Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face multiple social, economic, political and environmental challenges that threaten their survival and development. Frequent natural hazards such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes and droughts as well as diseases have a differential impact on the region’s diverse population groups.

Participatory Action Research (PAR) and gender mainstreaming tools have been used effectively to conduct several mixed methods studies on climate change and disaster risk management in the region. They facilitate use of innovative strategies to facilitate the participation of vulnerable and hard-to-reach population groups, enabling them to voice and share their diverse needs, to promote policy advocacy and programme changes. Research experiences using these tools will be shared to show their adaptive capacity to promote human rights, environmental justice and sustainable development in various disciples, sectors and countries.

Dr. Leith Dunn – Jamaican Sociologist and Gender Specialist, is former Head of the Institute for Gender and Development Studies (IGDS) Mona Unit at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica (April 2006-July 2021) and is currently Senior Associate Researcher and Lecturer at the UWI. She earned a PhD in Sociology from the London School of Economics and Political Science; and from the UWI, an MSc (Sociology) and BA (Hons), (Languages and Social Sciences). She has worked with national, regional and international development agencies including the United Nations.

Her research and publications have focused on gender mainstreaming in social economic, political development and environmental justice. Leith has received several awards for her contribution to promoting gender justice and equality. In 2019 Apolitical.com named her as one of the 100 most influential persons globally promoting gender equality and gender policies.