Disaster risk reduction to multi-hazards in small island developing states : the case of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Abstract

Many Small Island Developing States (SIDS) are vulnerable to hazardous events because of their characteristics of being remote, small, and susceptible to external shocks. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) is one such small island state that is faced with multiple hazardous events. There is therefore a need for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) measures to be in place for such islands to be able to withstand the impacts of these hazards. This research aims to investigate frameworks on DRR in multi-hazardous situations in SIDS and the extent of implementation of DRR measures in SVG, through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and a content analysis of national budgets spanning from 2012 to 2021. The results show that there is a progressive increase in the mentions and allocations of budgetary sums to DRR. There are, however, key DDR terms and concepts that are conspicuously absent from the budgets such as risk assessment, risk awareness, and education, linked to multi-hazards, which suggests that a lack of adequate measures, and corresponding funding, is to be registered. This study may be useful to guide policy in the area of DDR measures in SVG and support further research in the area of multihazards in SIDS.