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About the 2023 VIRTUAL symposium

Theme: Conservation and Innovation: Changing the Regional Water Paradigm

Currently more than 900 million people worldwide lack access to clean drinking water and over 2 billion lack basic sanitation. Water demand is increasing at a rate faster than population growth, and the United Nations estimates that in 2025 an estimated 5 billion of the world’s projected 8 billion people will live in areas where water is scarce. Increasing populations, expanding food production and industrialisation, and high living standards will continue to drive up demand for water over the course of this century; all while freshwater overuse and increasing rates of pollution are threatening existing water quality and availability. This situation is likely to worsen under a changing global climate system that will see increasing incidences of droughts, extreme daily temperatures and shifting rainfall patterns across the globe.

Developing regions like the Caribbean are likely to be disproportionately impacted given their degree of exposure and sensitivity to climatic shocks and underlying challenges in the management, storage, and delivery of existing freshwater resources. Recurring droughts and hurricanes are already exacerbating water scarcity across the region, posing significant threats to human health and well-being and the productivity of key sectors such as tourism and agriculture. Many regional water utilities suffer from aging equipment and water supply infrastructure, high rates of non-revenue water, limited financial resources, and high energy and operating costs.

Addressing existing issues confronting the regional water sector, such as challenges regarding the storage, treatment, and distribution of available water resources, is therefore key to adapting the Caribbean to future climate changes, and in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 on Water and several other related SDGs. Water is also critical for successful climate change mitigation given its importance to energy security. Conservation is thus an extremely important priority action area given the ongoing and impending threats posed to freshwater resources from human activities and environmental change. Growing demands for water are compounded by changes in natural systems' functions increasingly caused by changes in land use transitions, climate-induced stresses and ecological degradation. There is an urgent need to identify opportunities for advancing conservation efforts in the regional water sector that can offer sustainable solutions that are culturally relevant, affordable, and accessible. Integrally tied to this is the need for innovation and new thinking around water conservation, storage, use and management.

The Caribbean Science Symposium on Water (CSSW) aligns well and supports several recent and ongoing regional initiatives and programmes. Whilst discussions around water conservation and wastewater management and reuse are not new to the Caribbean, there is a noticeable gap between research and implementation in these areas, and their translation to the policy domain, and use and relevance in informing evidence-based decision-making. This second CSSW provides an opportunity to bridge that gap by bringing the two sides together. The Symposium will bring together representatives from the research, development, economic, legislative and policy communities to share and discuss ideas on ongoing scientific studies, initiatives, innovations, and best practices related to enhancing water conservation and management in the Caribbean.

 

The CSSW seeks to attract high-quality scientific, research, technical and exploratory papers that can offer useful insights on key challenges impacting the access, management, utilisation, and sustainability of water resources across the region and potential solutions. A key feature will be bringing Science and Policy together, to interrogate science outputs from a policy perspective to enhance policy dialogue across the region particularly around IWRM. Without sound science, evidence-based policy formulation cannot occur and places the economies of the region at greater risk of maladaptation and mismanagement of already scarce resources. The Symposium is designed not only to be an opportunity to share research outputs but importantly, provide interactive opportunities to bridge the gap between science outputs and policy formulation, and be an arena for exploring the practical and policy implications of these outputs.

 

The 2023 CSSW takes place virtually on March 21st and 22nd, 2023 under the theme of the "Conservation and Innovation: Changing the Regional Water Paradigm.” The biennial event is one of the first of its kind for the Caribbean and aims to feed into several regional and global activities in 2023 of importance to the Caribbean Community, including the 28th session of the UNFCCC Conference of the Parties (COP 28). The initiative will be a signature event for the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean (GWP-C) and is expected to provide a dynamic platform to actively engage scientists, policy makers, youth, and other stakeholder groups on water-related issues.

2023 cssw AGENDA

The 2023 Caribbean Science Symposium on Water (CSSW) will include the following:

Day 1 - March 21st, 2023

Time - 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. AST

DAY 1 Moderator:

Dr. Ronald Roopnarine

Lecturer, Faculty of Food and Agriculture, The University of the West Indies (UWI)

St. Augustine and Network Manager, Caribbean WaterNet (Cap-Net)

Opening Ceremony

Panel Discussion:

Climate Finance, Loss and Damage – Prospects and Opportunities for the Caribbean Region

Invited panellists will discuss the prospects and challenges facing the financing of infrastructure in the Caribbean region, particularly responding to the climate emergency and the role of the water sector.

