Earth Today | EFJ awards climate change adaptation grants to 11 organisations

THE ENVIRONMENTAL Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) has awarded grants valued at close to J$49 million to 11 local entities among them community-based organisations such as the Rocky Point Development Council Benevolent Society to help them confront the challenges of climate change.

The grants were made possible by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation and the Inter-American Development Bank, under the Special Climate Change Adaptation Fund (SCCAF).

The SCCAF is supported by the Adaptation Programme and Financing Mechanisms project of the Pilot Programme for Climate Resilience and administered by the EFJ. Grants valued at up to J$5 million each are provided for community-level climate change adaptation initiatives, including soil conservation, climate-smart agriculture and tourism, water management, disaster preparedness and climate-smart construction.

Training provisions

The funded projects also include provision for training and sensitisation for residents notably farmers, youth and householders on climate change issues and on managing and maintaining the projects.

"This will ensure the sustainability of funded programmes for years to come, by strengthening local expertise," the EFJ noted.

With the $5 million it received, the Rocky Point Development Council Benevolent Society will work on its disaster preparedness plan for the Rocky Point community on Clarendon's sea coast, which suffers from regular flooding and not only during storms, but also at high tides.

Work there is to include the construction of storm drains, tide gates and coastal barriers. HEART Trust NTA will assist in training community members to monitor and maintain the infrastructure.

Other EFJ SCCAF beneficiaries include the Manchester Parish Development Committee ($5 million); the Ridge Red Bank Benevolent Society in St Elizabeth ($4.99 million); Essex Hall Citizens' Association ($5 million); Northern Caribbean University (J$5 million); the Alpha Institute in Kingston ($4.4 million); the University of the West Indies ($5 million); the College of Agriculture Science and Education ($4.99 million); the Balaclava Development Committee ($3.7 million); and the Jeffrey Town Farmers' Association in St Mary ($4.9 million).