REMARKS

UNDP Resident Representative, Denise E Antonio

UNDP/GEF SGP Presentation Ceremony for Grant Awards

and Project Inception Workshop for New Grantee Partners

Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation

Tuesday 28 January 2020

Acknowledgments & Salutations

• Deputy Director General of the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ), Barbara Scott
• Chief Technical Director (Acting), Policy, Planning and Evaluation Division in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and Global Environment Facility Operational Focal Point for Jamaica, Gillian Guthrie
• GEF SGP National Steering Committee Chairperson, Leonie Barnaby and other NSC members
• GEF Small Grants Programme National Coordinator, Hyacinth Douglas GEF SGP grantees
• Representatives of government, NGOs and community-based organizations
• Members of the media
• Other distinguished ladies and gentlemen

Good Morning.

UNDP is a proud and committed partner of the Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme (GEF SGP), serving as its global implementation arm in more than 125 developing countries across the world.

Our strong and valuable partnership with the GEF SGP has yielded multiple successful initiatives throughout Jamaica’s communities since 2006 when the programme was officially launched. Since then, we have supported more than 130 projects benefitting 70 local NGOs and CBOs, representing a commitment of more than US$4 Million in grant funding.

We are pleased to report that due to the high level of diligence and excellence in project execution displayed by our implementing partners and the GEF SGP team headed by Hyacinth Douglas, several community initiatives have gained global renown as best practices some of which have been upscaled/replicated at the national and regional levels.

Leveraging our extensive environmental and Climate Action portfolio, UNDP has been privileged over the years to work with Governments on generating resilient solutions that address the impact of challenges such as Climate Change on economic development, social well-being, poverty and livelihoods and on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Since Jamaica’s economic development is so highly dependent on its natural resources, sustaining livelihoods for those who depend on the country’s environmental assets for a living is paramount.

It is against this background that UNDP is pleased to be witnessing another cohort of local community based and non-governmental organizations awarded grants to strengthen Jamaica’s environmental resilience and adaptive capacity. We are particularly gratified that the projects will target vulnerable communities, with specific attention to persons living with disabilities, children and youth.

I am therefore pleased to announce that seven projects have been awarded grants in the GEF SGP 2019 second bi-annual call for proposals (the beneficiaries who are all here), representing a combined commitment of 49.6 Million Jamaican dollars in grant funds but with an overall combined project cost of 109.8  million Jamaican Dollars. The grantees are:

·      Hanover Bee Farmers

·      Northern Rio Minho LFMC

·      Jamaica 4-H Foundation

·      Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council

·      Project ICE Ja Ltd

·      Environmental Health Foundation

·      UWI (Climate Studies Group)

I congratulate all of you for submitting winning proposals that have secured your spot among the seven awarded grants in GEF SGP’s bi-annual call for proposals. I urge you to implement with heart and humility and to apply yourselves diligently to our global operating standards. We look to you for many more ‘best practices’ consistent with the reputation that Jamaican partners have earned over the years.

UNDP believes that local organizations working on the ground and being able to directly connect with people are best poised to address sustainable development challenges of marginalized communities, especially those vulnerable to Climate Change and natural hazards.  We are honoured to be your partner in this endeavour.

Finally, I want to use this opportunity to thank the volunteer members of the GEF SGP National Steering Committee as well as some of the key partners who have supported the programme over the years i.e. the Planning Institute of Jamaica, Forestry Department, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and Social Development Commission (SDC). Your partnership has made the GEF SGP’s work possible. We look forward to more productive engagement with you as we work together to make Jamaica the place of choice to live, work, raise families and do business.