United Nations Development Programme Jamaica

Left: Professor Elizabeth Thomas-Hope

Jamaican academic, Professor Elizabeth Thomas-Hope, is one of six international experts to be appointed to the Migrant Advisory Board of the European Commission (EC) and United Nations (UN) Joint Migration and Development Initiative (JMDI). This 15 million Euro, Initiative, is funded by the European Commission and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in partnership with the IOM, UNFPA, UNHCR and the ILO.

Mission visits the Violence Prevention Alliance

The Bangladesh Police Reform Programme (PRP) on Community Security and Social Cohesion was recently on Mission in Jamaica from Monday November 3 through Wednesday November 12. High on the agenda of the Representatives were gender issues in policing, as well as increasing community security and social cohesion through community policing and strategic reform. The Mission to Jamaica was sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR). The Mission team included Additional Inspector General (Deputy Commissioner) of Police, Syed Raj; International Policy and Planning Specialist, Bangladesh PRP, Steffanie von Helle and Management Assistant, BPRP, Rosalynn Khan.

Bridge over Hope River in JA (left)
In the wake of the severe damage in Jamaica caused by tropical storm Gustav and the destruction wreaked by tropical storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike in the Turks & Caicos Islands, UNDP Jamaica has gone into full disaster relief mode. “We are working closely with ODPEM to facilitate a coordinated response from the International Development Partners and donor agencies to meet immediate, practical and technical needs of the recovery process. This includes the provision of specific relief supplies and support for damage assessment and infrastructure repairs,” says Ms. Carol Narcisse, UNDP Partnership, Resource Mobilization & Communication Advisor.

Local newspapers covered the symposium and carried these reports

The Jamaica Observer

Portmore called to action By Petre Williams

Researchers last Wednesday suggested a raft of measures to limit the possible hurricane damage in Portmore, St Catherine. Topping the list is the need to enforce legislation, which regulate not only the construction of housing developments, but also people's actions concerning their treatment of the environment.

David Smith (from left), assistant resident representative for programmes with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), chats with Ronald Jackson, director general for the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), and Carol Narcisse, resource mobilisation and communications specialist with the UNDP, ahead of last Wednesday's UNDP-ODPEM seminar on disaster risks for Jamaica's urban areas. (Photo: Bryan Cummings)