UNDP Jamaica, in the mid term of its cycle of the Country Programme of 2007-2011, plans to conduct an outcome evaluation in the environment and energy sector. Jamaica is the largest English-speaking island in the Caribbean and is approximately 1 million hectares, with an altitudinal range from sea level to 2,195 metres. The population is approximately 2.7 million with an annual growth rate of 0.5 percent. Jamaica’s development after independence in 1962 has been characterized by periods of economic growth alternating with periods of stagnation, including political turmoil (late 1970’s to early 1980’s); a financial crisis (1995 to 1997); an international recession (200 to 2001 and again in 2009); rising oil prices (2004 to 2007) and devastating impacts of storms and hurricanes (2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008). The Environment and Energy Programme at UNDP aims to accelerate sustainable land management and the effective governance water resources, to promote effective adaptation and mitigation to climate change, and to encourage the adoption of good energy practices. Conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity is also a priority, given that the poor, especially in rural areas, depend on biodiversity for food, fuel, shelter, medicines and livelihoods and that it reduces vulnerability to some natural disasters. At the policy level, all this is underpinned by the CO support to the formulation of frameworks and strategies for sustainable development, as pledged in the Millennium Development Goals. In so doing, the CO addresses broader challenges such as poverty, political instability and conflict, population growth, and disease, as well as integrating environmental sustainability into development policy and practice. The UNDP Jamaica Multi-Country Office supports five countries in the region. There are currently four areas of emphasis under the E and E Programme: Biodiversity and Conservation, Energy Efficiency, Climate and Disaster Risk Reduction. The last three of these programme areas are aligned with the Planning Institute of Jamaica’s Medium Term Framework to achieve the long term Vision 2030. Expected outputs of the programme are strengthening of institutional capacity to implement policies and plans, appropriate land management techniques in communities, improved and integrated watershed management practices, improved energy efficiency, reduction of risk to communities in the event of certain natural disasters. The projects range from small, single-issue projects, such as improved land management practices in four schools to large multi-faced projects that meet Jamaica’s obligations under international conventions such as the ten-component Second National Communication on Climate Change to the UNFCCC. Currently the funding is provided by UNDP TRAC, BCPR, and GEF, and the project portfolio is over US$ 8,000,000.00. Key implementing partners include the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the Forestry Department, the Meteorological Services, the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM) and Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology Commission. A close partnership also exists with the Ministry of Health and environment and the Planning Institute of Jamaica, as well as the Governments of the Cayman and Turks and Caicos. |