JSIF Community Link Vol 1 issue 2

JAMAICA SOCIAL INVESTMENT FUND

COMMUNITY LINK VOL 1

ISSUE 2

APRIL 2022-JUNE 2022

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GROUND UP ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP April was a banner month for JSIF as we attained the much coveted Green Climate Fund (GCF) accreditation.

GCF's green light is also a important achievement for Jamaica as it will enable the country to access funding in the US$50 - $150 million category.

Accreditation is yet another important milestone in JSIF's long record of environmental stewardship as, in 2009, JSIF's multi-layered, Environmental Management System (EMS) was certified to the ISO 14001:2004 standard, becoming the first government entity in the Caribbean to achieve this.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Green Climate Fund Accreditation • P. 2 Our MD's Message • P. 2 A World Class EMS • P.3 From Dump Sites To Green Spaces • P.4

Community Tourism & Blue Mtn. Coffee Studies Commissioned • P. 5 Enterprise Dev. Grants • P.6-7

Period At A Glance • P. 7-9 Staff Feature • P.10-11 From Dump Sites to Green Spaces • P. 8

JSIF GETS GREEN CLIMATE FUND ACCREDITATION JSIF became only the 4th entity in the region, and one of the few Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to receive accreditation by the Green Climate Fund - the world's largest climate fund supporting climate change adaptation and mitigation efforts of developing countries. JSIF received approval for the category of US$50-US150 million in funding for an individual project or programme (medium risk). Without an accredited entity, Jamaica cannot access funding.

With more than 50% of the country's economic assets lying within coastal areas, it is easy to appreciate the significance of accreditation. In the past 10 years, Jamaica has experienced 3 times the number of natural disasters, which have also been more intense and frequent.- easily making us one of the most vulnerable countries in the world to climate change.

Accreditation is a testament to the strength of JSIF's systems as only 22% of applicants reach the 2nd phase of the process which, in total, takes an average of 4 years.

The accreditation process, which involved a thorough examination of all JSIF's systems, was shepherded by Systems Operations & Environment Manager Dr. Milton Clarke and Mrs. Keslyn Gilbert-Stoney, Senior Manager, Legal & Governance.

FROM OUR MANAGING DIRECTOR'S DESK The last quarter has been a busy one for us at the JSIF. Our most notable achievement for the period was our accreditation by the Green Climate Fund enabling us to access grant funding for climate mitigation and adaptation projects. Small island developing states (SIDS) are grossly underrepresented as funding recipients; therefore, this accomplishment is not only for the JSIF but for the island of Jamaica. The Government of Jamaica can now begin to tackle climate change effects in a meaningful and systematic way, on a macro and micro scale, to build resilience for the most vulnerable in the population.

Though the process was rigorous, our dedicated and hardworking specialists and staff made the dream a reality, and it is worthy of note that JSIF completed the process well ahead of the average time because of our existing environmental and strong governance systems.

We are very proud of the fact that environmental sustainability is integrated into all aspects of the JSIF’s project cycle and responsible environmental management influences the outcome of all project activities. It covers everything that takes place in the organization - from how

contractors undertake construction and manage project sites, to the approach of community groups implementing projects. The JSIF has been IS014001 for environmental management since 2009, and our stellar performance over the years has placed us in the 95-97 percentile of certified organizations, according to the Auditor of the ISO. As we continue to invest for community development, our commitment to a sustainable environment remains steadfast.

A WORLD-CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS) ' ' “JSIF is transforming the way project management is taking place in Jamaica with regard to environmental protection," says Bert Simon, Senior Lead Auditor of DQS - the German-based certifying body that has been auditing JSIF's Environmental Management System (EMS) for the past 12 years.

What is more, Simon ranks the performance of JSIF's EMS as falling within his organization's 95 to 97th percentile, saying, "All the structures in your EMS are strong - strategic planning, managing change, monitoring and measuring performance. JSIF also has a sharp cadre of internal auditors and a competent group of checkers which are key to a strong EMS. So it's no surprise that I have been seeing JSIF's non-conforming issues steadily declining over the years."

Stewarded by Dr. Milton Clarke, an Environmental Biotechnology PhD, JSIF became the first government entity in the region to have its EMS certified to ISO14001:2004 standard. Since then, JSIF has leveraged its experience and systems to build credibility with other certifying organizations and funders.

