The three projects helping Caribbean communities prepare for disaster

Team Barbados: “Staying Afloat Beyond the Boats”

A three-part video documentary series, “Staying Afloat Beyond the Boats”, will follow the lives of Barbados’ fisherfolk as they fight to rebuild following the aftermath of the 2024 Hurricane Beryl. The series will explore gaps in disaster preparedness and insurance; the link between fisheries and national food security; and the rebuilding of fishing infrastructure.

Team Barbados aims to drive their project through human-centred storytelling, data visuals, and audience-friendly language and looks to inform thousands of industry workers, amplify calls for fairer disaster policies, and raise awareness of the real costs of climate inaction in vulnerable sectors.

In an interview with PMA, the team said that one of the most surprising discoveries for them was how quickly they were able to access relevant data in one place following the disaster. However, they added that this also highlighted a significant disconnect between the official data and the lived experiences of fisherfolk. “For example, while funding was allocated for recovery, it largely went to boat owners — leaving out processors and other vital contributors in the value chain who also suffered losses,” Team Barbados said.

“It was important to tell this story from the perspective of fisherfolk because they are the ones most directly impacted by disasters — particularly processors and vendors, many of whom are women and heads of households. When support systems fail to reach them, it has a severe impact on their families and financial stability. To truly understand the impact and build equitable recovery solutions, we need to hear from all fisherfolk voices.”

Team Grenada: “Know Before You Sow”

Team Grenada’s project looks to go directly to local farmers. Through weekly radio updates, SMS tips, and visual explainers, farmers in Grenada will receive timely guidance on planting windows, drought risks, and weather changes. A three-part storytelling arc — “The Rain Didn’t Come,” “What the Data Says,” and “The Women Who Stayed” — will unfold as part of this work.

Told through the voices of farmers, experts, and rural leaders, each story is grounded in verified local climate data and shaped by lived experience. Community engagement will also be integral to testing how data can shift farmer perceptions and support climate-smart decisions.

Cross-border team: “Early Warning Systems: Bridging the Accessibility Gap”

This cross-border project – bringing together Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago – investigates how gaps in early warning systems (EWS) across the Caribbean leave some of the most vulnerable people, including those with disabilities and non-English speakers, at heightened risk during climate-related disasters. The project was developed with the recognition that many national disaster messages fail to consider the needs of these groups, leaving them underinformed and unprepared. By amplifying community voices and exposing systemic gaps, the project aims to advocate for more accessible, inclusive disaster communication strategies across the region.

Using field reporting, community storytelling, and open data, the team will produce a multimedia, data-driven project across television, radio, print, and digital platforms.

“As journalists, our role is to give voice to the voiceless, not just some, but all.” – Cross-border team

Members of the cross-border team explain their work to trainer Claudia Báez (left) during the hackathon in Bridgetown, Barbados.

“Early warning systems have the power to save lives, but only when the messages reach everyone. As journalists, our role is to give voice to the voiceless, not just some, but all. We believe these systems must be built with inclusivity at their core, reflecting the needs of every sector of society.

By highlighting the current gaps in policy and practice, we hope to help spark a movement toward a more equitable and resilient approach to disaster preparedness,” said the team.

For them, the cross-border nature of the collaboration has been eye-opening. “It’s shown us that while our contexts differ, our challenges — like gaps in early warning systems — are the same. It’s strengthened our storytelling and reminded us that disasters do not respect borders, and neither should our solutions!”

What’s next for the teams?

The teams are now entering the solutions testing phase, where they will refine their ideas, deepen community engagement, and build out early versions of their projects. Alongside this, they will receive tailored mentorship and support from data journalism experts to prepare for the project’s final milestone — a virtual showcase in October 2025. At this showcase, the teams will present their final outputs to stakeholders across media, disaster management, and civil society.

For Team Barbados, the engagement phase is a chance to witness tangible change and be part of driving it. They aim to explore how fisherfolk, particularly those often left out of recovery funding, perceive preparedness and insurance, with the hope of encouraging more humane, people-centred policies and fairer funding distribution.

Meanwhile, for the cross-border team, this next stage is about inspiring urgency and responsibility among audiences, particularly those with loved ones in vulnerable communities and those in positions of power. They hope to spark action towards more inclusive early warning systems, grounded in the principle that disaster preparedness must protect everyone and that we all have a duty to be our brother’s keeper.

“We’re excited by the level of creativity, collaboration, and community focus the teams have shown so far,” said PMA’s Project & Advocacy Coordinator, Desilon Daniels. “These are not just data projects; they’re public service projects rooted in community needs. We’re looking forward to seeing them grow in impact as the year progresses.”