Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm, made landfall on the island of Dominica on September 18, 2017, causing widespread devastation.

Dominica

At a Glance

A soldier looks out of the back of an open bomber-style airplane, pondering the landscape.

The Eastern and Southern Caribbean Regional Program serves Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts & Nevis, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, and Suriname.

The geography of the Caribbean makes it vulnerable to Atlantic hurricanes and tropical storms, whose intensity is projected to increase with climate change. Small island communities are also susceptible to salt intrusion into freshwater sources making the region highly vulnerable to rising sea level.  USAID’s work in the region aims to raise stakeholder awareness of climate change and facilitate the consideration of climate change in national development planning, the transition to renewable energy, and community preparedness to strengthen the long-term viability of the small island nations in the region.

Climate Projections and Impacts

Refer to the Climate Risk Profile (2018) for more information.

Climate Projections

Increased Frequency/Intensity of Extreme Weather Events
Rising Sea Levels and Increased Incidence of Storm Surge
Increased Temperature

Key Climate Impact Areas

Agriculture
Fisheries
Coastal Resources
Human Health
Livelihoods & Tourism
Water Resources

Funding & Country Climate Context

USAID Regional Climate Change Funding (2020)

Total

$3 Million

Adaptation

$3 Million

GAIN Vulnerability

Medium

Population (2023)

74,656

GHG Emissions Growth

4.58%

% Forested Area

57.4%

Refer to metadata and sources for more details.

Country Plans & Commitments

Climate Change Information

Dominica Photo Gallery

Hurricane Maria, a Category 5 storm, made landfall on the island of Dominica on September 18, 2017, causing widespread devastation.

Hurricane Maria

Country: Dominica
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Related Resources

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Document

Quick Planning Guide on Preparedness, Response and Recovery

This guide is designed to highlight how a business resilience organization in the Pacific, the Vanuatu Business Resilience Council, has integrated itself into government and non-government humanitarian processes to play a meaningful role in disaster and climate preparedness, response and recovery as well as influence resilience building overall.
ESC Climate Risk Profile_Cover
Climate Risk Profile

Climate Risk Profile: Eastern and Southern Caribbean

USAID’s development assistance in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean (ESC) region extends to 11 countries: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, and Trinidad and Tobago. The high vulnerability to, and potential for, climate impacts throughout the region often drive direct integration of climate risk management into the country and regional planning processes.
ESC Climate Symposium Synthesis Report Cover Image
Technical Report

USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean Regional Climate Symposium: Synthesis Report

The USAID Eastern and Southern Caribbean Mission hosted an eight-session climate change symposium from June 16 to June 30. This virtual symposium focused on renewing and strengthening existing regional partnerships by encouraging dialogue about climate change as well as the sharing of information and opportunities.

Stories from the Area

A Catalyst for Climate Finance and Action in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean

USAID investments in reducing the risks and impacts of climate change—through increasing community resilience, building regional climate science capacity, or providing meteorological equipment—are vital for the countries of the Eastern and Southern Caribbean (ESC).
  • Christine Chumbler
USAID’s partner, the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, approached Maya Island Air and eventually created a public private partnership to benefit people living throughout the Caribbean.

Building Resilience in a Climate Change Hotspot

Countries in the Eastern and Southern Caribbean have always been vulnerable to natural hazards, but climate change trends project that disasters—hurricanes, tropical storms, flash floods, drought, and extreme heat—are becoming more frequent, intense, costly, and time-consuming to recover from.
  • Wendy Putnam
Hurricane Maria devastated parts of the Eastern and Southern Caribbean, including Dominica shown here, in September 2017. The Category 5 hurricane was the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Hurricane Mitch in 1998.

Engineering Design Builds Climate-Resilience in Haiti and Dominica

Two examples of infrastructure development demonstrate how investment in planning and engineering design, that is considerate of future climate conditions, can result in more resilient infrastructure outcomes.
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