Caribbean Climate Centre names Jamaican Mansfield Blackwood as Assistant Executive Director

The Belize-based Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) has announced the appointment of Jamaican development expert Mansfield Blackwood as its new assistant executive director, effective September 15.

Executive Director Dr. Colin Young welcomed the appointment, describing Blackwood as a seasoned leader with decades of experience in climate programming and regional development.

“As a Caribbean national, he brings extensive knowledge and thought leadership of working across the region to advance climate resilience and sustainable development objectives,” Young said in a statement. “He is intimately familiar with the Caribbean development landscape and will no doubt bring his proven track record of building strong and lasting partnerships to support the CCCCC’s work as we continue to deliver on our mandate and accelerate climate action to improve lives and livelihoods across our region.”

Blackwood previously served as partner country systems advisor and senior technical specialist with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). Over the course of his 30-year career, he has held senior roles in both international development and the private sector, contributing to projects across the Caribbean. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from the University of the West Indies.

The CCCCC said Blackwood’s appointment comes at a critical time, as the institution seeks to deepen strategic partnerships and expand its efforts to strengthen climate resilience in the face of growing threats to the region’s economies and ecosystems.

He has played an integral role in the design and implementation of programs through several regional bodies, including the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), and the CCCCC itself, in addition to work with contractors and non-governmental organisations.

In his new role, Blackwood will provide strategic oversight and technical guidance to the Programme Development and Management Division (PDMD) and the Technical Services Division (TSD). According to the Centre, his responsibilities will include aligning projects with regional priorities, supporting engagement with stakeholders at the national and international levels, strengthening the CCCCC’s project pipeline, and advancing climate finance proposals to meet institutional targets.