Paper Session:

Modelling for Sustainability and Resilience

Presentation of Papers and “Questions and Answers” segment.

Panel Discussion:

Where are all the Sharks?

Former winners of the GWP-C Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition share their experiences. This session includes a “Questions and Answers” segment.

Wrap up Session

Day 2 - March 22nd, 2023

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. AST

dAY 2 Moderator:

Ms. Valerie Jenkinson

Chief Executive Officer (CEO),

World Water and Wastewater Solutions (WWWS) and  Founder and Chair,

Operators Without Borders (OWB)

Greetings and Overview

Paper Session:

Building Resilience through Effective Planning and Monitoring

Presentation of Papers and “Questions and Answers” segment.

Ministerial Panel Session:

Water Security and Innovation

Innovations Panel:

Illustrating good water conservation practices/policy initiatives drawn from across the Caribbean

Paper Session:

Conservation and

Sustainability

Presentation of Papers and “Questions and Answers” segment.

Wrap up Session and Closing Remarks

AGENDA
Featured Speakers
The keynote address at the Opening Ceremony of the 2023 CSSW will be delivered by:
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Prime Minister of Grenada, Honourable Dickon Mitchell

The feature address for the Ministerial Panel "On the Spot - Water Security and Innovation" will be delivered by:
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Honourable Kerryne Z. James

Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy of Grenada

Opening remarks on Day 2 of the CSSW will be given by:
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Ms. Jaehyang So

Chair of the Global Water Partnership (GWP) Technical Committee  

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PANEL DISCUSSIONS

Climate Finance, Loss and Damage – Prospects and Opportunities for the Caribbean Region?

The Panellists in this session include:

  • Professor Avinash Persaud – Special Envoy to the Prime Minister of Barbados on Investment and Financial Services

  • Dr. Colin Young – Executive Director, Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)

  • Mrs. Nadia Spencer-Henry – Debt Manager, Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance, and             Public Private Partnerships, Government of Antigua and Barbuda

  • Dr. Emily Wilkinson - Senior Research Fellow at ODI, Director, Resilient and Sustainable Islands (RESI), and Chief Scientific Adviser, CREAD-Dominica

Panel Facilitator: Mr. Trevor Thompson, GWP-C Steering Committee and Technical Committee Member

 

GET TO KNOW THE PANELLISTS -

CLIMATE FINANCE, LOSS AND DAMAGE panel

 

 

 

ministerial panel: On the Spot – Water Security and Innovation

The Panellists in this session include:

  • Honourable Kerryne Z. James – Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy of Grenada

  • Mr. Jason Ernest – Director of the Water Resources Management Agency (WRMA), Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development of St. Lucia

  • Mr. Cromwell Williams (Manager/Water Engineer) - The Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Energy & Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication, Technology and Post of St. Kitts and Nevis

Panel Facilitator: Dr. Adrian Cashman, Chair of the GWP-C Technical Committee

innovations panel: Innovative Water Conservation Practices/

Policy Initiatives from the Caribbean

The Panellists in this session include:

  • Dr. Natalie Boodram – Senior Technical Officer, Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI)

  • Mrs. Farzana Yusuf-Leon – Technical Specialist – (IWEco), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission

  • Ms. Virginie Clerima – CARIBSAN Project Manager, International Office for Water

  • Mr. Wayne O. Williams - Chair of the Regional Strategic Action Plan for the Water Sector in the Caribbean (RSAP) Implementation Monitoring Committee, Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA)

  • Mrs. Beverly Monroe - Standards Officer III, Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) {Representing the GEF CReW+ Project}

Panel Facilitator: Mr. Christopher Corbin, Coordinator, Cartagena Convention Secretariat (Ecosystems Division), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and GWP-C Technical Committee Member

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Mrs. Nadia Spencer-Henry

Debt Manager, Ministry of Finance and Corporate Governance, and Public Private Partnerships, Government of Antigua and Barbuda

GET TO KNOW THE PANELLISTS -
Ministerial panel
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Honourable Kerryne Z. James

Minister for Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy of Grenada

Mr. Jason Ernest

Director of the Water Resources Management Agency (WRMA),

Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Rural Development of St. Lucia

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Professor Avinash Persaud

Special Envoy to the Prime Minister of Barbados on Investment and Financial Services

