| Overview : Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) has been experiencing a phase of continued economic growth driven primarily by the expansion of the energy sector. As a result, rapid urbanization occurred and has contributed to the high vulnerability of the twin island Republic to multiple natural hazards and increasing technological and human-induced hazards. ODPM has been given the national mandate for Trinidad and Tobago as lead agency for disaster risk management which includes the responsibility for implementing the policy and programme for protection of critical infrastructure. By virtue of Cabinet Minute No. 1043 of April 29, 2010, the institutional framework and organizational structure have been established, and building national and community resilience to natural and anthropogenic hazards is an overarching objective. The alignment of Trinidad and Tobago with the Hyogo Framework for Action and Millennium Development Goals is ongoing and ODPM leads this process by mainstreaming disaster risk management into the plans and operations of the Government of Trinidad and Tobago (GORTT). This joint capacity building project between UNDP and ODPM will make a contribution to improving Disaster Risk Management Policy, Strategy and Operations in Trinidad and Tobago, and will assist in improving early warning systems (EWS). UNDP T&T has prior experience in working with the ODPM and has a worldwide network of expertise in disaster management directly available to this project that will provide support in the contexts of best practices, technical advice and operational support. The above mentioned project includes an output related to the enhancement of the national operational preparedness of T&T to facilitate and regulate International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA) in the wake of a disaster. Although T&T has historically experienced few major disasters, the effects of climate change on the frequency and magnitude of disasters around the world has served as a catalyst to increase the country’s preparedness for future disasters, especially because the Caribbean is prone to hurricanes and earthquakes. As part of its preparedness measures the ODPM has established a Humanitarian Operations Center (HOC) which will be activated once necessary and will provide a comprehensive approach to link the local responders within the nation with International Humanitarian Agencies and Organizations (IHAO) (both civilian and military) to assist the GORTT to achieve a desired end state through coordination and synchronization. HOC personnel at the tactical level will be expected to carry out National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) tasks and directly contribute to the humanitarian effort as “boots on the ground”. The multiple dimensions of the humanitarian effort are all influenced by the HOC, as their focus is on the civil environment. HOC Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been updated by the ODPM and are currently under review. Internationally, after years of intensive research and consultations on problems and best practice in the regulation of international disaster relief, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) led negotiations to develop international guidelines to help governments strengthen their domestic laws and policies. This culminated in the development of the “Guidelines for the domestic facilitation and regulation of international disaster relief and initial recovery assistance” (also known as the “International Disaster Response Law (IDRL) Guidelines”). The IDRL Guidelines are intended to assist governments in becoming better prepared for the common legal problems that can be faced in international response operations, but the core areas addressed in the guidelines can also assist a country with its operational readiness. These Guidelines can assist governments in mitigating needless delays in the dissemination of humanitarian relief while at the same time ensuring better coordination and quality of the assistance provided. To support the process of building this capacity to manage disaster risk ex ante, on behalf of the GORTT, the UNDP is currently seeking a suitable professional to work with the Ministry of National Security, for the purpose of analyzing and assessing Trinidad and Tobago’s legislative and operational framework for domestic facilitation and regulation of International Humanitarian Assistance (IHA), with the aim of strengthening the existing operational mechanisms. | 