"Not many Government agencies adopt ISO 14001 standards. Outside of the city of Dallas, Texas, JSIF is the only one that I can think of readily.

Also, not many certified entities have an entire country as its scope.

That in itself is impressive" Bert Simon, Senior Lead Auditor, DQS Incorporated

MULTI-LAYERED MONITORING SYSTEM Across All Projects Changing Project Management Donor Supported First Govt Entity in Region Simon cites a number of other strengths in JSIF's EMS, among them, strong sponsorship from top management - critical to the success of any EMS. In a final word, the Lead Auditor said, "How contractors are vetted and managed requires a lot of excellent communication at the beginning of a contractual relationship," citing JSIF's annual contractors conference as a good way of keeping stakeholders on-track and up-to-date with changes in external and internal standards.

FROM DUMP SITES TO GREEN SPACES The thinking behind ICDP II's Parks & Green Spaces initiative is to convert dump sites into Green spaces as part of its strategy to stop illegal dumping.

Feedback from residents on the 20 Green Spaces created in 7 communities during ICDP's first cycle has been overwhelming.....with rollout of an additional 30 pocket parks, in 22 communities, under ICDP II, underway in earnest.

The strategy is also working very well with crimeprevention

in

violence-plagued

areas

where

residents make use of the opportunity to socialize while building community spirit and cohesiveness.

Residents also express appreciation for the safety

Residents are very involved in the selection of

that the lighting and fencing bring. The strategy is

features and locations for the parks which range in

in line with international best practice, patterned

size from 1000 to 2500 square feet.

off

the

Broken

prevention.

Windows

Theory

of

crime

JSIF is working with the Municipal Corporations to see how the pocket parks can be incorporated into their maintenance programme going forward.

'A much appreciated component is our workshops where maintenance committee members receive management training in things like advocacy and how to write their own funding proposals" - Dr. Milton Clarke, Systems Operations & Environment Manager

BLUE MTN. COFFEE & COMMUNITY TOURISM STUDIES COMMISSIONED BY REDI II COMMUNITY TOURISM DEMAND STUDY Jamaica's main tourism market segment, 'sun, sea and sand,'' is growing at a rate of 2-3% per year, whereas the newer niche involving nature, culture and experiential travel is growing at 15-20%. The GOJ has therefore decided to target this new segment as part of its answer to growing Jamaica's industry. This will put community-based tourism enterprises, and their communities, in line for increased opportunities.

Understanding the changing tourism market is vital to effective product development, hence JSIF's decision to commission this study. We are also encouraged by the prospect of greater synergies between tourism and agriculture as the market develops, as well as the high

BUILDING RURAL ECONOMIES Sustainable Livelihoods Global Trends

retention of the tourist dollar in rural communities - close to 100%.

So with advantages all round, JSIF's Rural Economic Development Project (REDI II) formed a strategic partnership with the Jamaica Tourist Board to develop this growing market segment. The study will analyze main feeder markets

BLUE MOUNTAIN COFFEE STUDY

in order to understand the visitor profile better and identify gaps and opportunities for product development and

Coffee production, a traditional mainstay of the Blue Mountains

marketing strategies.

economy, has been steadily declining - from US$27 million in exports in 2016, to US$11.9 million in 2019, bringing untold hardship to communities.

The JSIF REDI II-commissioned study will look at production issues as well as fall-offs in price, market position and market share. It will also help to chart the way forward in rekindling interest in Jamaican coffee and re-position our brands in the luxury, rare and specialty segments. Other areas to be examined are: diversification into new markets, like China, value chain development, such as chocolate production and, importantly, identifying where the value proposition lies for Low Mountain Coffee produced by the majority of farmers.

"JSIF, through the World Bank, commissioned this study because we do a lot of work in these communities where the main economic activity is coffee.

