Merry Christmas from UNDP

On Target # 3 - The CHRISTMAS EDITION | OCT. TO DEC. 2017

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year from UNDP

The Management and Staff of the UNDP Country Office take great pleasure in wishing you a blessed and peaceful Christmas . As we prepare for a New Year in service to and partnership with the Governments and People of Jamaica, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, and the Turks and Caic os, we wish to reassure you of our unwavering commitment to supporting your sustainable development aspirations by connecting you to knowledge, experience and resources to help our people build a better life. Let us continue to work together in 2018 in pursuit of Agenda 2030 as we collectively seek to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity.

ON THE MOVE

Six local companies sign up for UNDP's Gender Equality Seal Certification Programme

After signing the commitment board: From left Larry Watson, President, Jamaica Chamber of Commerce, Yaritza Castillo, of Bepensa company from the Dominican Republic; Everton Morgan of Facey Commodity, Thalia Lynn of Island Grill, Minister of Culture, Gender Entertainment and Sports, the Hon Olivia Babsy Grange, Milverton Reynolds of Development Bank of Jamaica, Bruno Pouezat, UNDP Resident Representative, Alain Carreau of Rubis Energy Jamaica, Minna Israel, University of the West Indies Regional Headquarters

RUBIS Energy Jamaica, Island Grill, Facey Commodity, Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, Development Bank of Jamaica and the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce will become the first in the English-speaking Caribbean to submit their internal operations for review, revision and strengthening, with the aim of securing a Gender Equality Seal globally coordinated by UNDP. Companies which earn the Gender Equality Seal have demonstrated achievements in gender-equality practices through recruitment, organizational placement, wages, times and working hours, opportunities, care of the vulnerable, sexual harassment protocols and budget allocations for gender activities.

MORE on this story

Development Minerals project boosts local capacity

The ACP-EU Development Minerals programme, now in its second year has been making solid contributions to capacity development in the sector. Some 103 persons have been trained to date in environment, safety, health, gender, mining and quarry management and GIS geo-data applications. Through South-south cooperation, the programme successfully concluded a one month training of nine Jamaican artisans in Tanzania in Ceramic artisan and pottery, along with a study tour of 5 persons who will implement a return to work plan. The Programme has provided opportunities to strengthen the policy, legal and institutional frameworks of the sector and to ensure that exploration and extraction operations are environmentally and socially sustainable.

Japan Caribbean Climate Change Project in full implementation mode

Jeffrey James, Project Assistant (left), Eltha Brown, National Focal Point (centre), Lloyd Robinson, 4H Clubs (right) at the inspection of tanks and equipment delivered for the JCCCP Project.

The UNDP-implemented Japan Caribbean Climate Change Partnership (JCCCP) which is demonstrating the power of climate smart technologies and techniques to support alternative livelihoods and climate change mitigation has begun on the ground implementation for its pilot projects. So far, tanks, guttering and irrigation for 70 school gardens has been delivered and installation has started . Contracts for the rehabilitation of tanks in the Victoria and Richmond Park communit ies in Clarendon are being finalised and progress is being made towards the Cascade project as procurement continues for the services of an irrigation engineer . UNDP serves as the overall implementing partner for this project through its regional office in Barbados, while the Jamaica component is implemented through the UNDP office in Jamaica in collaboration with key stakeholders.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Promoting the Sustainable Development Goals

UNDP supports PIOJ's Dialogue for Development public education series

‌

Students pose with the SDG cubes at the Montego Bay leg of the series - PIOJ Photo

Dialogue goes to Portland. Here the Panel Discussion - PIOJ Photo

A patron contemplates her answers for the SDG wheel game in UNDP's Action Zone booth

The Planning Institute of Jamaica's Dialogue for Development Lecture series supported by the UNDP was convened starting October 2017 with the final leg taking place on 5 December in Kingston. The series branded 'The Jamaica We Want' was designed to enhance knowledge of the Sustainable Development Goals, and to facilitate dialogue on the role of all citizens in “leaving no one behind” while advancing the national vision 2030. The series included two regional fora and a main dialogue in Kingston. The theme for 2017 was “The Jamaica We Want: Vision 2030, advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)...leaving no one behind".

THIS is the Jamaica WE Want

The Planning Institute of Jamaica has produced a special public education video on the Sustainable Development Goals with the support of the UNDP through its Localizing SDGs project. The Video which premiered at the Kingston leg of the Dialogue for Development series received high commendation from patrons. The video features the voices and faces of Jamaicans from every walk of life championing action on the Goals while declaring the kind of world and Jamaica desired by 2030.

MORE on this Story

CLIMATE & DISASTER RESILIENCE

UNDP & TCI in climate resilience

& disaster recovery talks

Director of the Department of Disaster Management and Emergencies in Turks and Caicos Islands, Dr Virginia Clerveaux (left) at meeting with Bruno Pouezat, UNDP Resident Representative for Jamaica, Bahamas, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Turks and Caicos, and Dr. Elsie Laurence-Chounoune, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative DDME Photo

Hurricane damage in Turks and Caicos above and second photo on the left. Bottom photo is a satellite image of Hurricane Irma

In the aftermath of hurricanes Maria and Irma, a UNDP mission team led by UNDP Resident Representative Bruno Pouezat and Deputy Resident Representative Dr. Elsie Laurence Chounoune traveled to Turks and Caicos Islands to discuss UNDP's support for climate resilience and disaster recovery. Also on the mission team were UNDP Programmes Specialist Richard Kelly and UNDP Programme Analyst, Capacity Development, Ava Whyte- Anderson

While there they they met DDME Director Dr Virginia Clerveaux who thanked UNDP for their support and continuous commitment to strengthening the National Capacity of the Turks and Caicos Islands. Mr Pouezat, underscored that “as climate change increases the severity, duration, and frequency of hazards such as Hurricanes, it is vital to develop greater capacity for resilience and response to be sustainable. The focus on recovery and recovery planning after a crisis should begin as early as possible. The UNDP is committed to supporting the DDME develop capacity to ensure that communities and the people of the TCI are more resilient”, he said during the meeting. Reporting contributed by DDME

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE

Faith Leaders explore ending discrimination against vulnerable groups

A regional Train the Trainers Workshop was convened in Trinidad to involve the Faith Based Community in discussions on how to end discrimination against key populations most affected by stigma and discrimination such as sex workers, LGBTI persons, Migrants and PLHIV’s. The meeting was held November 29, to December 1.

The meeting facilitated the engagement of regional Faith Based leaders to discuss their view and their churches perspectives around individual choices related to sex, sexuality and gender. The leaders who participated represented several churches and church groups and all expressed their interest to not only actively participate in the discussions, but explore how through their work they could bridge the gap between the two communities. The leaders expressed that while there may be challenges to do so it is important to develop institutional and national level action to address some of the stances of the church that are viewed as discriminatory. A key outcome of the Global Fund Caribbean regional grant is to reduce stigma and discrimination as a barrier to HIV treatment and prevention.

A NEW UNDP

UNDP unveils new blueprint for 21st century

The United Nations Development Programme, has launched a new and ambitious blueprint for development in the 21st century at the United Nations headquarters in New York on 29 November. “This is a new plan for a new era,” said Achim Steiner, Administrator of UNDP, at the Executive Board in New York. Anchored in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and committed to the principles of universality, equality and leaving no one behind, it sets out a vision for the evolution of UNDP over the next four years.