Ministry of Agriculture – Hydrometeorological Service receives support from UNDP for strengthened effective, gender-responsive and timely decision making for disaster preparedness

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Ministry of Agriculture – Hydrometeorological Service today signed a handover agreement for forty-five (45) raingauges and 90 measuring jars to support Guyana’s sustainable disaster preparedness and response initiatives.  

UNDP is implementing a Japanese government funded project, “Strengthening Disaster Management Capacity of Women in the Cooperative Republic of Guyana and Commonwealth of Dominica” that provided for the procurement of the raingauges worth approximately USD 26,000. The items were formally handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture – Hydrometeorological Service who will be responsible for the installations at targeted communities in Regions 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.

This initiative will provide for Gender-responsive capacity building in hazard-prone communities to apply climate and early warning information to reduce vulnerability of loss of agricultural livelihoods.

At the signing, Chief Hydrometeorological Officer, Dr. Garvin Cummings highlighted the importance of the rain gauges and accessories for the expansion of the national hydrometeorological network and the accurate recording of rainfall data. According to Dr. Cummings, these data will be critical to the strengthening of weather, climate, and hydrological forecasting at both the national and regional levels.

UNDP’s Resident Representative, Mr. Jairo Valverde Bermudez affirmed UNDP’s commitment to building a sustainable and resilient Guyana and working with all stakeholders to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. He further indicated that the establishment of applied climate and early warning in vulnerable communities is directly aligned with UNDP’s strategic initiatives, and UNDP will continue to support the realization of these initiatives across communities in Guyana.

Mr. Valverde expressed his gratitude to both Government of Guyana and Government of Japan for their confidence in this endeavour especially the support received from the Government of Japan on behalf of the Japanese people in making this initiative successful.