The Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanism (AP&FM) of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience (PPCR) was awarded third place for exceptional execution – excellent project planning and delivery in the Inter-American Development Bank’s Project Execution Challenge.
Project Manager, Dr. Winsome Townsend expressed her delight for this recognition after the award was presented in a virtual ceremony on Thursday, August 27, 2020.
“Winning this award was made possible by the commitment, dedication, and hard work of the members of the project executing unit, comprising Kay de Ann Taffe Dixon, Angella Lalor, Mauro Lewis, Indi McClymont Lafayette, and Bridgette Barrett,” she said.
The IDB has 56 funded projects in Jamaica. In 2019, the IDB issued the challenge to determine the best project execution unit in Jamaica. It used two new reporting tools – the Schedule Performance Index (SPI) and the Cost Performance Index (CPI) – to measure the effectiveness of project implementation. It also used accumulated disbursements and value of good practice as two other criteria for performance.
The AP&FM is a part of Jamaica’s Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience. It works to help Jamaica adjust more easily to climate change. It supports the integration of climate change issues into development planning by government agencies and the implementation of climate change adaptation measures across Jamaica. It is being implemented by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and is funded by the Climate Investment Fund through the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the Government of Jamaica.
To date the achievements of the AP&FM-PPCR include:
– Reforestation of 15 hectares of forest lands in the Pennants Community in Upper Rio Minho Watershed (URMW) Area, Clarendon
– 50 acres of Agro-Forestry established on 60 farms in Upper Clarendon
– Twenty-two months sediment budgeting monitoring of the Rio Minho River in Clarendon to help determine disaster and climate risk for surrounding communities
– Construction of 1,517 of 1,800 innovative check dams called MICRO (Multiple Interceptions for Climate Resilience Optimization) Check Dams
– 5 Aquaponics farming systems established in 5 communities (Aenon Town, Alston, James Hill, John’s Hall and Ritchies) in Northern Clarendon.
– Vulnerability Assessment of the entire Rio Minho Watershed Area
– Preparation of a Climate Adaptation Plan for the entire Rio Minho Watershed Area
– Vulnerability Assessments of 15 priority communities in the URMW
– Preparation of a Climate Change Adaptation/ Disaster Risk Reduction Plans for 15 priority communities in the URMW
– US$4.7 million worth of grant funding provided for over 135 grants provided to NGO’s/CBO’s.
– US$2.5 million worth of loan financing provided for 259 loans at 4% interest rate granted to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs)
– Sixty (60) climate change focal points from ministries and the municipal corporations trained to mainstream climate change into development planning
– Implemented a climate change awareness programme for policymakers and government ministries – which saw 229 decisionmakers and policymakers at national and local government levels and civil society trained in 14 workshops.
– Preparation 7 Technical Papers of relevance to spatial planning in Jamaica; and the preparation of a National Spatial Plan for Jamaica which incorporates climate change considerations
