Young people from across Barbados took center stage in national discussions on resilience financing during a special National Youth Platform to mark the 2025 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction. Under the global theme “Fund resilience, not disasters,” participants emphasized the urgent need to increase investments that protect communities from climate and disaster risks, highlighting how proactive funding can mitigate the destructive impacts of hazards on education, livelihoods, and well-being. Through interactive “resilience labs,” youth exchanged solutions ranging from climate-smart technologies to community-driven approaches, demonstrating that young people are not only vulnerable but also active agents of change.
This year’s theme called for a strategic shift from reactive spending on disaster response and recovery toward proactive investments that reduce risks before disasters occur. For Small Island Developing States such as Barbados, where hurricanes, flooding, and other coastal hazards pose existential threats, financing resilience is both essential and a sound investment in sustainable development.
Government and UN leaders underscored the importance of youth engagement in national resilience planning. Captain Robert Harewood, Deputy Director of the Department of Emergency Management, highlighted that involving youth is key to a safer future, while UN Resident Coordinator Simon Springett called for intergenerational dialogue to ensure that youth priorities feed directly into policy and financing decisions. Saskia Carusi, Deputy Chief of the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction’s regional office for the Americas and Caribbean, emphasized that escalating extreme weather events and risk-blind investments are increasing vulnerabilities globally, making proactive resilience funding critical.
The Government of Barbados reaffirmed its commitment to resilience, with Minister of Home Affairs and Information, Hon. Wilfred Abrahams, noting that investments in resilient infrastructure, early warning systems, and community preparedness are not expenses but essential safeguards for sustainable development. He stressed that for Small Island Developing States, shifting funding from disaster relief to resilience-building is vital to maintain viability and protect communities.
A youth-led panel explored how innovation, financing, and partnerships can drive investment in resilience, stressing the importance of risk-informed public and private investments and cross-sector collaboration. Maria Marshall, UNICEF Youth Advocate for the Environment, emphasized that young people should be recognized as agents of change, bringing fresh ideas, energy, and local knowledge essential to improving community resilience.
The platform also launched the World Tsunami Awareness Day 2025 Film Festival, aimed at raising awareness of tsunami hazards and promoting preparedness across the Caribbean. By the end of the event, youth participants presented recommendations to strengthen national and regional resilience strategies, reinforcing the importance of ensuring that young voices are included in disaster risk reduction planning and decision-making processes.