Over the years we have built out facilities for the underserved, but the cry continues for sustainable livelihoods" - Omar Sweeney, Managing Director

PERIOD AT A GLANCE

Jan.- Mar 2022

INTEGRATED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT II (ICDP II) Construction of 14 Parks and Green Spaces to benefit 45,000 residents in 7 communities Business development support, including training, given to 230 microenterprise operators in 8 communities Completion of Safe Passages To School projects in Greenwich Town, St. Andrew and Treadlight, Clarendon Completion of Sidewalk Rehabilitation and Zinc Fence Removal & Substitution in Greenwich Town to support citizens' security and improvement in community aesthetics Funded by the Government of Jamaica

"Securing

Communities" POVERTY REDUCTION PROGRAMME IV (PRP IV) Barrett Town Health Centre, St. James, commissioned into service, benefitting 9,000 community members and 13 health workers Completion of construction and rehabilitative works to the Franklyn Town Police Station, Kingston, benefitting 15,000 residents and 17 staff members Funded by the European Union (EU)

PERIOD AT A GLANCE DISASTER VULNERABILITY REDUCTION PROJECT (DVRP) Completion of the Montego Bay Fire Station which will function as the western region headquarters. Features include: 5 engine bays, 1 emergency bay and the capacity to house 140 fire-fighting personnel Completion of designs for the Myton Gully, Old Harbour drainage system Technical training of GOJ stakeholders on the National Risk Information Platform (NRIP)

"Building the future" RURAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE II (REDI II) Approval

for

a

$150

million

Small

Income

Generation Project For Women & Youth affected by the Covid-19 fallout Commissioning

of

a

Blue

Mountain

Coffee

Marketing Study to help reposition products in international

markets,

thereby

improving

the

incomes of small coffee farmers and their communites Development of a Climate Resilience Integrated Disaster Risk Reduction Training Package for the Agricultural and Community Tourism sectors Completion of final cohort - Covid-19 Resilience sub-project. 33 farm groups and 25 community tourism enterprises benefitted. Included assistance with developing Health & Safety Plans for their businesses Funded by the World Bank

Funded by the World Bank

ICDP II ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS A hugely popular initiative, ICDP II's Enterprise Development Grant initiative has disbursed a total of $50 million, supporting 230 micro-enterprises, in 8 communities over the past 20 months. ICDP II is funded by the Government of Jamaica.

Small-scale operators receive up to $400,000 in assistance

and

their

businesses

are

carefully

assessed for viability. "We look at that thing that is missing that they need to leverage the business and assist them with it," says Managing Director Omar Sweeney.

Benefits run the gamut, including: outboard fishing engines, industrial sewing machines, cameras and drones, deep fat fryers, equipment for furnituremaking, small-scale manufacturing, welding, agroprocessing, upholstering and car-care services, merchandising

equipment,

multimedia

and

entertainment equipment and beauty-care services.

"The wealth creation lens is major for JSIF. We believe it's very important for communities to have their own strong economies - and thriving small businesses are key to achieving this" - Mona Sue-Ho, Senior Manager, Social Development

- A LIFELINE TO 230 MICROENTERPRISES Part

of

programme

the

is

designed

around

business development support in the form of training in accounting, costing of goods and services, business registration and marketing.

"The

next

2

steps

and

Technology

the

are

the

building

Adoption out

of

of our

Community Social Responsibility (CSR) Model" says Mona Sue-Ho, Senior Manager, Social Development.

"Our CSR component has already begun though, for example, one of our Greenwich Town fishermen has a deep sense of pride donating fresh fish to the basic school every week. Likewise, preparation for our Tech Adoption phase is underway; we are currently doing research into attitudes towards technology so we can better help small business operators to take advantage of new opportunities like the Digital Wallet."

"Part of JSIF's mission is helping citizens to develop competences to take greater control of their lives and, in so doing,, strengthen the economies of their communities" - Omar Sweeney, Managing Director

EMPOWERING PEOPLE Building Community Economies Next: Technology Adoption & CSR Model Expansion

STAFF FEATURE

DR. MILTON CLARKE SYSTEMS OPERATIONS & ENVIRONMENT MANAGER process of managing project implementation to protect the environment. The EMS is another first in the region for a state entity.

"It was a massive undertaking because it involved securing the buy-in of every JSIF employee, contractor and supplier.

Resistance was there. But I used some innovative approaches, like a 'Site Of The Month' competition for contractors which proved very effective in winning them over."

Dr. Clarke is also Lead on the Sanitation and Parks & Green Spaces component of JSIF's Integrated Community Development Project (ICDP) which has become a model for NGO's and GoJ agencies.

"Seeing the transformation in people and communities makes me feel good. One of our environmental wardens told me that her job enabled her to take care of her paralyzed son. Another was able to save and open a cookshop."

