2019 ANNUAL REPORT United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Multi Country Office in Jamaica For People & Planet Table of Contents About the UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica........................... 4-5 Messages ► Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica ................................ 6-7 ► Resident Representative, UNDP Multi Country .................................. 8-9 Office in Jamaica Focused Programmatic Areas ► Sustainable Development ............................................................. 10-19 ► Democratic Governance ................................................................ 20-25 ► Crisis Prevention and Recovery ................................................. 26-47 ► Gender Equality ................................................................................... 48-51 Development Services ........................................................................................ 52-53 Project Listing ........................................................................................................... 54-56 Financial Report ....................................................................................................... 57 2 UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN JAMAICA | ANNUAL REPORT 2020 UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN JAMAICA | ANNUAL REPORT 2020 3 About the UNDP Multi Country Office in the Caribbean UNDP is the leading United Nations organization All our work is built on the principles of reaching fighting to end the injustice of Poverty, Inequality, the farthest and most vulnerable first so that no and Climate Change. Working with our broad one is left behind while ensuring environmental network of experts and partners in 170 countries, sustainability and adequate use and management we help nations to build integrated, lasting of natural resources. South-South Cooperation solutions for people and planet. is also a critical part of our work as we continue to support in knowledge sharing and learning In fulfilment of the corporate mission, the UNDP from best practices towards achieving the Multi Country Office (MCO) based in Jamaica Sustainable Development Goals. supports countries within our programme jurisdiction to build integrated, lasting solutions in As the delinking of the UN Resident Coordinator three areas consistent with national development (RC) and the UNDP Resident Representative (RR) priorities: (1) Sustainable Development; (2) functions became two distinct roles in 2019, the Democratic Governance; and (3) Climate and UNDP MCO also welcomed the newly appointed Disaster Resilience Resident Representative, Mrs. Denise E. Antonio, the first of the NextGen Representatives to lead UNDP’s programme priorities are governed by a more focused and strengthened UNDP. the 2017-2021 Country Programme Document which supports the Sustainable Development The UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica Goals (SDG) and is anchored in the United serves Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, The Nations Multi-Country Sustainable Development Bahamas and Turks and Caicos Islands. Framework (MSDF) for the Caribbean and the UNDP’s global Strategic Plan, 2018-2021. Fisher from Oracabessa Bay Fish Sanctuary 4 UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN JAMAICA | ANNUAL REPORT 2020 UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN JAMAICA | ANNUAL REPORT 2020 5 MESSAGES MESSAGES meet international obligations which have challenges posed by resource limitation. recently included the Preparation of the 6th This has been demonstrated through the Message from National Report (6NR), the Third National Human Security Trust Fund (HSTF) Project, Director General, Planning Communication and the Voluntary National Strengthening Human Resilience in Institute of Jamaica Report on the Sustainable Development Northern Clarendon and Western Kingston Goals (SDGs). that is led by the UNDP in collaboration with four other UN agencies. Several Dr. Wayne Henry The UNDP has been an effective partner projects initiated by the UNDP have also Director General, Planning Institute of Jamaica with Jamaica in articulating the SDGs benefitted from a very robust resource and introducing and supporting projects mobilisation strategy that extends beyond towards their achievement locally. The the boundaries of the UN Organisations Roadmap for Implementation of the SDGs The Planning Institute of Jamaica the goals and priorities of the Vision 2030 in Jamaica and the project, Advancing In recognition of weaknesses in (PIOJ) appreciates the continued strong National Development Plan (NDP) and the SDGs through Vision 2030, National implementation capacity, the UNDP partnership between the Government the Medium Term Socioeconomic Policy Development Plan are key examples. The has provided strong support to the and the United Nations Development Framework. latter is assisting the PIOJ to improve, inter implementation of projects through its Programme (UNDP), demonstrated in alia, its data management and analysis Direct Implementation and National the UNDP’s recognition of Jamaica’s The portfolio of projects being supported capabilities through two potentially very Implementation modalities. This has development priorities as well as its by the UNDP are reflected in the theme of impactful components: creation of an fostered knowledge transfer and institutional strengthening of national responsiveness to the Government’s policy the 2019 Annual Report - Empowered Lives, online platform for the Vision 2030 NDP agencies. of ensuring alignment between donor Resilient Nations. The agency has been and establishment of an information system funded programmes and national goals active in the development of key policies for the External Cooperation Management The PIOJ is deeply appreciative of the Division within the PIOJ. and priorities. Articulated in the Country including the Involuntary Returned Migrants strong and enduring partnership with Programme Document 2017 – 2021, the Policy, the Water Policy, the National the UNDP. We look forward to continued UNDP’s work in Jamaica is focused broadly Minerals Policy and the Anti-Trafficking The UNDP’s ability to employ innovative support from the organization as we on the areas of Sustainable Development; in Persons Policy. The programme of approaches and to build significant advance the achievement of Vision 2030 Crisis Preparedness and Response; and assistance has included initiatives to partnerships has greatly mitigated the goals and the SDGs. Governance, which are consistent with strengthen the Government’s capacity to 6 UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN JAMAICA | ANNUAL REPORT 2020 UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME IN JAMAICA | ANNUAL REPORT 2020 7 MESSAGES MESSAGES We were also happy to consolidate the approval of the Medium-Term Framework gains secured in strengthening regulation 2018-2021 closely aligned to the SDGs. Message from of Jamaica’s Protected Areas in 2019 The Resident Representative with the finalization of a sustainable The year 2019 also marked the financing mechanism. In addition, strengthening of our partnership with the protecting biodiversity remained a priority government of The Bahamas following the Denise Antonio as legislative steps were taken to protect devasting impact of category five hurricane UNDP Resident Representative for Jamaica, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, the Cockpit Country as well as the ban of Dorian. Through recovery interventions Turks and Caicos Islands single use plastic bags that came into effect and crisis prevention initiatives of over one on 1 January 2019 and has since seen a million USD, we supported the government significant reduction in its use. by promoting a sustainable and disaster resilient infrastructure; environmental Under our democratic governance restoration through inclusive and equitable It is my privilege to have assumed the management of biodiversity. At the core of portfolio, we continue to advance work to community participation; strengthening role of Resident Representative to the our human-centred strategy is expanding reintegrate Involuntarily Returned Migrants National and Local capacity for recovery UNDP Multi Country Office in Jamaica partnerships and working with a diversity of (IRMs) and contribute to a modernised planning and coordination while ensuring in June 2019 at the mid-point of the partners, including private sector and civil justice system that provides customer- equitable gender parity; partnership Country Programme cycle. This provided society organizations towards achieving focused and gender-responsive services building and enhancing communications an opportunity to reflect on valuable desired outcomes with interventions at the that will engender trust and confidence for for effective knowledge management on lessons while strengthening focus and national, local and community levels. a more strengthened system of justice in he recovery process. results consistent with the priorities of the t Jamaica. countries we serve as well as regional and Our commitment to expanding access I remain optimistic that the commitment international mandates. to water remained strong in 2019. With UNDP continued to enhance the of the government and people of Jamaica further investments in water harvesting Government’s capacity to monitor towards development will remain I am pleased that in 2019, we remained infrastructure made possible by the GEF progress on the Sustainable Development consistent with the Vision 2030 Agenda for focused on improving the institutional Small Grants Programme and the Japan Goals