Advisors Next Door Ltd. has partnered with Habitat for Humanity Trinidad and Tobago through a Memorandum of Understanding, to undertake climate change adaptation and resilience projects across the country.
Advisors Next Door, a consulting firm specializing in environmental and financial services, met on Monday September 27 with reputable NGO, Habitat TT, to sign the agreement. The MOU sets a collaborative framework for both organizations to undertake community-based projects aimed at identifying vulnerabilities, reducing disaster risk, and building adaptive capacity.
Addressing the gathering at the signing ceremony, Habitat TT’s National Director Jennifer Massiah said: “We strongly believe partnership and collaboration are central to achieving sustainable development and long-lasting positive transformations. This strategic alliance strengthens our efforts to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through shelter by augmenting our technical expertise in environmental policy and planning. The effects of climate change threaten to erode our progress in supporting marginalized and vulnerable communities. So, moving forward, we must ensure that all of our work continues to be aligned with national and international frameworks for addressing climate change and its impacts.”
As the exchange of instruments was in progress, there were news reports of South Trinidad experiencing blistering temperatures of over 33oC, while isolated thunderstorms in North Trinidad brought hail showers and flooding.
Speaking directly to the partnership, in the context of these unfolding events, Ryan Assiu, Director at Advisors Next Door Limited said: “Climate change is like a magnifying glass on social inequities; it amplifies existing stressors in marginalized communities and deepens the struggle of those facing poverty, food insecurity or insecure housing. It is in this context that Advisors is thrilled to partner with Habitat TT. Supporting civil society is a core tenet of our environmental and social governance programme, so we will work with Habitat TT to establish climate-smart housing and help communities manage disaster risk,”
Advisors Next Door Ltd. is currently providing technical support to Habitat TT on the project “Accelerating the Essentials and Making Port of Spain a Resilient City” funded by US AID Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance. The project aims to advance local commitment and capacity towards disaster risk reduction. Through this MOU, Advisors Next Door Ltd. will continue to provide support for this and similar projects with Habitat TT over the next five years.
