Enrique Rivas is the Senior Vice President, Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Business Unit. He has more than 30 years of experience with social and economic development projects in areas of post-conflict and political instability. He has served as chief of party on six programs, including on the Juntos Para la Prevención de la…
Peter Doyle has more than 25 years of experience in environmental management, alternative development, and social and community development. Peter currently serves as the chief of party for the Sustainable Environmental Governance Across Regions (SEGAR) activity in Indonesia. Previously, as the chief of party for USAID’s Oro Legal program, he led efforts to reduce the…
Indonesia’s archipelago contains almost 20 percent of the world’s coral reefs. Because these reefs house 90 percent of the fish caught by coastal fishers, they are vital to the maintenance of millions of the country’s jobs. However, unsustainable and destructive fishing practices have made fisheries in Indonesia less productive, resilient, and sustainable, threatening the national…
In recent years, deforestation in Colombia has more than doubled, and climate change has increased the frequency of extreme weather, threatening ecosystems and biodiversity. In response, the USAID Biodiversity — Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (Bio-REDD+) project collaborated with the Colombian government to equip communities to sustainably manage their environmental resources. To mitigate…
The Republic of the Maldives is especially vulnerable to climate-related hazards, such as extreme rainfall, droughts, rising sea levels, damaging winds, and elevated water and air temperatures. The USAID Enhance Climate Resiliency and Water Security project, also referred to as “Maldives Global Climate Change (Maldives GCC),” improved the Maldives’ preparedness for such hazards. The project…
Climate change has been tough on South Africa’s emerging economy, heightening existing challenges to it and widening the gulf between sustainable and affordable economic growth. The USAID South Africa Low Emissions Development (SA-LED) program bridged the gap between public institutions and investors. Having provided comprehensive support and training for project preparation, SA-LED gave investors a…
Climate change is severely affecting vulnerable populations in Mali that need greater access to meteorological information and guidance on how to use it to create effective agricultural activities and plans.
In the Philippines, watersheds are one of the country’s key sources of natural capital: These drainage basins protect vulnerable communities from natural disasters while supporting 35 percent of the country’s energy needs through hydro and geothermal power. Another key source of capital, forests support agriculture as well as timber and non-timber projects that total $100…
Home to 60 percent of the country’s population, Mozambique’s coastal cities drive national economic development. But because of their locations, they are also some of the most vulnerable cities in Africa: They are exposed to rises in sea level, cyclones, erosion, tropical storms, and other effects of climate change. The USAID Coastal City Adaptation Project…
Headquartered in Washington, D.C. and with more than two dozen regional and national offices around the world, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) rigorously analyzes data and information that indicate an area is or will soon be facing food insecurity or famine. The network also provides early warnings to donors and governments, equipping…
What are the biggest risks if cities in Mozambique do not become more resilient? It would be a catastrophe. Right now, we’re starting to see the impact of extreme climate events, and we know they will get worse. Even minor-seeming weather events can cause significant problems. For example, it rained lot in the city of…
By 2030, global food producers will need to feed an estimated 8.3 billion people, reflecting an increase of about 1 billion from the world’s population in 2015. Nearly one-third of the world’s current population, or approximately 2.5 billion people, depend on agriculture for their livelihood. However, increasingly frequent severe weather events caused by climate change…