For most of the members of the Jamaican Economy Panel (JEP)  stigma, discrimination, and violence perpetrated against vulnerable and marginalised communities are important concerns in Jamaica and a possible hindrance to fully achieving the SDGs. The JEP expressed that those most affected by stigma and discrimination and various forms of violence in Jamaica are women and girls, people from inner-city communities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. These were followed by people with disabilities, people living with HIV and people who are homeless. On the heels of the May 17th  International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia 2022, the JEP also considered the impact of discrimination and violence on LGBTQ people as part of this month’s discussions. The majority of panellists expressed that a person’s livelihood and well-being were more likely to be affected by forms of stigma and discrimination that included physical abuse, closely followed by the denial of employment opportunities, as well as displacement and homelessness. The majority of panellists believe that all societal sectors could do more to reduce discrimination and violence against marginalised groups, including LGBTQ people. When asked what could be done to protect marginalised groups from discrimination and violence, a majority of panellists expressed favour for a multisectoral response which would include the strengthening of anti-discriminatory laws and policies, increased community-based interventions and safer housing and shelter for people experiencing displacement and homelessness. A significant number of panellists also felt that school curricula should integrate human rights principles and non-discrimination. The JEP was asked about the role of the private sector regarding marginalised and discriminated groups, there was a high preference towards the recommendation for the private sector to develop diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies in the workplace to help reduce stigma, discrimination, and violence. The JEP also favoured private sector input in partnering and supporting organisations representing marginalised groups and implementing public education campaigns. In responding to this JEP discussion, Dr. Garry Conille, United Nations Resident Coordinator expressed that stigma, discrimination, and violence pose a real risk to people’s health and hinders their broader development outcomes. “Stigma, discrimination and violence in all its forms are real human rights concerns that stymie an individual’s ability to contribute to nation-building. The Human Development Report (2000) articulates that human rights and human development share a ‘common vision and a common purpose—to secure the freedom, well-being and dignity of all people everywhere,’” Dr. Conille, said. Richard Amenya, Director, UNAIDS Multicountry Office based in Jamaica, shared that stigma, discrimination, and violence adversely impact a sound public health response. “The HIV and AIDS response documents stark examples of the devastating impact of stigma, discrimination, and violence because of one’s health status. Studies show that people living with HIV, who perceive elevated levels of HIV-related stigma, are 2.4 times more likely to delay seeking care until they are severely ill. Such fears often contribute to discouraging uptake of prevention and testing services for HIV,” Amenya said. “In Jamaica, the Stigma Index (2020) found that 38% of people living with HIV report having delayed testing, and 30% delayed initiating treatment because they feared how others would treat them,” Amenya added. As in most countries worldwide, additional and accelerated efforts are needed in Jamaica to address stigma and discrimination in order to ensure that everyone can live peacefully with dignity and rights and participate fully in governance, cultural life and the economy while achieving their fullest potential. Acknowledging the multidimensional urgency of the response, Dr. Nadine McCloud, Head Department of Economics, University of the West Indies said, “Eradicating stigma, discrimination and violence against vulnerable and marginalised groups in Jamaica is no easy commission. However, we must do so. The sentiments echoed by the panellists and other stakeholders strongly signal that there is an urgent need for hard and soft policies and laws that discourage discriminatory and abusive behaviour and hold perpetrators accountable." For more information on the Jamaican Economy Panel and for the results of this JEP discussion visit here.

