Hurricane recovery grants and inputs are now restoring the livelihoods of 54 women business owners across three parishes, months after their operations were destroyed by hurricane Beryl.

The 54, which includes women with disabilities, also received training last week in disaster risk resilience, improving mental and physical health and business and financial literacy, to help improve their operations and navigate future shocks.  

The intervention supports the Government of Jamaica’s hurricane Beryl recovery programme with financing from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and implementation by the Bureau of Gender Affairs (BGA) in the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES) and the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers (JNWRP). Beneficiaries include poultry and vegetable farmers, shop and bar owners from Clarendon, Manchester and St Elizabeth, the hardest hit parishes.

At the project closing on Friday 31 January in Mandeville, UNDP Resident Representative Kishan Khoday acknowledged Micro, Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs) as the backbone of communities and the lifeblood of economies. He explained that MSME’s owned by women, including those with disabilities were the focus of the intervention due to persisting financing-related gaps in addressing the specific needs of women entrepreneurs, even though women-owned enterprises constitute some 58% of MSMEs.  

He said the economic inclusion of women, especially those with disabilities, is essential to fostering long-term sustainability and disaster preparedness. “By enhancing business skills, promoting financial literacy, and improving access to resources, we can strengthen the ability of women-led businesses to withstand future crises”, Mr. Khoday declared. 

Mitzie Moore Cooke, Acting Research Officer who delivered Remarks on behalf of Sharon Coburn Robinson, Principal Director, Gender Affairs, in the MCGES said the BGA had witnessed firsthand the transformative power of the intervention. “Women entrepreneurs have leveraged this initiative to rebuild, reimagine, and expand their businesses, demonstrating resilience, innovation, and sheer determination, she confirmed.  

In a message delivered by JNRWP board member, Marva Allen-Simms on behalf of the President of the Jamaica Network of Rural Women Producers, Tamisha Lee said women entrepreneurs need to keep pushing for lasting, long-term solutions that protect communities for years to come. “Whether it’s parametric insurance, better infrastructure, or stronger partnerships, let’s keep advocating for the tools we need to face whatever comes next,” she told participants.  

Beneficiary Maya Biggs, a poultry farmer from Clarendon, received an 800-gallon water tank and construction supplies to build back her chicken coop. She told the closing ceremony that she is back on her feet and ready to once again supply markets. With 30 chickens ready to harvest in February she wants to add 200 more chickens. “We will sell what we have and use the profit to buy more to make progress on the coop too,” she stated.

“I got 1000 chickens, feed and the materials to expand the chicken coop. It has been really good so far because the chickens have more room to move about.  The expansion will help me to add more baby chicks so I can have more to sell on the market, said beneficiary Keisha Wint of Warwick district in Manchester.

Trishawna Brown, Strawberry farmer from Potsdam district in St Elizabeth got a 10000-gallon drum and two acres of drip hose material and other supplies. “When I started, I had 87 plants and now I have 518. I said I wanted to reach 1000 by this June, but I might reach there before, because I now have 518 plants and 235 suckers and it’s just January,” she stated.

UNDP’s support for women entrepreneurs affected by Hurricane Beryl reflects a commitment to advancing gender equality (SDG 5), promoting economic growth and decent work (SDG 8), fostering climate resilience (SDG 13), and strengthening partnerships for sustainable development (SDG 17). By providing essential business inputs and capacity-building workshops, this initiative empowers women to rebuild their enterprises, enhance their economic independence, and contribute to community recovery. The targeted support is expected to accelerate their path to financial stability and reinforce the importance of inclusive and resilient economic systems in the face of climate-related disasters.

Note: Two select quotes from beneficiaries sourced from JIS story