in the Caribbean is strong, particularly in Dominica, where Prime Minister Skerrit has established his ambition for Dominica to become the first climate resilient nation. Implementing this vision in a post-disaster setting will require continued political support, financing and, most importantly for this KE Fellowship, the use of NERC science. Capital investment decisions are being taken now to restore the natural and built environments; new policies to promote economic resilience are being considered in the recovery period (with a risk of these not addressing ecosystem restoration and sustainability); risk financing products are being developed (that may not consider non-climate-related risks); and new initiatives to promote risk assessment, preparedness and early warning systems are being rolled into recovery planning. NERC science can play a pivotal role in informing these decisions, but it needs to get into the hands of decision-makers in the right form and in response to their specific needs. Collaboration is needed between policymakers, researchers and practitioners (including the private sector) to plan for long-term recovery and build back better.The UK has a strong record of collaborative research in this region, but this is currently as fragmented as the myriad problems that beset Small Island Developing Stated in general, and small Caribbean islands in particular. There is however strong willingness within the UK research community to take the time to learn about the network of projects already embedded in the region, collaborate and engage with Caribbean stakeholders to understand and address critical knowledge gaps.Through this Knowledge Exchange Fellowship, I will respond to the demand expressed by Caribbean governments and regional stakeholders for greater use of science to build back better; and to growing interest in the UK to support recovery through demand-driven research.