Dr. Clarke has written numerous environmental and safety

A number of Jamaicans who return home end up leaving

manuals and his work in environmental project management

because they're unable to find jobs in highly-specialized

has helped JSIF build credibility with multilateral funding

fields to match their academic pursuits. But not Milton

partners who themselves have rigorous environmental

Clarke. "Although I did a 5-year stint in a global

safeguards.

environmental consultancy, returning home was always my objective," says the Environmental

A humble and down-to-earth man, in his spare time, Dr.

Biotechnology PhD.

Clarke loves gardening and following the careers of football

"JSIF has offered me the opportunity to do some projects for my country that are both professionally fulfilling and personally very rewarding", says Clarke, citing, as examples, the organization-wide process he captained to JSIF becoming the first government entity in the Caribbean

greats. "I went to Knockalva Agricultural School and UWI St. Augustine, so growing things is a love I will never lose," he declared with a laugh.

"Milton is very educated,, committed, and

to be ISO-1400-certified - not an easy feat - and, more

always open to ideas for improvement.

recently, attaining Green Climate Fund accreditation in just

He has never pushed back on an idea

2 1/2 years.

for improvement in the years I have

Also fulfilling has been his stewardship of JSIF's

been auditing JSIF"

Environmental Management System (EMS) - a systematic

- Bert Simon, Senior Lead Auditor, DQS Incorporated

STAFF FEATURE

MS. DAWN ALLISON PROGRAMME OFFICER, ICDP II Over 20 years later, the experience has surpassed her expectations. "I was part of the original team which helped to develop standards and procedures and it has been a joy to watch how JSIF has evolved into a household name - especially in under-resourced communities." This brings the programme officer a lot of satisfaction, and she can hardly go anywhere without past beneficiaries coming up and reminding her of ways in which she has impacted their lives.

Dawn is known as JSIF's events expert who marshals a good team and runs a tight ship. Several of the features which are now standard operating procedure at JSIF events were innovations put forward by her, such as the incorporation of community talent in programmes.

Of JSIF's leadership she says: "I appreciate how the managers

allow

me

space

to

put

forward

recommendations as we are always about improvement."

But it is her engagement with beneficiaries that remains amongst her most treasured experiences.

Dawn has worked with nearly all of JSIF's projects. She admires the way JSIF's programmes assist a wide-cross

One of the organization's longest serving staff members, Dawn is literally an institution within JSIF. She epitomizes the

section of people, "not just the chosen few." She particularly enjoys observing the domino effect of projects

typical JSIF team member - regarding community

on a community over the life of a project, or, "the before

development work as more of a calling than a job. But Dawn

and after," as she puts it. Not surprising for someone

takes it to another level, says a colleague, who paid tribute to

whose personal motto is, "Use what you have to help

her with the following example:

others."

"One afternoon I pressured Dawn for some data that I knew

Dawn is a music aficionado, listening to everything from

only she could put her fingers on at short notice. I knew she

gospel to R&B. She is also a keen track & field follower

was busy with a deadline and apologized. True to form,

and avid reader.

Dawn reassured, "It's not a bother, remember it's poor people we're helping," needless to say, I was moved to tears. I've

"Dawn goes the extra mile and is a

heard her say it several times since. So it must be a kind of

problem-solver. When you place a

guiding principle for her. That's the type of person Dawn is -

matter in Dawn's hands you can

caring, without being showy."

Dawn's JSIF journey began in an uncomplicated way - in

rest assured she will come through.

A valued and respected team

response to a newspaper advertisement where the

member indeed."

description "poverty-reduction" caught her eye.

-Rhonda Lumsden-Lue, General Manager, Corporate Services

11 "

REDI II COVID-19 RESILIENCE SUB-PROJECT Developed in response to the pandemic, JSIF's Rural Economic Development Initiative's Covid-19 Resilience Sub-Project helped safeguard the livelihoods of rural citizens within the community tourism and agricultural sectors at a time when they needed it most 15 Community Tourism operators received help developing Health & Safety Plans for their businesses 2400 Farmers received seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and other inputs, while 25 Community Tourism operators received PPE's and Covid-19 safety signs. Both groups, as well as RADA extension officers, received Covid-19 safety training REDI II is funded by the World Bank

CONTACT US

2 Oxford Road, Kingston 5 (876) 968-4545 II (888) 991-2356/7 www.jsif.org II info@jsif.org