Natural hazards cause remarkable losses on the economic and social development of the communities and countries. Disaster preparedness and risk reduction need to be considered as a priority in building resilience and reducing human and economic losses, as well sustaining development investments.

The "Strengthening integrated early warning systems for a more effective reduction of disaster risk in the Caribbean through knowledge and tool transfer" project (EWS Phase 1) was part of the Disaster Risk Reduction project of the DIPECHO Action Plan 2017-2018 for the Caribbean, implemented by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), and the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent (IFRC), and funded by the General  Directorate of Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid of the European Union (DIPECHO).

The objective of the project was to improve early warning systems (EWS) for more effective Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) in the Caribbean, specifically Antigua and Barbuda and to move toward the realization of a more integrated system, through concrete actions addressing existing gaps. This initiative seeks to emphasize the 4 components of EWS-and close priority gaps-at a national level, contributing to the integration of national and community EWS and addressing sustainability and national ownership of EWS.

As part of EWS Phase 1 project in Antigua and Barbuda, random surveys were conducted in vulnerable communities and a communications strategy was developed.  The survey results highlighted that there were gaps in the understanding of early warning systems and components of Antigua Barbuda National Early Warning System (ABNEWS) were fragmented in awareness.   Under the EWS Phase 2 project, the National Office of Disaster Services (NODS), in partnership with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) will be focused at implementing components of the communications strategy including the launch of the Common Alerting Protocol (CAP) EWS software through public awareness and education.  

The “Strengthen integrated and cohesive preparedness capacity at a regional, national and community level in the Caribbean” project (EWS Phase 2) supports concrete actions for an effective early warning system, as well as aims to improve information management and operational capacity for an improved Caribbean Regional Response Mechanism. Working with Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Cuba at a national and community level, and with regional early warning and response actors at the Caribbean level, United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency (CDEMA), United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), and the International Federation of the Red Cross and the Red Crescent (IFRC) are partnering with the General Directorate of Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid of the European Union (ECHO) to reduce the risk of disasters in the region. 

NODS hence seeks to implement a communications campaign, and in using slogans “Be Alert “ “#stayready” “#preparedcaribbean” promote awareness of early warning systems with an overall goal to promote Antigua and Barbuda’s National Early Warning System and provide information on comprehensive disaster risk management.

The consultant’s role will be to transform existing resource materials into a more commercially palatable and user-friendly user-friendly product. These communication products should be gender sensitive, inclusive and take into consideration relevant social issues.  The consultant will also assist in the coordination and implementation of multimedia and graphic design activities.