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+++  

In some cases, they bring gritty character to the neighborhood and in many they create insecurities and discomfort amongst the citizens, with a specific kind of discomfort for women and girls in particular. The spaces may also remind us about what once was – and what still can be. A vibrant craft shop and café by the lady a few blocks away. Fruits and vegetable stalls operated by the local women’s farmer group. The afterschool gathering spot of the youth from the communities, ‘liming’ safely if not so quietly. A bench along the street for the elderly and differently abled to sit under a shade while waiting for that ZR van that arrives reliably. A relaxing stroll in a lush park before hurrying off to take care of the next errand: going to work, getting groceries, picking up children or helping the elderly family members. The spaces and buildings are abandoned for many reasons. Economic downturn, criminality, more hazards like hurricanes barreling through and more recently, COVID-19 cutting off the solid stream of tourists. According to the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Hurricane Ivan (2004) caused damage to homes, buildings and other structures at more than US$3 billion across the region.[1] Hurricane Maria (2018) caused extensive damage to Dominica, totaling at around US$1.3 billion.[2] Hurricane Dorian (2019) resulted in total of US$2.5 billion of damage in the Bahamas.[3] While many spaces and buildings have been rebuilt or given new life since, there are always those that remain unattended, provoking the feeling of lost opportunity. Resilient, inclusive, smart and safe public spaces enable businesses to thrive and empower the citizens to live their life for the fullest. Reliable and sustainable public transportation is a critical element of this. They both enable access to employment and key services, income generation, recreation and wellbeing, thus influencing gender equality. It is well known that gender and other socio-economic realities shape how women, men, girls, boys, LGBTQI persons and other marginalized groups experience public spaces and public transportation. What may be a safe enough space for an adult man may be a space to avoid for a young woman. Generally, unsafe spaces for women and girls are the canary in the coal mine so to speak for insecurity for all. While there is no data in the Caribbean yet on the prevalence of gender-based violence in public spaces and how this is linked to broader issues of criminality, evidence from different countries in the region tell the unfortunate truth of high prevalence of violence against women, including sexual violence and harassment. Based on prevalence data from 5 Caribbean countries, 46 percent of women have experienced at least one form of violence from their intimate partner.[4] A deeper dive into the data shows that in Grenada, for example, 26.6 percent of women have experienced non-partner sexual harassment in their lifetime.[5]   The design of urban services and infrastructure impact on the time, cost, safety, comfort and psychological burdens of the users. For women and girls, street harassment is so prevalent.  Whether they are riding the minibus, walking on the streets or accessing public spaces, it can often be a frustrating and unpleasant experience. With urban planning processes taking better into account the needs and experiences of women and girls, this can change. When given the opportunity, women and girls have proven to design spaces and systems that work better for everyone. For example, the Government of Barbados has added electric buses offering specific child and mother seating to the public transport fleet to improve the comfort and safety, as well as to mitigate climate change. Moreover, the Adopt a Stop programme in Barbados improves safety at the bus stop through solar panel powered lighting and proper seating. Furthermore, with the leadership of a Barbados-based woman-led electric vehicle company, charging stations have been placed to places where women felt safer – close to entrances and in vicinity of other amenities. Safer for women, safer for everyone. As climate change progresses, we can anticipate more intense and frequent tropical storms and sea level rise.[6] Also, that unwelcomed guest, COVID-19 is likely here to stay.[7] Are our public spaces and transport systems prepared to take the hits and bounce quickly back? Let’s make sure that women and girls and all community members are engaged in the conversation and are given the opportunity to lead on the change. For the month of March - Women’s Month - the world celebrates the contributions of women and girls who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a more sustainable future for all. Under the theme “Gender equality today for a sustainable tomorrow” UN Women Multi Country Office - Caribbean and UN Habitat stand to support governments, civil society organizations and the private sector in including women and girls as the leaders in sustainable urban planning in the Caribbean.   [1] Hurricane Ivan impacts https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/data/tcr/AL092004_Ivan.pdf [2] Hurricane Maria impacts in Dominica https://reliefweb.int/report/dominica/dominica-impact-hurricane-maria-disaster-profile-january-2018 [3] Hurricane Dorian impacts in Bahamas https://publications.iadb.org/en/assessment-of-the-effects-and-impacts-of-hurricane-dorian-in-the-bahamas [4] Data from Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago https://caribbeanwomencount.unwomen.org/ [5] https://caribbean.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Field%20Office%20Caribbean/Attachments/Publications/2021/20210209%20Grenada%20Life%20Experience%20Report%2018%20for%20digital.pdf [6] WMO (2021) State of the Climate in Latin America and the Caribbean 2020. World Meteorological Organization. WMO-No. 1272. https://library.wmo.int/index.php?lvl=notice_display&id=21926#.YZ497tDMKUk    [7] https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-022-00057-y

This month's topic also acknowledges the celebration of International Women's Day on 8 March. UN Women celebrated this year with a theme of "Gender equality for a sustainable tomorrow", highlighting the significant contributions by women and girls around the world to the discussions on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response. UN Women is also one of the agencies leading the EnGenDER project. EnGenDER is a large-scale project funded by Global Affairs Canada and UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office, supporting climate change, disaster risk reduction and environmental management interventions in nine Caribbean countries. The panellists were asked about their perceptions of Jamaica's hazards and whether such hazards are exacerbated by climate change. The panellists agreed that Jamaica is most exposed to the hazards of drought, coastal flooding, and extreme heat. They generally see the hydrometeorological risks as most likely exacerbated by climate change. Dr. Nadine McCloud, Head of the Economics Department at UWI Mona and co-founder of the JEP, comments that "Jamaica has been lucky in recent years with the paths of different hurricanes dodging us. However, given our experience with Gilbert, we should not be complacent about the impact of a direct hit of an extreme natural disaster on the Jamaican economy and people. Climate change increases air's capacity to hold moisture, which increases the risk of excessive rain even outside hurricane conditions. This pattern is an existential threat to many farmers and Jamaican communities living close to water, as shown in last month's JEP Discussion". The great majority of respondents agreed that, in the face of many disasters, the risks faced by women and girls are different from those faced by men and boys. Some of the key ingredients to the increased risk level include that women often have lower incomes than men and are more likely to be single parents. In addition to the economic vulnerability of women and girls, they are also seen as being more present in households, thus having to cope with challenges such as interrupted sanitation and water supplies. Finally, there is a real threat of gender-based violence, especially in acute disaster situations that warrant evacuation or shelter movements. Tonni-Ann Brodber, Representative of the UN Women Multi-country Office for the Caribbean, comments that “in addition to the economic vulnerabilities of women, their care responsibilities for children and the elderly act as an additional responsibiliy. If a disaster causes school closures, societal expectations often demand that women stay home to provide care duties. Additionally, women and girls are often at greater risk of the threat of sexual abuse and exploitation in the aftermath of a disaster. The increased risks are not unique to women and girls, other groups including people living with disabilities, the elderly, and members of the LGBTQ+ community also face increased risk as a result of intersecting vulnerabilities.” The critical tool in addressing the vulnerabilities of women and girls in hazardous situations is including women in discussions on disaster preparedness and climate change. The participation of civil society organizations that represent women is often forgotten, and women's political representation in Jamaica continues to lag. In Jamaica, one somewhat bright light is the relatively favourable position of girls when it comes to Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), compared to the abysmal situation they find themselves in other countries. After all, when women and girls pursue STEM careers, they will necessarily be engaged in the technical discussions to prepare for disasters and oncoming climate change. Responding to the survey results, Dr. Garry Conille, United Nations Resident Coordinator, shared that “Gender equality is a core value of the United Nations and a person’s gender should not be a risk factor in emergency situations. Despite progress we still have much to do,  as a collective, to ensure the safety of women and girls during and after crisis events. One of the key strategies to achieve this goal is to ensure that women and girls are included and that their voices are heard long before disaster hits." The Jamaican Economy Panel is a partnership between the United Nations in Jamaica 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.