The GoJ presides over an active DRR policy environment and international investment in Jamaica’s hazard mitigation efforts is high. However, existing DRR frameworks can be described as reinforcing a primarily reactive risk management approach, despite an active policy environment that aims to support and strengthen risk mitigation efforts nationwide. The private sector has engaged at many levels in implementing and supporting risk management, and has done so successfully in a context of strong interpersonal relationships, effective leadership, and coalition-building, especially at the Parish level. Portmore Municipality is also an active participant in the UNISDR Making Cities Resilient Campaign.
The Building Disaster Resilient Cities initiative, funded by Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), highlights several case studies that review substantive private sector involvement in disaster risk reduction initiatives specific to St. Catherine’s Parish and Portmore. Private sector agencies have been involved in a range of support roles, including: fundraising and establishment of a “disaster fund” in St. Catherine’s Parish. In the 2011-2013 status report on the implementation of the Hyogo Framework for Action, the GoJ reports the private sector is represented at the national level platform for risk management activities, primarily for information dissemination activities regarding preparedness planning.11 However, in the selected communities, private sector engagement is low.
Tags: BRACED Jamaica
