United Nations Jamaica 76th Anniversary

Meeting needs and strengthening systems in response to COVID-19: WFP support to the Ministry of Labour and Social Security The World Food Programme (WFP) is supporting the Government of Jamaica to address the socio-economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on vulnerable segments of the population. WFP provided technical expertise, in conjunction with the Jamaica Red Cross, to train staff from the Ministry of Labour and Social Security to apply digital methods for data collection, verification and analysis of beneficiaries of assistance in meeting basic food needs. With a donation of 30 tablets and training to 174 social workers, WFP has assisted in creating a team of skilled people who can use digital tools for delivering support to vulnerable people. The training enabled the Ministry to operate its first island- wide tablet-based data collection with real-time monitoring. Through a digitized record keeping process the government is able to better map where the greatest needs exist and respond more efficiently to the vulnerable. The data collection was part of a larger effort providing food assistance to those most in need. Throughout June and July, the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and the World Food Programme provided food kits to more than 40,000 elderly and vulnerable people. The COVID-19 pandemic caused income losses and led to increased food insecurity across the country. A food security and livelihoods impact survey carried out by WFP in in partnership with CARICOM examined how the pandemic was affecting food security in the region. In June 2020, the survey found that in Jamaica 74% of respondents had experienced job loss or a decline in salaries in their households, and impacts have continued – impacting low-income households the most. WFP also provided logistics support to assist in coordinating the food distribution across 14 parishes, increasing the technical expertise of the Ministry’s staff in warehousing, storage and inventory management. The food kits were delivered to homes or distributed at central locations within parishes. As these distributions were executed, WFP was able to extend its reach with local social impact organisations and response agencies. Distributions were facilitated through the support of partners from the Office of Disaster Preparedness & Emergency Management (ODPEM); Food For the Poor; Jamaica Red Cross; Seventh Day Adventist Community along with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. Through the collective effort people were able to access items to assist in reducing the impact of the pandemic on them and their families. The World Food Programme continues to collaborate with the Government of Jamaica to strengthen the social protection system and mechanisms for responding to shocks, as part of the broader efforts of the UN system to ensure that no one is left behind in the face of COVID-19 and future shocks and disasters. Regis Chapman Representative and Country Director a.i. The World Food Programme has partnered with the Ministry of Labour and Social Security and other local response agencies to support the national COVID-19 response. THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN JAMAICA 26