Long-term Resilience Building in Dominica

IsraAID Dominica’s latest regional initiative brings the transformative potential of economic resilience to boost community capacities across the Eastern Caribbean.

Households with stable incomes are better equipped to support themselves during routine and withstand emergencies. Their individual capacity to cope, and their investments in the local economy, contribute to community-level resilience. Yet in the Eastern Caribbean, limited job opportunities and repeated economic shocks have left many young adults disconnected from pathways to success. The barriers increase every time a climate disaster disrupts key sectors like tourism and agriculture, deepening economic insecurity.

IsraAID has been working to bridge this gap in Dominica since 2021. Our remote training program has guided hundreds of vulnerable individuals to develop new skills, enter the digital workforce, and build sustainable livelihoods online. This year, we brought our expertise to five new Eastern Caribbean communities for the first time.

IsraAID launched Work Online Caribbean in partnership with local organizations and the Ministries of Digital Economy from Anguilla, Grenada, Montserrat, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and the British Virgin Islands, together with UNDP. 30 individuals from vulnerable backgrounds – including unemployed young adults, single parents, and people with disabilities – participated in the six-week pilot.

Participants completed weekly group coaching, one-on-one mentorship, and self-paced learning modules on their individual goals. The hands-on approach ensured learners could feel confident stepping into online work. Many have successfully found new roles in areas like graphic design, writing, data entry, and virtual assistance.

In Montserrat, where young adults often leave the island for opportunities abroad, Work Online Caribbean offers a way to stay rooted. In Anguilla, it provides an alternative path to youth gang activity, which has been on the rise. And for persons with disabilities, the training has opened doors that traditional employment may not.

IsraAID and our partners are now conducting digital readiness assessments to ensure that future programming is informed by local infrastructure, policy environments, and most importantly, community needs.

Beyond individual transformation, Work Online Caribbean enhances community and regional resilience. Home-based employment can stem the “brain drain” facing the region, helping hazard-prone areas retain skilled leaders. We also encourage participants to share their knowledge and train others in their communities. Lastly, the regional structure fosters collaboration and knowledge-sharing, contributing to a more connected and resilient Caribbean future. We are excited to build on this success with more opportunities to share our expertise and learn from regional partners in the future.

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