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Dr. Emily Wilkinson

Senior Research Fellow at ODI, Director, Resilient and Sustainable Islands (RESI), and Chief Scientific Adviser, CREAD-Dominica

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Dr. Colin Young

Executive Director, Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)

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Mr. Cromwell Williams (Manager/Water Engineer)

The Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Energy & Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication, Technology and Post of St. Kitts and Nevis

GET TO KNOW THE PANELLISTS - innovations panel
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Dr. Natalie Boodram

Senior Technical Officer, Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI)

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Mrs. Farzana Yusuf-Leon

Technical Specialist – (IWEco), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission

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Ms. Virginie Clerima

CARIBSAN Project Manager, International Office for Water

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Mr. Wayne O. Williams

Chair of the Regional Strategic Action Plan for the Water Sector in the Caribbean (RSAP) Implementation Monitoring Committee, Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA)

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Mrs. Beverly Monroe

Standards Officer III, Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS)

{Representing the GEF CReW+ Project}

PANEL DISCUSSION: Where are all the sharks?

The Panellists in this session include:

  • Mr. Ajani Jacobs Engineer and Water Scientist | 2020 Winner of the GWP-C Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition from Jamaica

  • Mr. Dean Morris - Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Kee Farms | 2022 Winner of the GWP-C Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition from Jamaica

GET TO KNOW THE PANELLISTS

gwp-c shark tank winners panel

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Mr. Ajani Jacobs

Engineer and Water Scientist | 2020 Winner of the GWP-C Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition from Jamaica

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Mr. Dean Morris

Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Kee Farms | 2022 Winner of the GWP-C Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition from Jamaica

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Yekini Wallen-Bryan

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Preelabs Limited | 2019 and First-Ever Winner of the GWP-C Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition from Jamaica

Panel Facilitator: Dr. Elon Cadogan – National Project Coordinator for the Water Sector Resilience Nexus for Sustainability in Barbados (WSRN S-Barbados) Project

OUR PRESENTERS
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Dr. Karl Payne

Lecturer, Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), The University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus

Presentation Title: A Digital Water Dashboard for Sustainable Groundwater Resources Management in Northern Belize

About Presentation: This work aimed to develop a novel web-based tool to support sustainable groundwater management under a changing climate. This tool referred to as the Belize Digital Water dashboard, has capabilities that did not previously exist for visualising and analysing groundwater data. We envisage that this tool can be used by a broad cross-section of stakeholders for scientifically sound water resources management.

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Dr. Azucena Rodriguez Yebra

Water Resources Scientist, HR Wallingford

Presentation Title: Drought Forecasting as a Planning Tool for Climate Change Adaptation in Saint Kitts and Nevis

About Presentation: The development of effective drought forecasting systems has been a significant challenge because of the unique characteristics of droughts. Saint Kitts and Nevis' drought forecasting system provides decision-makers with timely and reliable access to information on which mitigation measures can be based.

SPEAKERS
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Dr. Antonella Rivera

Principal Investigator, Coral Reef Alliance

Presentation Title: Sanitation Best Management Practices for Caribbean Coral Reefs

About Presentation: Mitigating the Impact of Pathogens on Caribbean Coral Reefs: The Role of Sanitation Best Management Practices (SBMPs) and Community Involvement.

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Mr. Akil Crichlow

Previous Graduate Student at The University of the West Indies (UWI) and

Trinidad and Tobago Chapter Member for the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN)

Presentation Title: Green Solutions for Stable Slopes: Investigating Nature's Way of Regulating Soil Moisture Content in Expansive Clays

About Presentation: Vetiver grass treatment showed the greatest potential to moderate moisture levels and improve slope stability, suggesting using nature-based solutions as a promising approach to disaster risk reduction in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

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Mr. Romiero Griffiths

Assistant Hydrologist, Water Resources Authority (WRA) of Jamaica

Presentation Title: Water Allocation and Water Use

About Presentation: Water use in some parts of Jamaica indicates a paradigm shift from agricultural to domestic use once designated agricultural lands (arable lands) are being reformed into housing stacks and other developments.

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Mr. Alex Harewood

Project Engineer, Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)

Presentation Title: How climate change affects water conservation efforts in the Caribbean and how to prepare for these impending threats

About Presentation: This presentation seeks to address key negative impacts of climate change and how we, as Caribbean people, can be empowered to assess approaches to increase our climate resilience. It will also highlight areas that stakeholders in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) countries can increase water conservation efforts.