On this occassion, Dr. Garry Conille, United Nations Resident Coordinator, met with Professor Dale Webber, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus. The two were joined by Professor Ian Boxill, Deputy Principal of UWI Mona, Jonathan Archie, Deputy Campus Registrar, Dr. Nadine McCloud, Head Department of Economics as well as Dr. Olaf J. De Groot, Ciara Patterson & Jomain McKenzie of the UNRCO. Dr. Conille conveyed the well wishes of the UN System for the strong partnership established between the United Nations in Jamaica and the Department of Economics UWI, Mona. “Through the Jamaican Economy Panel (JEP), UWI’s technical expertise has contributed to and expanded economic analysis within the UN system and has increased the accessibility of economic discourse within the wider population,” Dr. Conille said. “The JEP is well aligned with UWI’s strategy and is helping us answer and respond to society’s questions,” Professor Webber said. The parties exchange ideas into the future of the JEP and explored opportunities for greater strategic engagement between the United Nations and the regional university. This month's topic directly links with the latest report by the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), which warned in early April that the Paris commitment of a maximum temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius is becoming more challenging to achieve. The report also highlights that the climate change impact on Small Island Developing States (SIDS), such as Jamaica, is particularly significant, putting the livelihoods of many people at stake. When ranking different climate-induced hazards, the panellists see the most significant risk in cyclones (hurricanes), drought, the livelihoods of the coast-dependent population, and the long-run risk of rising sea levels. Other risks identified by the latest IPCC report, such as coral bleaching and biodiversity loss, are considered less urgent in the case of Jamaica. While mitigation continues to be the gold standard for handling climate change, the latest figures show that it is unlikely that climate change can be addressed entirely in time. For this reason, adaptation should be carefully considered and prioritized as well. When asking the JEP panellists about different adaptation strategies, the need for increased financial resources is particularly apparent. One of the key strategies for Jamaica will be to improve coastal defences, especially with nature-based solutions, such as mangroves, but these would be very costly. Dr. Nadine McCloud, Head of the Economics Department at UWI Mona and co-founder of the JEP, comments that "major investment is required to prepare the country for climate change. However, while financing opportunities through our international development partners should be pursued, we must explore other ways in which financial flows can be unlocked. The private sector, for example, can extract significant benefits from sustainable and climate-sensitive investment opportunities – an untapped and lucrative pool in Jamaica. The tourism sector, a major recipient of foreign direct investment, stands to lose the most from climate change.   So engaging such investors in ensuring that coastlines are protected in the long run would be a logical path to pursue and a win-win for all stakeholders." For almost a decade (since Sandy in 2012), Jamaica has avoided significant hurricane impacts. This luck could lead to a reduced awareness of the hazards associated with hurricanes and lower vigilance and hurricane preparedness. The respondents generally believe that people are decently prepared but have a somewhat dimmer view of private sector actors. The JEP panellists applaud the Government's issuance of what is known as a catastrophe bond, which insures the country for up to USD 185 million of hurricane damages. While many panellists believe it is a wise decision to issue such a bond, a substantial number would have liked to see a larger size of such a bond. It was pointed out, for example, that the impact of a hurricane such as Gilbert (1988) would have an estimated impact of up to USD 1.3 billion. While some may view such an enormous catastrophe as very unlikely, its impact would be huge. Several other respondents also highlighted the need for a broader range of instruments, such as weather derivatives and a more holistic, multisectoral and structural approach to making the country less prone to the impacts of hazards. One respondent pointed out that rigid enforcement of building codes would help lessen the impacts of a cyclone, but that the large construction boom over the past few years may have lessened the attention to such enforcement. Responding to the survey results, Dr. Conille shared that "the continuing exhaust of greenhouse gases exacerbates existing hazards. While it is crucial to reduce emissions as soon as possible, it is also important to look at ways to alleviate the impacts of disasters that may be exacerbated by continued climate change. SIDS have a great need for additional funds to be able to invest in both mitigation and adaptation. The work of The Hon. Prime Minister Holness with the Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada as co-chairs of Group of Friends of SDG Financing is crucial in the pursuit of such innovative financing accessible to all states." The Jamaican Economy Panel is a partnership between the United Nations Resident Coordinator's Office (UNRCO) and the Department of Economics at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona. The JEP brings together a select group of economic and public sector experts to address monthly socio-economic questions. These questions help to highlight relevant economic issues and the collective expertise of the panellists. The full results of this month's discussion are available here.

