- Joint United Nations/ GOJ project demonstrates effectiveness of the human security approach

Brand new and rehabilitated water harvesting systems are now serving several districts, small farms, and schools in northern Clarendon, equipping thousands of residents against the threats of climate change, disease and poverty, under an innovative project designed to bolster human resilience.

The project is actively demonstrating access to water as a key to strengthening resilience of vulnerable communities in northern Clarendon and west Kingston, against the threats of climate change, poverty and food insecurity.

Community water harvesting systems have been rehabilitated in the districts of Mount Airy and Culloden serving a combined population of approximately 3,000, as well as at four primary schools serving hundreds of students and their teachers. In addition, 20 small farmers are now in possession of brand-new water harvesting equipment that is delivering water to crops in times of drought, a World Water Day Live Showcase hosted by the United Nations Development Programme Multi Country Office in Jamaica was informed on Monday (22 March).   

The farm irrigation system is a gift which is reversing crops losses due to extended drought declares Euxan Smith, farmer and president of the Mt Airy Farmers Group in a telephone interview. "We are planting less but reaping more. I now plant half the area, but reaping twice the amount, while harvesting more crops, with more weight over a longer time with more weekly income". He attributes the turn around to the drip system and the sustainable agricultural methods taught under the project. "It was never like that before. Farmers are saying it’s the way to go, and that if we had more rainfall, we could reap another 200%".

Principals like Davia Johnson Newman of Alston Primary and Infant School praised the intervention at recent handing over ceremonies. “As a result of the catchment system the school has not been without water since we resumed face to face teaching and learning” she reports. “We are now able to accommodate up to 6800 gallons of water. This is important to us, especially since we are now utilizing more water on a daily basis in our sanitization and cleaning efforts.

“Prior to this support we had a temporary handwash facility which was simply a bucket with a pipe attached. Today we are pleased to have a permanent facility for proper handwashing”.

Access to water helps build resilience to the threats of Climate Change, Disease and Poverty, explains Eltha Brown, National Coordinator of the joint United Nations/Government of Jamaica project which financed the water harvesting infrastructure under a USD$ 1.7 Million grant from the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security with counterpart contributions of approximately USD $4.8 Million from the Government of Jamaica and implementing partners. The project is piloting the globally renowned human security approach in Jamaica to bolster the resilience of vulnerable communities against economic, environmental, and social threats.

Ms Brown emphasized that the ‘Strengthening Human Resilience in Northern Clarendon and West Kingston’ Project has the full backing and support of the government of Jamaica though the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and the Ministry of Housing Urban Renewal and Climate Change. The support of Government comes in the form of some USD2.9 Million in parallel financing along with technical support.

The project is addressing several insecurities identified in a strategic threat mapping exercise, she outlined. In response to  threats identified, such as personal, climate change, economic, food and water insecurities, the project is putting resources behind: Strengthening community groups to build their own local resilience; climate smart and sustainable agriculture practices to beat climate change and poverty, community based social enterprises for income security targeting unattached youth and women; and improved water security.

To small farmers in these hilly Clarendon districts experiencing diminishing rainfall, being able to collect, store and channel rainwater as and when needed is a resilience-booster, and a breakthrough for food security. Jamaica's Social and Economic Survey 2018 underscores why this approach is necessary: Jamaica's average annual rainfall was below the 30-year mean for most parishes, and there have been 20 more incidents of normal drought and 8 more incidences of severe drought than the previous year.

Warding off the threat of food, personal and income insecurity is possible if water is accessible in underserved rural areas, Brown explains. She says farmer resilience is further strengthened when they have the know-how to work the equipment and to apply climate smart practices to their farms. She says the 20 farmers who received rainwater harvesting systems participated in the installation of their personal drip irrigation systems as well as that of their colleague farmers. "This approach encouraged further ownership of the systems, learning by doing, group cohesion and synergy" she outlined.

"Infrastructure was complemented with training in various aspects of sustainable agriculture by the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) which served to broaden awareness of farmers to available seeds, types and use of chemicals and fertilizers as well as establishment and monitoring of nurseries."  She said RADA continues to provide participating farmers with technical support including marketing assistance under the Government Extension Programme.

The national coordinator says in addition to reports of increased harvests and resilience to drought, farmers are also accessing niche markets not previously available to them.

In furthering rainwater harvesting as a solution for underserved communities, an online portal Hello Rain at www.hellorain.org has been developed as a resource for those interested in establishing rainwater harvesting systems.

Ms Brown said the project will also be taking steps to demonstrate water treatment systems in the participating communities incorporating techniques of recycled water. It is hoped that other communities and donor partners will see the benefits of these systems and upscale and replicate across Jamaica, she confirmed.  

The overarching policy framework governing access to water is also receiving attention. By supporting the development of a Monitoring Framework for the National Water Sector Policy, the project is supporting the government's vision of full access to potable water for all Jamaicans by 2030, Ms. Brown outlined. A Gender Awareness Beneficiary Assessment (GABA) report has also provided insight into the challenges facing urban and rural communities in securing access to water and sanitation services.

The human security approach is not mainstreamed in Jamaica. The project intends to change that by actively working to make the project results known with a view to expanding the footprint of the approach in local policies and programmes.

Started in 2018, the Strengthening Human Resilience in Northern Clarendon and West Kingston is regarded as the first  joint programme of United Nations Jamaica, combining the resources of six UN Jamaica members, namely – FAO, PAHO/WHO, UNDP, UNEP, UNESCO, UN Women – in addition to the UNDP-implemented  Global Environment Facility Small Grants Programme.