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Dr. David Yawson

Senior Lecturer and the Director of the Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES) at The University of the West Indies (UWI),

Cave Hill Campus.

Presentation Title: Insights for strategic water-food security policies using production water footprints and virtual water flows associated with corn and chicken meat in the Caribbean

 

About Presentation: This presentation will explore themes such as:

  • The main challenges for water conservation in the Caribbean and how these differ across countries and sectors.

  •  Research meeting the needs of policymakers and other water sector stakeholders.

  • Strengthening partnerships among academia, policymakers, private and third sector, to develop and deliver innovative and sustainable water conservation solutions.

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Ms. Leanne Spence

Director, Instant-Save Conservation Solutions Jamaica Limited

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Richard A. Coutou

Projects Manager, Instant-Save Conservation Solutions Jamaica Limited

Presentation Title: Assessment of future water savings for Kingston, Jamaica using demand-side

water management strategies and the creation of a shared savings model for medium-large commercial facilities

About Presentation: This presentation will include examples of best practices in the Caribbean or elsewhere that can help inform future conservation efforts in the region.

Paper Session Facilitators include:

 

  • Dr. Arpita Mandal, Senior Lecturer (Department of Geography and Geology), The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus and GWP-C Technical Committee Member

 

  • Mr. Miguel Montoute, Water Resources Specialist at the Water Resources Management Agency (WRMA) of St. Lucia and GWP-C Steering Committee and Technical Committee Member

 

  • Mr. Reginald Burke, Executive Coordinator in the Caribbean, Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) and GWP-C Steering Committee Member

the 2023 cssw in 9 visuals

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Visuals for all sessions in the 2023 Caribbean Science Symposium on Water (CSSW) were captured and produced by our graphic recorder. Get an idea of the discussions and the key themes arising out of the 2023 CSSW by downloading the nine (9) visuals.

download available

2023 cssw presentations

Paper Session 1: Modelling for Sustainability and Resilience

 

Dr. Azucena Rodriguez Yebra – Water Resources Scientist, HR Wallingford

Download Presentation: Incorporating Drought Risk Modelling as a Planning Tool for Climate Change Adaptation Measures

 

Dr. Karl Payne – Lecturer, Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES), The University of the West Indies (UWI) Cave Hill Campus

Download Presentation: A Digital Water Dashboard for Sustainable Groundwater Resources Management in Northern Belize

 

Mr. Akil Crichlow – Past Graduate Student at The University of the West Indies (UWI) and Trinidad and Tobago Chapter Member for the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN)

Download Presentation: Green Solutions for Slope Stability: Regulating Soil Moisture Content in Expansive Clays: Connecting Nature-based Solutions with Disaster Risk Reduction in Trinidad 

GWP-C Shark Tank Winners Panel 

 

Mr. Dean Morris – Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer of Kee Farms | 2022 Winner of the GWP-C Young Caribbean Water Entrepreneurs Shark Tank Competition from Jamaica

Download Presentation: Multitrophic Mariculture for Ocean Restoration

Paper Session II: Building Resilience through Effective Planning and Monitoring

 

Dr. Antonella Rivera – Principal Investigator, Coral Reef Alliance

Download Presentation: Sanitation Best Management Practices for Caribbean Coral Reefs

 

Ms. Leanne Spence – Director, Instant-Save Conservation Solutions Jamaica Limited and Richard A. Coutou – Projects Manager, Instant-Save Conservation Solutions Jamaica Limited

Download Presentation: Assessment of Potential Water Savings for Kingston, Jamaica – Using demand-side water management strategies and the creation of a shared savings model for medium-large commercial facilities 

Paper Session III: Conservation and Sustainability

 

Mr. Romiero Griffiths – Assistant Hydrologist, Water Resources Authority (WRA) of Jamaica

Download Presentation: Urbanisation and its Impacts on Water Use in the Lower Rio Cobre Alluvium Aquifer – Portmore, St. Catherine Jamaica

Innovations Panel: Good water conservation practices/policy initiatives from the Caribbean

 

Ms. Virginie Clerima – CARIBSAN Project Manager, International Office for Water

Download Presentation: The Caribbean Cooperation for Wastewater Treatment Inspired by Natural Heritage

 

Partners
our cssw partners
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