The Virtual Launch is set for Thursday, April 21, 2022, at 11:00 EST. The United Nations, Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, (UNESCO), the CARICOM Secretariat and The University of the West Indies have joined forces to implement the project titled Creative Caribbean - An Ecosystem of “Play” for Growth and Development” in the amount of Euros 3 million. The three-year project that will be implemented in 15 Caribbean countries aims to develop a robust creative economy in the region by strengthening the enabling environment and providing grant support for industry and training initiatives. The Creative and Cultural Industries (CCIs) targeted for grant support include music, fashion, festivals, film, animation and new media, visual and performing arts, among other areas of entertainment - a sector that provides millions in revenue and in which thousands of people find full-time and part-time work. The project is expected to strengthen research and data collection on CCIs, to facilitate market access opportunities, to support the development of national artists registries, Cultural policies and Creative Industry Development Acts to incentivise the sector. It will also provide grants to creative and cultural practitioners to grow more globally competitive businesses and enhance their professional development. “It is an unquestionable fact that the impact of Covid-19 on the cultural and creative sectors was tremendously significant, yet CCIs play a notable role in the economy and recovery from the pandemic. The Creative Caribbean project seeks to shift the paradigm from "the struggling artist" to creating an enabling environment where creatives are incentivised to produce and thrive and become a key driver of sustainable development in the region," explains Saadia Sanchez-Vegas, Director and Representative of the UNESCO Cluster Office for the Caribbean. Artists and Cultural Entrepreneurs from the following countries are eligible to apply for grant support under this landmark project: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago.   UNESCO, CARICOM and The UWI have the pleasure of inviting you to the virtual launch of the Joint Project "Creative Caribbean" on Thursday, 21 April 2022, 10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. (GMT-5:00). Register to join the virtual meeting https://unesco-org.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_4kY0riN7QeW470_hCfNeIQ Meeting ID: 848 7174 7994 Passcode: 335198   With the Financial Contribution of the European Union and the Support of the Organisation of ACP States     +++END+++  

Severe food insecurity continues to increase in the region with the current figure 72 per cent higher when compared to April 2020. Highlighting the lasting impact of the pandemic, two years in, the results demonstrate deteriorating food consumption and diets with 25 percent of respondents eating less preferred foods, 30 per cent skipping meals or eating less than usual and 5 per cent going an entire day without eating in the week leading up to the survey.
  “Having the opportunity to assess how the pandemic has impacted the livelihoods and food security of more than 20,000 respondents across the past two years has provided the CARICOM Secretariat with invaluable data that is being used to inform regional priorities in the short and medium term,” said Shaun Baugh, Agriculture and Agro-Industrial Development Programme Manager at the CARICOM Secretariat.   High food prices continue to affect people’s ability to afford a nutritious diet with 93 percent of respondents reporting higher prices for food compared to 59 percent in April 2020. The ongoing crisis in Ukraine is expected to create an even deeper impact on the cost of basic goods and services in the Caribbean.   “An import dependent region, the Caribbean continues to feel the socio-economic strain of COVID-19 which is now being compounded by the conflict in Ukraine. With most COVID-19 assistance programmes having concluded, many families are expected to face an even greater challenge to meet their basic food and other essential needs in the months to come,” said Regis Chapman, WFP Representative and Country Director for the Caribbean Multi-Country Office.   “In the short to medium term, it is increasing pressure on governments to identify solutions to ensure families can meet their essential needs. Innovation in agri-food systems and regional supply chains, coupled with continued support to the most vulnerable households, will be essential to improving the resilience of regional food systems so that prices can be kept as stable as possible.”    Along with the latest survey results, an interactive dashboard allows for comparison between different survey rounds and across several countries. It also provides data on the impact of the pandemic on livelihoods, access to markets and food security by country in the Caribbean.    CARICOM, WFP and other partners continue to work together to increase resilience to shocks through stronger disaster management, social protection and food systems that are more effective, sustainable and responsive in meeting the needs of those most affected by crises.    The survey was supported by the European Union and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Bureau of Humanitarian Assistance. ###   The United Nations World Food Programme is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, saving lives in emergencies and using food assistance to build a pathway to peace, stability and prosperity for people recovering from conflict, disasters and the impact of climate change.   The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is a grouping of 20 countries: 15 Member States and five Associate Members, with the aims of promoting economic integration and cooperation in foreign policy, human and social development and security.  Caribbean economic integration, and cooperation amongst its members, including in foreign policy. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WFPCaribbean and https://www.facebook.com/caricom.org   For more information please contact: Carla Alleyne, WFP/ Caribbean 1 (246) 467-6085, 1 (246) 836-6111, Carla.alleyne@wfp.org Juliette Maughan, WFP/ Caribbean 1 (246) 467-6084,  Juliette.maughan@wfp.org    Shaun Baugh, CARICOM Secretariat (592) 22-0001 Ext 2244,  Shaun.baugh@caricom.org