The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) announces the appointment of Mr. Mansfield Blackwood as its new Assistant Executive Director (AED).
Mr. Blackwood brings over 30 years of extensive experience in international development and private sector leadership across the Caribbean region. His appointment comes at a critical time as the CCCCC continues to expand its efforts to strengthen regional climate resilience and deepen strategic partnerships.
Prior to joining the CCCCC, Mr. Blackwood served with distinction at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for two decades, based in Barbados. At USAID, he held the positions of Partner Country Systems Advisor and formerly Senior Technical Specialist, where he played an integral role in the design and implementation of programs through key regional organizations such as the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), CARICOM, the CCCCC, and a range of contractors and NGOs.
Throughout his tenure, Mr. Blackwood spearheaded initiatives in climate change adaptation, disaster preparedness and post-disaster recovery, clean energy, biodiversity, and citizen security. He also served as the Mission’s primary liaison with ministries across 10 Caribbean governments, earning two Superior Honour Awards for his contributions to the region and his work in Haiti following the 2010 earthquake.
Before his time at USAID, Mr. Blackwood served as General Manager of LOJ Property Management Ltd. in Jamaica, where he led a team of over 200 staff in managing a diversified commercial property portfolio. His early career also included a lead civil engineering role with the Alumina Partners of Jamaica, overseeing the design and construction of infrastructure such as roads, dams, ports, and industrial facilities.
Mr. Blackwood’s role as the CCCCC’s Assistant Executive Director will include inter alia providing strategic oversight and technical guidance to the Programme Development and Management Division (PDMD) and the Technical Services Division (TSD), ensuring alignment with regional priorities and the CCCCC’s strategic direction, supporting engagement with national, regional and international stakeholders for project/programme implementation and playing a critical role in strengthening the CCCCC’s project pipeline, guiding the development of climate finance proposals, and advancing institutional targets.
Executive Director of the CCCCC, Dr. Colin Young, welcomed Mr. Blackwood’s appointment, noting: “Mansfield brings a wealth of experience in regional development, climate programming, and strategic leadership. As a Caribbean national, he brings extensive knowledge and thought leadership of working across the Region to advance climate resilience and sustainable development objectives; he is intimately familiar with the Caribbean development landscape and he 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.”
Mr. Blackwood holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration and a Bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering, both from the University of the West Indies. He will officially assume duties on September 5, 2025, and will be based at the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre’s Headquarters in Belmopan, Belize, where he will join the senior leadership team in advancing the Centre’s mandate to build a climate-resilient Caribbean. (CCCCC Press Release)
About the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC)
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre is an intergovernmental organisation established by the Heads of Governments of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to coordinate the region’s response to managing and adapting to climate change. The CCCCC also serves as a delivery partner for climate finance for the region, a repository for regional climate change information and data provider of climate change-related policy advice and guidelines to the CARICOM Member States.
