PHD Candidate Aims to Build Local Policy Infrastructure to Unlock Climate Funds

For small island developing states (SIDS) like Jamaica, climate change is not a far-off, abstract threat; it is a disruptive reality with real financial and infrastructural consequences.

The catastrophic Category Five Hurricane Melissa, which weaved a path of devastation across western Jamaica, destroying critical infrastructure like the Black River Hospital and displacing thousands of citizens, is a prime example.

Seven months later, while yet another hurricane season has got under way, the nation is still rebuilding from the disaster.

While the infrastructural repairs are under way, the fiscal fallout for individual citizens and the wider economy will likely be felt for months or years to come.

Disasters require massive mobilisation of capital, that despite careful planning and pre-positioning, often leave nations falling short.

Enter 29-year-old Jamaican scholar, CARICOM Youth Ambassador, Odane Brooks, who is studying for a PhD in Sustainable Finance, at the Cochin University of Science and Technology in the state of Kerala, India.

He is aiming to bring back expertise to help Jamaica (and the wider Caribbean) to unlock global climate funds, by building the necessary local policy infrastructure.

Mr. Brooks’ pursuit has been made possible through an Indian Government scholarship.

“The scholarship is one that is offered through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations – for short, ICCR. It is offered to several countries that share bilateral relationship with India. Five slots are allotted to Jamaica on an annual basis,” he explains.

Mr. Brooks says his area of study perfectly aligns with Jamaica’s development goals as a SID that faces significant climate vulnerabilities.

Highlighting the recent passage of Hurricane Melissa, he notes that it created significant economic as well as social dislocation within the society.

Mr. Brooks says it will require significant levels of financing for the Government to fully respond to the situation.

“That brings into perspective why small countries like ours see climate financing and sustainable financing as so important, because it is the lifeblood of our societies to be able to strengthen our resilience, both from a socioeconomic standpoint, but more importantly, from a fiscal standpoint,” he states.

The PhD student says studying sustainable financing at the highest level is, therefore, timely.

“It is something that will support our national development agenda with respect to building resilience and strengthening our climate finance architecture because we cannot invest too much in resilience. We are exposed to climate shocks and for our economy to be sufficiently insulated from those shocks, we have to prepare,” he tells JIS News.

Mr. Brooks says he is hopeful that he will be able to support Jamaica’s overall thrust for new and innovative blended financing.

“When I look at the global landscape of climate financing, there are trillions of dollars that are out there for countries to unlock, but we also have to put the policy infrastructure in place. So, I’m hopeful that my PhD focus will be able to strengthen my own capacity to support that endeavour,” he states.

Mr. Brooks, who previously worked as a Policy and Research Officer at the Department of Co-operatives and Friendly Societies and a Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist at the Development Bank of Jamaica (DBJ), is also eager to provide support to the country’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

“I also want to contribute to that area, so we can not only transition from a government standpoint to more sustainable financing but we can also transition our MSMEs to be more sustainable and also to be able to withstand different climate shocks, as well as global vulnerabilities,” he details.

Mr. Brooks says his current trajectory will see him not only being of service to Jamaica but also to the Caribbean.

“The issue of climate change, as well as strengthening our resilience infrastructure… is not just unique to Jamaica; it is an issue that cuts across the board, right across the Caribbean,” he emphasises.