Juan Carlos Espinola (left) of the United Nations Development Programme, and Professor E. Nigel Harris, vice-chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI), speak at the Disaster Risk Reduction signing at the council room, UWI, on Tuesday. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
AFTER 18 months of pre-paration for the establishment of a multimillion dollar Centre of Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction, the University of the West Indies (UWI) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) inked the completed proposal on Tuesday at the UWI, Mona campus.
The joint proposal was signed by Professor E. Nigel Harris, vice-chancellor at UWI, Mona and Juan Carlos Espinola, resident representative of UNDP.
Under the agreement, the UNDP awarded its initial commitment of US$90,000 (J$5.8 million), which is complemented by US$120,000 (J$7.8 million) garnered through grants from the regional government to the university.
"It is going to cost US$210,000 (J$13 million) to start with ... that will enable us to hire a director and a small staff then give additional funding to bring people together to prepare a strategic plan and action programme," Professor Harris said.
The next step toward the establishment of the risk reduction centre is the appointment of a director. While Professor Harris was mum on the person he has in mind to fill the post, he revealed that the vacancy is currently being advertised.
"The actual hiring of the director, in a way, marks a point that (we have reached), an implementation phase, but there has been a long planning phase leading up to this moment," he added.
PARTIALLY SELF-SUFFICIENT
While the Centre of Excellence in Disaster Risk Reduction is expected to be partially self-sufficient due to the funds it will earn from the services it will provide, Professor Harris said that grants from regional governments would continue to fund the centre.
In addition, Vice-Chancellor Harris said it is also intended that the University of Technology be engaged.
While it has not been finalised, Professor Harris said the Mona Campus is the front-runner among the campuses to house the physical office for the centre.
He added, however, that the centre is going to be a virtual centre in that the academic expertise will be spread across the major campuses of Mona, Cave Hill and St. Augustine, with the intention of reaching all 15 English-speaking Caribbean countries with its services.
