United Nations Jamaica 76th Anniversary

The Human Security Trust Fund Joint Programme Strengthening human resilience in Northern Clarendon and West Kingston The Programme entitled “Strengthening human resilience in Northern Clarendon and West Kingston” (HSTF Programme) has been under implementation in Northern Clarendon and West Kingston since 30 October 2017 and comes to a close on 31 December 2021 after a one- year period of extension. The Programme is funded primarily by the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security (UNTFHS) with counterpart contributions from the Government of Jamaica and partner institutions and incorporates the Human Security Approach in its design, implementation and management. Through a partnership between the Government of Jamaica, The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), The Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), UN Women and local community groups and partner agencies, the Project serves as a ‘one stop shop’ for the application of the Human Security Approach as a key means of enhancing the livelihoods of vulnerable community groups. The activities of the HSTF Programme are implemented according to targets and activities established under four (4) objectives namely; (1) strengthening of community organizational capacity and cohesion; (2) enhancing economic, food and nutrition security; (3) improved environmental health and water security; and (4) strengthening institutional capacity to mainstream the Human Security Approach (HSA) to development. The Programme has been successful in achieving positive results under all objectives to the benefit of the targeted stakeholders. Objective I Under Objective I , cumulatively the Programme has trained 31 persons in skills relevant to community leadership and management; conducted 4 community audits which provided valuable baseline data for further project implementation initiatives; contributed to the establishment and equipping (including provision of 181 tablets) of a virtual learning centre in West Kingston to enhance the online learning environment in response to closure of face to face schools as a result of the covid19 pandemic; trained in excess of 50 youths in areas relating to sustainable development and entrepreneurship. The training is equipping the beneficiaries to be better community managers as well as to enhance their earning potential as jobs seekers and or as entrepreneurs. Objective II For Objective II , focuses on enhanced food and nutrition security. Thirty out of target of 10, on-farm water management systems were installed collaboratively with farmers, on individual farmers’ plots. Each farmer was trained via the Farmer’s Field School Methodology in areas covering, but not limited to; the operation and maintenance of water harvesting systems and small- scale irrigation systems; implementation of Good Agricultural Practices including Climate Smart Agriculture; Farm plot readiness, measurement and site suitability ;Sustainability of programmes ;Smart agricultural practices and expansion/scale up of current systems; Crop diversification led by market demand; capacity building through stakeholder collaboration; Integration of fertigation systems to existing drip irrigation systems and self-actualisation and organisational development. The infrastructural work and training had the effect of increasing agricultural output and income generation. The beneficiary farmers have reported increased yields and resilience from drought conditions as well as access to niche markets not previously available to them. The objective also facilitated the establishment of close linkages with public sector institutions such as the Rural Agricultural Development Agency (RADA), local NGOs and private sector firms which will contribute to sustainability of the results. Food security was also enhanced through provision of support to the establishment of 350 backyard gardens in Clarendon as a contribution to The Backyard Gardens Programme (BYGP), a Government initiative spearheaded by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, geared at boosting the country’s food security and emphasizing the importance of eating local produce. The HSTF Programme has also facilitated direct employment generation through the provision of grants under the Social UN Resident Coordinator in Jamaica, Dr. Garry Conille, and the UNDP Resident Representative in Jamaica, Ms. Denise E. Antonio, visited two programme sites in the region of Clarendon, with the objective of speaking with stakeholders and garnering the impact of this human security initiative on the lives of Jamaicans. CONTINUES ON PAGE 28 27 THE 76TH ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL FEATURE OF THE UNITED NATIONS IN JAMAICA