Cees van Westen, University of Twente

From March 21 to April 2, 2025, Prof. Dr. Cees van Westen and Dr. Bastian van den Bout of the University of Twente embarked on a dynamic working mission across Dominica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago. Their goal? To deepen regional collaboration on disaster risk reduction through stakeholder workshops, fieldwork, and strategic meetings—all part of several ongoing international initiatives to build resilience against multi-hazard risks in the Caribbean.

The visit was organized under the umbrella of two major projects: the PARATUS project, funded by the European Commission’s Horizon Europe programme, and EO4MULTIHAZARD, an ESA-funded initiative using satellite data for risk analysis. These projects, in collaboration with CDEMA, the UNDRR, PIRAC, and 510 (Netherlands Red Cross), focus on improving early warning systems and enhancing data-sharing and impact-based forecasting across the region.

Workshop Highlights

Three two-day national workshops were held:

  • Dominica (March 24–25)
  • Saint Vincent (March 27–28)
  • Trinidad and Tobago (March 31–April 1)

Local authorities, NGOs, researchers, and international experts joined forces to discuss:

  • Impact-based forecasting and early action
  • Flood and landslide modelling techniques
  • Data availability and sharing strategies
  • Satellite applications in post-disaster assessments
  • Development of international guidelines for landslide loss reporting

Workshops included practical training on open-source tools like FastFlood.org, FastSlide.org, and RiskChanges.org, with online support from UNOSAT, GeoNode experts, and partners from 510 and CDEMA.

Fieldwork and Collaboration

In Dominica, four MSc students conducted fieldwork alongside the workshops, enriching both academic understanding and local risk insights. Informal site visits and community exploration further informed the team’s understanding of the local hazard landscape.

The mission concluded with a key preparatory meeting in Trinidad between the University of Twente, UNDRR, and CDEMA, setting the stage for an upcoming regional workshop in Barbados later in April.

This journey underlines the importance of cross-border, multi-institutional collaboration in managing the cascading risks faced by Caribbean communities. Through shared knowledge, practical tools, and continued engagement, the region is steadily moving toward a more resilient future.