United Nations Development Programme Jamaica

Left: Bethany Donithorn, JM & DI Programme Management Unit, Brussels.

The European Commission - United Nations Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JM&DI) launched a Call for Proposals, which will run until 13th March 2009, to provide approximately 10 million Euro in funding to support concrete interventions in: 1) Migrant remittances; 2) Migrant communities; 3) Migrant capacities; and 4) Migrant rights.

The European Commission - United Nations Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI) reflects the acceptance of and growing interest in the strong links between migration and development. The UN High Level Dialogue on Migration and Development in 2006 and the subsequent Global Fora on Migration and Development underscored international migrants' contribution to destination countries, where they meet labour shortages and enrich local cultures.

Left: Professor Elizabeth Thomas-Hope

Jamaican academic, Professor Elizabeth Thomas-Hope, is one of six international experts to be appointed to the Migrant Advisory Board of the European Commission (EC) and United Nations (UN) Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI). This 15 million Euro, Initiative, is funded by the European Commission and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with the IOM, UNFPA, UNHCR and the ILO.

Mission visits the Violence Prevention Alliance

The Bangladesh Police Reform Programme (PRP) on Community Security and Social Cohesion was recently on Mission in Jamaica from Monday November 3 through Wednesday November 12. High on the agenda of the Representatives were gender issues in policing, as well as increasing community security and social cohesion through community policing and strategic reform. The Mission to Jamaica was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR). The Mission team included Additional Inspector General (Deputy Commissioner) of Police, Syed Raj; International Policy and Planning Specialist, Bangladesh PRP, Steffanie von Helle and Management Assistant, BPRP, Rosalynn Khan.

Bridge over Hope River in JA (left)
In the wake of the severe damage in Jamaica caused by tropical storm Gustav and the destruction wreaked by tropical storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike in the Turks & Caicos Islands, UNDP Jamaica has gone into full disaster relief mode. “We are working closely with ODPEM to facilitate a coordinated response from the International Development Partners and donor agencies to meet immediate, practical and technical needs of the recovery process. This includes the provision of specific relief supplies and support for damage assessment and infrastructure repairs,” says Ms. Carol Narcisse, UNDP Partnership, Resource Mobilization & Communication Advisor.

Local newspapers covered the symposium and carried these reports

The Jamaica Observer

Portmore called to action By Petre Williams

Researchers last Wednesday suggested a raft of measures to limit the possible hurricane damage in Portmore, St Catherine. Topping the list is the need to enforce legislation, which regulate not only the construction of housing developments, but also people's actions concerning their treatment of the environment.

David Smith (from left), assistant resident representative for programmes with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), chats with Ronald Jackson, director general for the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and Carol Narcisse, resource mobilisation and communications specialist with the UNDP, ahead of last Wednesday's UNDP-ODPEM seminar on disaster risks for Jamaica's urban areas. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)

From Left: Minh Pham, Resident Representative, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Jamaica, Dr. Leary Myers, CEO, National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and Mr. Vivian Crawford, Executive Director, Institute of Jamaica at contract signing for the Jamaica bio-diversity project, May 9 2008 
(Photo: Warren Hutchinson) 

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has signed a contract with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and the Institute of Jamaica – Natural History Division, for financing the implementation of a project to assess Jamaica’s existing capacities, needs and priorities to fulfill its obligations under the Convention on Biological Diversity. Speaking at the contract signing, UNDP Resident Representative, Minh Pham, stressed the importance of the project to Jamaica, saying “Jamaica has a rich resource in its bio-diversity which needs to be properly documented, protected and as much as possible preserved for the benefit of future generations”.

UNICEF and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) today called for increased effort by all stakeholders to stem the illegal flow and use of small arms in Jamaica, saying gun control combined with long-term social interventions are critical to curb the armed violence that has enveloped the country.

The United Nations Agencies issued their appeal as the world observes the Global Week of Action against Gun Violence, and as Jamaica confronts what has been reported as one of the bloodiest periods of gang- and gun-related homicides in the nation’s history.

UNDP Resident Representative, Minh Pham,
and Minister of National Security, Col. Trevor MacMillan exchange signed project document.

Minister of National Security, Senator the Hon. Col. Trevor MacMillan this afternoon signed a contract for the Jamaica Violence Prevention, Peace and Sustainable Development Programme which is being finanaced by the Jamaican Government and the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP.

Resident Representative, Mr. Minh Pham signed on behalf of the UNDP.

The Ministry will receive approximately Twenty Four Million Jamaican Dollars (J$24,000,000.00) to assist the setting up of a Crime Prevention and Community Safety Unit; and to support the finalization of a Community Policy and Crime Prevention Strategy.

An audience member speaks out. On June 12th, the Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI) hosted Why Wi So Bruk – a forum on Jamaica’s debt situation. This forum was supported financially by both the UNDP (United Nations Development Programme) Jamaica and Christian Aid. Why Wi So Bruk was a follow‐up to the private release of the debt paper to attendees to the Debt Policy Review Forum.